Reservoir water has started to smell, I think things are going to turn bad quickly

[Red October]

So things have been going a bit too easy except for a rising ph problem and today I noticed the water in the reservoir has started to smell bad and turned murky, they are in their 4th week in the bigger pots and this is the first time this has happened.

I'm using salt based ferts and the potting mix is 50/50 Coco perlite, the plants aren't showing any outward symptoms and all still look healthy and and building bud structure each day but I have a suspicion this is going to change quickly if I don't get whatever is growing in my system under control. I'm going to flush everything with peroxide tomorrow morning as the pots are heavy with water right now but if anyone has some good suggestions of what I need to do right now I'd really appreciate it, I use filtered water and bleach wash the pipes and reservoir weekly.

 

[Red October]

They're technically coming to the end of their 3rd week of flowering

 

[troutman]

Just empty the reservoir, dry and refill with clean water for now. An air pump attached to an airstone
in the reservoir bubbling all day would increase the oxygen levels there and reduce anaerobic bacteria
levels which are responsible for a lot of bad funky aromas in water. I've raised fish and know without
oxygen the water will eventually smell bad. Some bacteria will convert sulfates like magnesium sulfate
(aka epsom salt) into hydrogen sulfide which smells like rotten eggs via their metabolism.
Take my word get an air pump. Even a small one will help a lot.

This link may help you understand more.

https://vertexaquaticsolutions.com/a...nd-lake-odors/

This pic should be self-explanatory.

 

[Red October]

Should I use a bleach solution or just the peroxide? I was using a zym the first few weeks but didn't understand the benefits and now I'm thinking by me stopping using it that it's led to this and I'm wondering if a bleach solution will make for an unpleasant environment to start adding the zym back

 

[Red October]

Just empty the reservoir, dry and refill with clean water for now. An air pump attached to an airstone
in the reservoir bubbling all day would increase the oxygen levels there and reduce anaerobic bacteria
levels which are responsible for a lot of bad funky aromas in water. I've raised fish and know without
oxygen all water will eventually smell bad.This link may help you understand more.

https://vertexaquaticsolutions.com/a...nd-lake-odors/

Thanks Troutman, I'll give it a read now, just want to confirm that I should hold off using either bleach or peroxide for now? I'm just worried that I've started some form of bacterial colony in the Coco now

 

[troutman]

1. I would never use bleach with plants.

2. If you clean out the reservoir now it will reduce the amount of peroxide should you use some and be easier on the garden.

 

[Red October]

Thanks very much Troutman. I figured with the peroxide as it's meant to break down easier that I could inoculate the substrate again with the good ones

 

[Three Berries]

I'm of the opinion that the peroxide at the low levels of concentration 3% being used will not hurt the plants as it only attacks dead material. >As I understand it.

And it adds O2 to whatever it's added to.

I would think it would be a good disinfectant to use in the water on a regular basis? I know nothing of growing in hydro.

 

[Red October]

I'm of the opinion that the peroxide at the low levels of concentration 3% being used will not hurt the plants as it only attacks dead material. >As I understand it.

And it adds O2 to whatever it's added to.

I would think it would be a good disinfectant to use in the water on a regular basis? I know nothing of growing in hydro.

Lol neither do I, this is attempt no 1, but it seems there are additive microbes that work well in Coco and I feel I should do that for some reason I'm used to soil so this is all foreign to me but is seems many Coco growers do use peroxide with the water.

 

[f-e]

Technically coming to the end of their 3rd week ? Are they autos?

They don't look too far in. Get the h2o2 up past 100ppm and prepare to see some murky water coming out.

If you are stuck with 3% stuff, then 3 or 4ml per liter will do it.


If they are photoperiod plants, then we count flowering from the first sleep. We can view the flowering period in further increments, but when the seed says 8 weeks, it's 8 weeks from the first sleep. Everyone does this, except someone with strange motives. Picking some later day, in order to say their plant flowers quicker. Any later date is not evidenced by anything though. It's just picked out a hat.

 

[Red October]

Technically coming to the end of their 3rd week ? Are they autos?

They don't look too far in. Get the h2o2 up past 100ppm and prepare to see some murky water coming out.

If you are stuck with 3% stuff, then 3 or 4ml per liter will do it.


If they are photoperiod plants, then we count flowering from the first sleep. We can view the flowering period in further increments, but when the seed says 8 weeks, it's 8 weeks from the first sleep. Everyone does this, except someone with strange motives. Picking some later day, in order to say their plant flowers quicker. Any later date is not evidenced by anything though. It's just picked out a hat.

I've picked up a bottle of "40" which from my reading means it's 12% and I'm still trying to figure out ut how much to add

No they're photo period, I transplanted them around the 14th of November but I screwed up my timer and they were on a12:30 lights on cycle instead of 12 hours for the first week and I generally also start counting from when I see the structural changes from veg. It's a pack of satori , hashfruit, Bubba Kush x Nepal jam and some "purple thai" x destroyer so some will finish earlier than the more sativa plants

 

[Red October]

They don't look too far in.

Do you mean they should look more developed at this point or that they're looking ok? I wouldn't mind them being fatter but this has been a really hassle free grow, I was expecting to have alot more issues from the plants but things seem to have gone alright.

 

[f-e]

I don't know what 'this point' is. Them pics are weeks apart, and you are counting the days your own way. That looks good for 3 weeks, but it's not 3 weeks. What I'm looking for is the potential to put out a lot of new roots, after the clean up.

h202 at 12% can be used around 1ml per Liter. If you triple that, the plants start to suffer over time. Half of that is a reasonable maintenance dose.

Maybe go in hard with 3ml/L first time, as you have stuff for it to work on. Thus it will soon be depleting itself.
Then 1ml and stay there until you are happy it's all good. Then drop to 0.5ml which the typically nasty anaerobic bacteria don't like, but doesn't seem to be destructive to the good stuff. I'm dosing 0.5 in terra. Where I should really know if it were causing problems. I do know when I don't dose the tank though. They like getting some.

 

[Red October]

Sorry I meant to put in with the pics that those were from the 14th November just after transplant. Thanks man, the advice is much appreciated, so I just continue with the normal feeding cycle and just add the peroxide daily? I'm a bit paranoid about the plants development levels as I'm trying out a different light source and still need to see if it's feasible.

 

[Three Berries]

You could get a UV light sterilizer too.

 

[Red October]

I could as they don't seem expensive but that'll just sterilize the water and won't help with the roots at this point anymore.

 

[f-e]

Sorry I meant to put in with the pics that those were from the 14th November just after transplant. Thanks man, the advice is much appreciated, so I just continue with the normal feeding cycle and just add the peroxide daily? I'm a bit paranoid about the plants development levels as I'm trying out a different light source and still need to see if it's feasible.

The frequency of application is something I can't pin down. There are many variables, and no specific numbers to work with. I'm drip to waste. I think with a 3ml/L dose, I wouldn't add more until the next tank, if it's just a few days. Then at 1ml/L I feel sure half must of gone in 24 hours.

I have test strips from eBay. Each can be cut into three quite easily. I checked my 12% was 12% with them. They can't measure 12% though, I had to water down my 12% to something manageable. Perhaps you should get strips to see what happens over time. You will only need to learn once. Then you can educate the rest of us

 

[bigpeter]

Have a read through this thread, https://www.icmag.com/forum/marijua...ydro/253949-best-thing-i-ever-added-to-my-res

 

[Red October]

Just did the first flush with peroxide now, god that runoff water smells so bad...... I'm genuinely worried

 

[Three Berries]

Just did the first flush with peroxide now, god that runoff water smells so bad...... I'm genuinely worried

First flush I did on my last grow the stuff smelled like a manure pit.