Water temp

[Nugnuts]

I have a 60 gallon tank for the water in nutes for my flowering stage set up on a drip system. It gets pretty hot as it is outside my grow room. Like the tank is very hot to the touch and when you open the top it is sweltering in there.

I have been reading that it is pretty critical to keep the temperatures down. Anybody have experience with this? Thinking I may need to add a cooler and insulate the tank.

 

[Vanilla Phoenix]

High temps in your nute tank doesn't sound good at all....

 

[Backwoodsman]

Temp isn't as critical with a drip system. Dwc it is due to dissolved oxygen content. I would still add frozen water bottles to drop temp. 60-65 is ideal

 

[dr-dank]

edit for clarity on dulution rates:

if using a sterile chem salts only you may be ok. Any organics and you will have issues. Add some bleach every few days, but research first as you want no more than 1 ppm or even 0.5ppm to be safe.

Based on this calculator:

https://www.indigo.com/sanitizer-dilution-calculator.php

Using household bleach (Clorox at 5.25%) you would only need .08 ml per 4L.

I believe I have been using too much bleach.



Regards

 

[corky1968]

I would use hydrogen peroxide before bleach any day.

Putting an air stone in your reservoir will keep it cleaner as well.

 

[eebbnflow]

If it's warm to a touch it's probably in the low 80s F .it might start smelling like a swamp . IMO for all plants water temp is best kept 65-72 . Personally 70F

 

[lysergicCO]

Get a chiller.

You won't have to worry about pathogens and you'll provide for maximum levels of dissolved oxygen.

 

[eebbnflow]

Get a chiller.

You won't have to worry about pathogens and you'll provide for maximum levels of dissolved oxygen.

I agree , depending on the temperature of the air outside the resovior you could chill it with a 1/10hp but easily done with 1/4hp . The chiller will add heat wherever you place it so take this into consideration .

Do not pump nutrient through the chiller ever . Over time the insides of the chiller coils and tubing with FUNK up with slim stink growth . Instead chill the water in a 5gal pail to around 65f then pump that water through a stainless steel (only)coil that is placed in your resovior barrel to maintain resovior temp of around 70f . 1 loop, pump from 5gal bucket- to chiller-out to coil - return to 5gal bucket .

If you go this route check eBay for the stainless steel coils , or wort chiller - DO NOT USE A COPPER COIL

 

[dr-dank]

I would use hydrogen peroxide before bleach any day.

Putting an air stone in your reservoir will keep it cleaner as well.

My concern with HP is that is does not last as long. Some good info here:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=5060729&postcount=21

Regards

Edit: based on above, I think I have been using too much bleach. 2 ml/gallon for sure, as I meant 2 ml for my res which is 5G. Most indicate you want no more than 1 ppm. I am going to drop back top .5 ml per 5g 1 x a week.

 

[Chuck E. Kush]

lysergicCO is right on...
I've been told to keep all reservoirs under 70 degrees to avoid pathogens.