Foam in dwc buckets

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Krakore

New Member
Hi guys new here. First time grow. Have a problem i think. Hope you guys can help me out. Started a 2 bucket dwc with a res. Everything was going great untill a couple days ago i noticed a wierd brownish foamy substance. Checked ph it was around 5.8 before my pen broke. Chem ph test says 5.5 (orange colour when adding die to water etc) my ec was 1.5 (my ph and ec never drifts at all is that in itself a problem) i dumped all contents of buckets and wiped out buckets with dry micro fibre cloths and a very diluted soap and water spray. Re did my nutes and ph etc oh and dunked roots in ph 5.5 water. A day later the foam is back but frothier. I use canna a + b ,rizotonic,canazyme, (60ml/40L) of each and 30ml of calmag......is hydrogaurd needed or is that same as rizo and canazym. Oh foam is only in grow buckets not even a sign of it in my res bucket pics of everything included. Thank you so much in advance......please help im freaking out. Also water temp today was 25 is that too hot....how hot is too hot.
 

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BobThe420Builder

BobThe420Builder

Well-Known Member
Not sure why it's foaming

Not familiar with yer nutes and enzyme stuff

Maybe research them, see if the foam


Is that a white bucket?
Is lid white?

That will invite algae if it is

Nevermind I see they are black
 
Mirrordawn

Mirrordawn

Well-Known Member
Its from your soap.
The way I clean my DWC buckets is, by adding about 60litres of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide(Small bottle you can buy a pharmacist)

Let it run with your air stones running and dripper system for about a day. I also use DRIP CLEAN if you're not using RO water, hard ward mineral deposits tend to clog the drippers and the connection underneath.
 
Mirrordawn

Mirrordawn

Well-Known Member
By the way you have all the room in your tent. Make the connections longer and give some space between your buckets. Would also give you room to put in a trellis.
 
Mirrordawn

Mirrordawn

Well-Known Member
Also to decrease water temp. Freeze a bottle of water and went its solid just dunk it in there.
You want about 17 - 20c
 
W

Willie_wonder

Member
Just my experience, this is my first playing with dwc also so just speculations here. I was having some issues with light foam as well, if your solution is heavily aerated it could cause foam slightly, and even depending on the nutes it could foam. I’m in a 35 gallon bucket and when I lose about 5 gallons I start to foam slightly. I would just keep with consistent res changes, especially with that temp, I use a frozen 2L bottle and it takes my temps to 68 from 73f. I also use Hydroguard, they can’t ship to Illinois so I buy from eBay the sellers don’t care. Also wrapping your buckets in reflectixe from Home Depot took my temps from a constant 80 to 72 without ice, just an fyi.
 
Mirrordawn

Mirrordawn

Well-Known Member
Willie_wonder said:
Just my experience, this is my first playing with dwc also so just speculations here. I was having some issues with light foam as well, if your solution is heavily aerated it could cause foam slightly, and even depending on the nutes it could foam. I’m in a 35 gallon bucket and when I lose about 5 gallons I start to foam slightly. I would just keep with consistent res changes, especially with that temp, I use a frozen 2L bottle and it takes my temps to 68 from 73f. I also use Hydroguard, they can’t ship to Illinois so I buy from eBay the sellers don’t care. Also wrapping your buckets in reflectixe from Home Depot took my temps from a constant 80 to 72 without ice, just an fyi.
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If you have the money to invest in the equipment, a water chiller consistently keeps temperatures minimal as water recirculates around the system.

Foam is either from soap or an organic compound found in the reservoir.
 
K

Krakore

New Member
Willie_wonder said:
Just my experience, this is my first playing with dwc also so just speculations here. I was having some issues with light foam as well, if your solution is heavily aerated it could cause foam slightly, and even depending on the nutes it could foam. I’m in a 35 gallon bucket and when I lose about 5 gallons I start to foam slightly. I would just keep with consistent res changes, especially with that temp, I use a frozen 2L bottle and it takes my temps to 68 from 73f. I also use Hydroguard, they can’t ship to Illinois so I buy from eBay the sellers don’t care. Also wrapping your buckets in reflectixe from Home Depot took my temps from a constant 80 to 72 without ice, just an fyi.
Click to expand...
Cheers mate....just got some oxy plus as hydro gaurd is illegal here lol will do another water change tonight when the ladies are awake. Will do a full clean again witha hydrogen peroxide solution and sterilise everything proper. May have found a slight light leak via my air hose set up so will make adjustments there. Omfg i love growing its keeping me on my toes and im learning alot
 
K

Krakore

New Member
Mirrordawn said:
If you have the money to invest in the equipment, a water chiller consistently keeps temperatures minimal as water recirculates around the system.

Foam is either from soap or an organic compound found in the reservoir.
Click to expand...
Its not in the res tho just the grow buckets :)
 
Mirrordawn

Mirrordawn

Well-Known Member
Krakore said:
Its not in the res tho just the grow buckets :)
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Could be from the coco mix up top. I know you are probably really clean about it, but that can cause some unwanted reactions in your water. I usually use clay pellets, you rinse them a few times and line the rockwool with it so it stops the algae growth up top,
 
K

Krakore

New Member
Mirrordawn said:
Could be from the coco mix up top. I know you are probably really clean about it, but that can cause some unwanted reactions in your water. I usually use clay pellets, you rinse them a few times and line the rockwool with it so it stops the algae growth up top,
Click to expand...
Yes. I honestly was going to go the clay route but i deviated dont know why. The girl in strait coco only seems happy. Less maintainance lol i wanted to challenge myself a bit so went dwc (glad i didnt go full kratky id be a stress mess lol....ill def keep you updated mate tyvm for all your advice etc.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Willie_wonder said:
Just my experience, this is my first playing with dwc also so just speculations here. I was having some issues with light foam as well, if your solution is heavily aerated it could cause foam slightly, and even depending on the nutes it could foam. I’m in a 35 gallon bucket and when I lose about 5 gallons I start to foam slightly. I would just keep with consistent res changes, especially with that temp, I use a frozen 2L bottle and it takes my temps to 68 from 73f. I also use Hydroguard, they can’t ship to Illinois so I buy from eBay the sellers don’t care. Also wrapping your buckets in reflectixe from Home Depot took my temps from a constant 80 to 72 without ice, just an fyi.
Click to expand...
I live in Illinois...i get hydroguard shipped here...:p
 
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