keeping reservoir bacteria free

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grow465

Member
This seems like the right category to post this in but if not please let me know and I'll move it.
I created a small reservoir with a plastic tub.
My goal is to store a fair amount of water so I don't need to wait for my super slow ro filter.
I filled the tub with water and placed a waterpump in the bottom and ran air pump tubing directly under the water intake for the waterpump (to maximize o2 as it waters plants).
However iv started to feel a build up of slime inside my water container. I assume these are biofilms of anerobic bacteria. So I set the waterpump to recirculate the oxygenated water 24/7. The slime hasn't grown, but hasnt been killed either... I see people put small amounts of bleach in the water to counter this. Should I really be feeding my plants bleach in any amount?
Any input is appreciated for this newbie grower.
 

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23Jumpman23

23Jumpman23

Well-Known Member
Is that huge hole in the lid always letting light in? Could be part of the problem... i had a light leak in my res at the begining of my grow and it caused some issues.
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
When I did hydro 10 years ago I inoculated the res with small amount of molasses and beneficial microbes. Worked well and that's when I fell in love with the microbes.
 
G

grow465

Member
Rrog said:
When I did hydro 10 years ago I inoculated the res with small amount of molasses and beneficial microbes. Worked well and that's when I fell in love with the microbes.
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What bugs did you use? I put some mycorrhizae spores in the tank but that's it. Obviously mycorrhizae won't inhibit bacteria tho.
 
G

grow465

Member
23Jumpman23 said:
Is that huge hole in the lid always letting light in? Could be part of the problem... i had a light leak in my res at the begining of my grow and it caused some issues.
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It's not getting hit with any high intensity but there's like a 20w CFL in my closet that I basically never turn off. I didn't think it was intense enough, but turning off the light is probably a good place to start....
 
G

grow465

Member
rkymtnman said:
i do that. used to use dutchmaster zone.

now i use HTH pool shock. 0.15 grams per 10 gallons water gives 2 ppm chlorine. i use a bit stronger since my res temps get fairly warm (high 70'sF)

the plant will actually use chlorine too so even better.
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Hydroguard expires after 6 months. Hth sounds like a pretty good route for me, I can't imagine ever needing more using .15g at a time haha.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
grow465 said:
Hydroguard expires after 6 months. Hth sounds like a pretty good route for me, I can't imagine ever needing more using .15g at a time haha.
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i use double to get 4ppm. MJ can handle up to 5ppm.

a 1lb bag of the HTH is gonna last me a decade i think.

you just need a very accurate scale. to 0.01 grams is great.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
what i never understood about hydroguard is the main ingredient is a soil bacteria. so how does that help in hydro??

i've always used a sterile res. jsut easier IMO>
 
G

grow465

Member
It said it provides enzymes that are beneficial. I would assume that the enzymes still break up whatever they are supposed to regardless of media. I'd bet it has a very high ratio of enzymes to bacteria... just my semi educated guess.

If I ignored the slime build up in my water supply what effect would it have on my plants.
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
But how does one keep a res "sterile?" Without some chemical to suppress live, there will be life. I hate to water with some life-suppressing agent
 
G

grow465

Member
^I was thinking this to, it'd have to have like an anti microbial film on it. Probably not the best thing for plants.
You can't kill endospores without crazy equiptment or dangerous chemicals. Without killing endospores you aren't sterilization anything
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
Rrog said:
But how does one keep a res "sterile?" Without some chemical to suppress live, there will be life. I hate to water with some life-suppressing agent
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chlorine is one way to keep it sterile. that's why muni water supplies use it. to keep shit from growing in the pipes yet still be drinkable to humans.

if it's safe to drink, it's safe for plants too.

and chlorine is a tertiary nute of MJ too so the plant will "eat' it as well. dyna gro adds it to their nutes.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
grow465 said:
If I ignored the slime build up in my water supply what effect would it have on my plants.
Click to expand...
when i used Zone and when it got past it's shelf life, i started to get the slime in my res. every pump, air line, everything had a slimy, slippery feel to it. now, nothing.
 
slyone

slyone

Well-Known Member
Put an air stone in the rez, that will keep the bacteria at bay. Give your tank a good clean out first and clean with h2O2
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
Outside of hydro, if chlorine kills microbes in the pipes, what's it doing to the microbes in a soil. Or the microbes in your pipes when you drink it?
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
Rrog said:
Outside of hydro, if chlorine kills microbes in the pipes, what's it doing to the microbes in a soil. Or the microbes in your pipes when you drink it?
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don't know about soil. i use well water for my soil plants outdoors. and for drinking.

i use a safe level of chlorine for my indoor plants which is also safe for humans too.

do you think NASA runs bennies or sterile when they grow plants hydroponically to prepare for growing in outer space?
do you think most commercial growers use bennies or sterile when growing tomatoes to tulips?
sterile for both.
do a search for a post by jijiandfarmgang about running a sterile res. she does a better job of explaining than i do.
 
T

THE KONASSURE

Well-Known Member
NASA I think use a 30 micron filter

some where around that size anyway

it means only water molecules or smaller can pass through

I think they probably run sterile just to remove any chance of cross contamination, but I would not be surprised if they do use or plan to use some kinda bennies maybe do a comparison grow in space sometime

TNC do a product called "bactor 13" also giving your plants bennies via a root treatment once so they carry what they need in the rootzone or plug is a good idea or you can spray them with the bennies too

mycor and trycor both work, I like trycor for adding to my water butt
 
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