My new setup, but leaf turning brown and white residue on hydroton

Here is my setup, it's still pretty rough. I decided i'm not going to use the manifolds and just put pvc pipe down the middle with barbs coming off. I also have mylar bubble wrap cut out for the lids. So so far so good, but today I noticed this plant browning or mottling...Water is: PH is 6.0, 68-74F, 240ppm, RO waterThe white residue has been there since those rocks dried out and I'm pretty sure they're just mineral deposits from the nutes. Thanks for the help!

the white build up is usually salt from the nutes. Im not sure of the ph for hydro but it looks like a ph problem locking out. just a guess here. and I think the ppm may be low.... Like I said im just guessing, I do not grow hydro so its hard to tell whats up, maybe a hydro grower will help ya out with numbers as far as the ph and ppm. What type of nutes are you using?

pH of 6.0 = perfect, temp good to go.......RO water,,,you MUST run a CalMag product!!!!! It's whats giving you the brown spotting...
PPM of 240 could be good, could be low - depends on what nutrient your running!

You are correct on the white being salt build up from the nutes....no problem there.

They look pretty good....Just add the CalMag and you should be golden.

If the 240 is coming out of your RO unit, you need a new filter. I think Dr. Who is on track.

Dr. Who said:

pH of 6.0 = perfect, temp good to go.......RO water,,,you MUST run a CalMag product!!!!! It's whats giving you the brown spotting...
PPM of 240 could be good, could be low - depends on what nutrient your running!


You are correct on the white being salt build up from the nutes....no problem there.


They look pretty good....Just add the CalMag and you should be golden.

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Good to hear. I did have someone's thread tabbed about CalMag. I will be buying some tonight. Better do 2 day shipping. Ill post some better photos of my setup soon, but i dropped my iPhone in a bucket of water taking these photos! Luckily it was RO water.

Bugeye said:

If the 240 is coming out of your RO unit, you need a new filter. I think Dr. Who is on track.

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No, I have well water and it's pretty hard at 220 ppm, but with a 5 stage filter w/ a new RO element it's output is 10ppm.

I'm using General Hydro FloraNova Grow. I have GH Floralicious I haven't added yet, but will tonight until I can get the calmag. I'll stick with GH and get their CALiMAGic.

Thanks guys!

for hydro you want a ph of 5.5-5.8 its the perfect range for your young plant to intake all the nutrients it needs to grow . salt deposits on hydration will cause ph to rise constantly ,try to run your water lines further in the pot to reduce salt build up..temps are fine and ppms are ok with the gh nutes. slow n steady with gh nutes,CALIMAG is a deff. need in any grow room. add a lil h202 in the res every now and then ,heelps with root fungus and cleans the roots also..

5.5 to 6.2 and with me I prefer to run at 5.8 to 6.0