Q about roots in my Ebb n Flow setup

Ok, So im newly initiated into the Ebb n Flow club, getting started n working my way towards a perpetual SOG type grow. I have two Econo trays (3x3), with a home made pvc frame, and am using 5" square pots full of Bcuzz croutons with a 4" Delta block on top, and a plug in the middle. both of the trays are full of hydroton in leu of a rooting blanket or slabs.

right now i have some 2 wk old seedlings (2wks from germ), and ppm is around 400, ph is 5.3, and im still trying to find my way, as ive only had the seedlings in the system for 3 days. Still trying to figure out how many times i need to flood in a day, but i think that ive been flooding too much, and am gonna leave the blocks to dry out for a day before i flood again.

So heres my question:

I lifted up one of the plugs to make sure that root growth is goin down, and i wasnt screwing anything up just yet, and the root tips, and even in some sparatic spots in the root systems (although tiny root systems), theres this...i dont know the best way to describe it...fuzzy hairs i guess would be the best way lol. At first i thought it was mould beginning to form on the roots, but the roots are bright white, and lookin really healthy, as is the fuzz - so i started looking online for anybody with the same problem.

From what ive read, what im seeing is the root system deploying these hairs to sort of "feel out" their new environment in between the plug and the delta block, so they can figure out which way to grow since everything around them is completely dark n moist. Now, i did lightly touch the hairs on one of the roots (not a root tip though), and it practically dissolved as soon as i touched it. Im sort of on the fence as to wether its what ive been reading about or wether its mould - but ive never heard of any mould like that on root systems, nor can i find anything similar at all on the web, as far as plant problems go.

Does anybody have any insight to this, or wether im right or not?? I'd really appreciate any help i can get. I have a decent amount of experience, but when it comes to hydro, im sort of jumping in with both feet rather than testing the waters.

I have two 1000w light systems, a 600w, and countless CFLs and 2 n 4ft light bars. As i said, right now im using two 3x3 trays, and will be picking up six more if this works out, to expand to a 9x9 system, to try to emulate an ABF type grow from then on out. Im using FF trio right now (yes im using the hydroponic growbig not the regular bottle), but will be switching to Flora Nutes as soon as i run out of these. I have a Montana PPM meter, and am using a Liquid pH tester until my electronic one comes in the mail next week.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give

-K1.

by the way, lol, my ppm meter is a MILWAUKEE meter, not MONTANA, lol.
I got a fuckin kid man, n the first brand that popped into my head was HANNAH, n then i said no, that aint it, it starts with an M. So sue me

hahahahahaha fuckin hanna montana....lmfao.....i got kids too so that shit is funny as hell bro. my 10 year old's room is plastered with her.

umm those sound like hairs to me bro. that is a good thing. look for some root porn in earls threads.

btw, shit sounds great man.

Thanks man, n thanks for stoppin by to answer my Q. Ill throw up some pics here in a minute if i can get some good macros for ya. Its just wierd though, the way it looks, you'd swear its mould, lol.

I really admire what you, ABF, n many others have been able to accomplish with your grows, and now that ihave the equipment to do so (or most of the equipment anyways, lol, i still need co2, and a couple other things), i really want to get movin towards my ultimate goal, and be able to keep a perpetual supply of dank nugs coming my way. Im havin troubles cloning, but thats only because i think im taking cuttings from a young-ish plant, that are way too small, so i think its just not workin out the way i wanted it to - but im letting my Dj Short Blueberry plant grow out for another couple weeks while i flower the rest of my soil plants, so ill be giving it another shot once i have some really nice, healthy, big cuttings that i can take from her. We'll see. I might keep my Sputnik #1 from flowering aswell. I havent decided yet what im gonna do. Either way ill give it another try when odds are more in my favor, and then ill just fill both of those tables up with as much dope as i can, lol , n keep upgrading from there.

Anyways, lemme go snap off some pics for you, and for my journal, n ill be right back with ya.

thanks,
-K1

the small white hairs emerging from the main taproot(s) are feeder hairs. they are very fragile. yes they look exactly like mold all white and fuzzy but not very likely is mold. yes they will disolve literally in your hands. once the plant matures a bit, they will not look like this again.

and 5.3 IMO is on the low side. you want to be around 5.8. running at 5.3 u will experience some slight lockout.

I actually know exactly what you mean. Im having a little Cal def problem right now with a couple of my seedlings. I bumped up the Ph to 5.8 n gave the rez some Cal Mag to hopefully correct the problem. I started this grow just a couple days ago n the roots are already showing through the Delta blocks though. The three plants that were deficient were the only plants that werent showing much improvment at all since the transplant into the table. Pretty proud that im getting the hang of this so far. I aint counting my chickens before they hatch or anything believe me, but as long as i can keep the ppm n the ph stable, it should pretty much be all gravy from there right? I have the other elemental issues handled, and within the next couple weeks ill be finishing/beginning the construction of the actual growroom, as im still waiting for my landlord to come in and do some stupid waterproofing in the basement. As soon as he leaves, its lumber, drywall, and panda film time. Ill be building a room thats about 12x10, with a drop ceiling, and im gonna do away with the PVC frame for the trays, and replace them with lumber supports. Also im thinking about building the other trays i need to make this a perpetual grow to save on some cash. But for now im just going to do a frame for two 3x3 trays along one wall, and then leave a space on another wall for the other two. Ill enclose the actual growing areas with panda film, and leave the rest of the room for a veg tent, and possibly even make a cloning chamber in there aswell with some 4ft flouro bars. I dunno yet though, theres so much crap to get done its rediculous, lol .

Thanks for the word on the feeder hairs. I feel alot better about that stuff now, lol. N ill post up those pics i promise, its just kinda hectic around here right now. --N btw, is my ppm way too high for some seedlings?? theyre about 2 wks old but they have their first true leaves and another set on top of that. Im also taking into account that i have a mont old blueberry in there aswell, because it wasnt healthy enough to flower, and i wanna let it grow out so i can clone her a few times n have 6 or 7 BB moms to start the perpetual grow with after this one is done. PPM right now is around 650 give or take.