should hydroton pellets be covered up? due to alge build up or is it safe to leave.

i have been hearing about alge build up in some peoples gardens using rockwool or hydroton. will it be safe to not cover up the tops of the pots and let nature run its course. or should i flip out and start doing all these percautions to stop it before it happens. or will it even happen at all? i leave it open now and it seems ok. but i am new to hydroton and do not want to screw anything up.

Algae doesn't usually grow on hydroton, just rockwool when its exposed to light...My rockwool is buried in hydroton, no covers, 1200w, no algae.

Metasynth said:

Algae doesn't usually grow on hydroton, just rockwool when its exposed to light...My rockwool is buried in hydroton, no covers, 1200w, no algae.

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Same here 1000w rockwool covered with hydroton...no green slime

Same here. If I use rockwool it covered with hydroton.

I have 1000w blazing in a 4x2 enclosure, so I'll get algae wherever light is hitting a moist surface. If you have crazy light intensity trapped in a small space, I would cover it.

so im using a 125w bulb right now in their first stages. its not too small of a space either like 5x5. should that be ok to leave alone then?

I'm 1200w in a 5' x 6', I think you'll be just fine.

thanks a lot. i wish heat wasnt an issue for me but a 400w is already hot with the 125w

I live in SoCal, triple digit temperatures here in the summer. I'll end up swapping out a 400w for a 5000btu window AC eventually.

i will be running a 125 w for mother and a 250w for veg and a 400w for flower with all that it is going to get muggy

So cal here too. 2600w in flower room and a shit load of T5s in veg room. 5000 btu AC and a large dehumidifier. I never worry about the hydroton unless it in dwc. I over fill sometimes and I can get some mold but that's it.

sirdoughboy said:

so im using a 125w bulb right now in their first stages. its not too small of a space either like 5x5. should that be ok to leave alone then?

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Yeah, not a biggie. Covering isn't essential for you.