sterilise roots with aquarium UV light when using DWC setup

Hi,
Did anybody tried to sterilise roots with aquarium UV light when using DWC setup
Thank you.

I use a uv sterilizer in my top off rez. All that is in there is ph'd ro water. Sometimes I still get the white tissue like crap growing in there. If I were to use one on my actual setup, I would use an inline uv filter vs one you just put in there (like the one I have)

Thanks for your reply blackforest.

I am the same, using in top up rez, but this is not what I am wondering.
What would happens if say place submergible aquarium sterilizer into root zone and once a day switch off for an hour or so.
Root rot, slime and other crap that trying to get hold there should be dead (I hope so), but what harm would it do to the roots ?

We cannot keep this on all the time as this is affecting iron and other elements in solution and inline filter will sterilize only what is coming in contact with light.

I really have no idea to be honest. I would use a chemical sterilizer before I would do that I think. I don't know if an hour or so a day would be enough. I was thinking of a recirculating system when mentioning the inline uv. Let us know if you give it a shot.

As a matter of interest, why would you prefer use chemical sterilizers vs UV sterilizer with big assumption that UV light will not kill plant. My thoughts, if UV light will not kill pant why not use it ? (big IF thought ) .

TylerDerton said:

As a matter of interest, why would you prefer use chemical sterilizers vs UV sterilizer with big assumption that UV light will not kill plant. My thoughts, if UV light will not kill pant why not use it ? (big IF thought ) .

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Basically because I don't think it will work. If it can't keep my ro rez top off clean, I don't see how it would work in the actual nute water. Anyone I've ever seen run a uv sterilizer has a chemical sterilizer to go along with it. It never hurts to try though. I've tried all kinds of stuff that didn't work, learning by trial and error is a great way to learn. Who knows, it just may work great for your setup. I just wanted to give you some feedback from someone that uses one since not a ton of people actually do.

Thanks for this info, much appreciated. This is my second take on DWC, first one went terribly wrong.
Somehow my top up reservoir seems to be OK, maybe I need to take look more carefully.
What chemical sterilizer are you using. I am using H2O2, but I do not think this is awesome (as far as people comment on it) due to short lifespan.

TylerDerton said:

Thanks for this info, much appreciated. This is my second take on DWC, first one went terribly wrong.
Somehow my top up reservoir seems to be OK, maybe I need to take look more carefully.
What chemical sterilizer are you using. I am using H2O2, but I do not think this is awesome (as far as people comment on it) due to short lifespan.

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Old post but I was curious to know have you had any breakthroughs with using UV sterilizer or what are your practices now? To keep the system clean

Heisenbeans talked about an inline house uv that treats it before you even add it to your system. Video might still be on YouTube

Gemtree said:

Heisenbeans talked about an inline house uv that treats it before you even add it to your system. Video might still be on YouTube

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Thanks.. he says he still used uc roots I was considering getting one dedicated to each system to avoid uc roots

I think the difference is, The UV light is for aquariums with sensitive fish/reptiles that are gilled or have lungs. You can't really treat chemically so some people opt for inline UV filters. I haven't needed one in my aquarium, and kind of think of them as a gimmick.


In a hydroponic system, you won't kill off the plants directly, but who knows.. Maybe the UV rays will affect the nutrients in some way, and create a toxic soup that does. I doubt it would really do much though.

The UV bulbs require replacement every so often, which adds up.

It's much cheaper to use pool shock/bleach to keep your DWC sterilized.

Drop That Sound said:

It's much cheaper to use pool shock/bleach to keep your DWC sterilized

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and chlorine is a nutrient for cannabis