What's going on in my DWC? Rising PH? A little Foam? Hmm

Hey RIU,

This is my first run with DWC, and over the last few days I noticed a couple things: My PH rises to 6.1-6.5 after top off or feeding. I usually change my buckets after 7-8 days. ALSO there is a little froth/foam on the surface of the water. ALSO the water smells like cabbage or something of that smell profile, it's only when I put my nose a bit inside the bucket, but it's not profound. The roots are white, 1 of them has a tint on them but that's also from using Floralicous which has a dark like molasses.

The plants do show signs of some deficiency's but that's towards the lower fan leaves or in the mid range of plants. Plants are about 4 ft tall and Day 22 of flower and the budding is very healthy and no burns on tips or deficiency's making it's way to the tops yet.

Am I experiencing the onset of root rot? If not, what could be happening in the water? What are some steps to avoid bigger problems?I have provided a profile of my entire setup and recent water change.

Strains Day 22 of Flower
1-LA Chocolope
1-Pineapple Express
1-C99

Feed/Res Change 1/18/14
PH - 5.8
PPM - 1180
Tap Water - 110ppm

Nutrients
FloraDuo A & B
CalMagic
Diamond Nector
Liquid Kool Bloom
Floralicous Plus
Great White
Bud Candy
Drip Clean

Environment
5X5 Gorilla Grow Tent
1000 Watts MH/HPS - Air cooled with intake 6in fan
Exhaust 6in fan on Phresh Filter
Plenty of air circulation with wall mount occillating fan

Temps
Day: 75f-80f
Night: 64f-68f
Thanks for any help!

Water Temps
65f-71/72f All depends on how long I take to swap the frozen bottles. It's a PITA!

What are your water temps? Pics?

"Let it be"

NrthrnMichigan said:

What are your water temps? Pics?

"Let it be"

Click to expand...

Water temps is my one thing I battle with. I checked them today and they were 70f. I threw frozen bottles in each one to drop the temps. Before that the last temps in water was 71f but it probably was that high for a day, not too long.

Unfortunately my iPhone 5s phone doesn't take good pics under HPS (every phone really) but I do have some picks of the top bud sites, all healthy. I'll upload them in a min.

try Ice blocks?

Scroga said:

try Ice blocks?

Click to expand...

Could the warmer water cause the PH to rise?

Water temps above 68 can create havoc to your root zone. Safe temps 65- 68.
This works for my 3 bucket dwc: I put my buckets inside of 10 gallon totes filled halfway with water. I use frozen water bottles inside the totes. It keeps the water inside my buckets between 64.5 - 68.
I use this method instead of just putting the ice bottles inside the buckets. Keeps the roots from being exposed to ice and possible breakage of those delicate snow white roots.

Just my .02
View attachment 2967755

"Let it be"

NrthrnMichigan said:

Water temps above 68 can create havoc to your root zone. Safe temps 65- 68.
This works for my 3 bucket dwc: I put my buckets inside of 15 gallon totes filled halfway with water. I use frozen water bottles inside the totes. It keeps the water inside my buckets between 64.5 - 68.
I use this method instead of just putting the ice bottles inside the buckets. Keeps the roots from being exposed to ice and possible breakage of those delicate snow white roots.

Just my .02
View attachment 2967755

"Let it be"

Click to expand...

this is a good idea....

NrthrnMichigan said:

Water temps above 68 can create havoc to your root zone. Safe temps 65- 68.
This works for my 3 bucket dwc: I put my buckets inside of 15 gallon totes filled halfway with water. I use frozen water bottles inside the totes. It keeps the water inside my buckets between 64.5 - 68.
I use this method instead of just putting the ice bottles inside the buckets. Keeps the roots from being exposed to ice and possible breakage of those delicate snow white roots.

Just my .02
View attachment 2967755

"Let it be"

Click to expand...

What a great idea! Thank you!

I do plan on investing in a chiller, but this method will be perfect solution for now.

It works. Check out my grow . I think those blue tubs were about 6 bucks at wallyworld. I change out 2 ice bottles per tub about every 8-10 hours. But I keep my air temps relatively low. If you're pushing 80°+ degrees you'll change those bottles out every 6 hours or less.

Keep it cool
Ha

"Let it be"

When you top off your buckets ... what PH water are you using?
I top mine off with a little lower PH. 5.5, 5.6 because I expect it to rise to 5.8 within an hour or two .

"Let it be"

It doesn't sound like you have a real problem. I found that using tap water I would have to re adjust pH after first 24-48 hours, I believe from normal off gassing of chlorine. After that not a problem. Your temps have been not that bad, and just breaking the warm cycle with an ice bottle is great. Normally a rot issue will result in a pH decrease.

Diamond nector: humic acids.
Kool bloom: vitamins & nutrient transporting acids
Floralicous Plus: metabolic fuel solution is packed with powerful vitamins, complex plant sugars, protein building amino acids, seaweed extracts, carbon building blocks & aromatic oils all in a fulvic acid base.
Bud candy: Organic acids, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Polyphenolic Compounds, Esters, Raw Cane Juice, Sweet Brown Molasses

These are all organics that I belive can feed bad things in your res. Specially the products containing molasses. I'd sugest cuting back on all of that stuff you are adding and stick with just a basic mix of inorganic nutes and some bennies.

Using a similar chemical setup, the General Hydroponic Duo series, with no issues. ((** Note.. Floralicous plus does NOT stain your roots **)) It looks like it should as dark and viscous it is, but it doesn't. The roots should still be that nice healthy white if all is going well. As above res temps are key to keep things nice and happy in your res. I noticed the occasional white froth near times Great White is added myself. Might be your culprit but I'd really not worry unless you are showing clear signs of root rot or other root problems.



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Hey isnt that florowhatever mix supposed to just run for the last maaaybe month of bloom? Or you rot the plants teeth? Cause of high sugars?

Alienwidow said:

Hey isnt that florowhatever mix supposed to just run for the last maaaybe month of bloom? Or you rot the plants teeth? Cause of high sugars?

Click to expand...

That florolicous stuff is used from seedling till final flush according to the instructions.

The object is to supply adequate levels of oxygen to the roots. At 70 degrees, there is plenty. The higher the temps the more oxygen you want to supply to the roots, do this by agitating the water more aggressively.

esinohio said:

That florolicous stuff is used from seedling till final flush according to the instructions.

Click to expand...

Ok then, i guess just keep adding sugars and see how it goes through flush.
For me if i cant see through it i dont add it( or much of it ) in dwc.

True, the water also gets rather dark and logic would say they should be stained lol. I scratched my head on that myself since it looks like you are adding straight ink to the water. Just keep an eye on those res temps and you should be golden! Good luck!

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When doing the ph with ph down and you happen to go to far do not fix it with ph up. This is one thing that will cause the res to froth along with superthrive and a few other things. I initially set the ph(after loading the fertilizer) to 5.5. It should swing up if all is good.

Some great advice! Thank you.

Bird: I do exactly what you do, BUT, I get it down to 5.8. I will drop it down to 5.5 today for my top off and see if it stabilizes to 5.8 that way. It's literally rising maybe 2-3 points, so this method "should" allow the rise to reach a comfortable 5.8-5.9.

Thanks guys!