Is changing the reservoir really necessary?

[Cissy]

I know some of you do this once every 2 weeks. Others suggest doing it as much as once a week.

However, I am using one giant reservoir and have been reluctant to change it more than is absolutely necessary.

I keep adding water and nutes, and I keep checking the water to see if it is dirty or getting any algae. But so far, after 5 weeks without a change, there's no sign of any problems. My plants are looking great!

I changed it after the 1st 2 week, so they are now 7 weeks in and close to harvest. Like i said, i checked all the time for problems and I just adjusted the PPM by adding a bit more nutes each time I topped off the water.

I am just wanting to know, is there some unseen problem I could face from not changing the water once a week? This seems to have worked out just fine, maybe I was lucky? Maybe I am not seeing a problem, but it is still there? hmm

Why change it so often? Based on my limited experience here (this being my 1st grow), it seems like that would have been nothing but a waste of time and money.

PS - I was adding some 35% H2O2 for awhile there, but stopped doing that as well, since it also seemed unnecessary.

 

[BoomerBloomer57]

In the beginning,,,,,,,

Dang I love that phrase!

anywhichway, I flush once a week when I start them in the coolers in the net pots. Water level 2 to four finger below the netpot. I keep em at 5.8 ph, 450 ppm and 67 degrees in the water. As the roots seek out the water I lower the level, but never more than halfway down. I use 120qt Igloos. Get a good tri meter and recalibrate at least once per month.

When the girls go into flower with 12/12 I don't flush anymore. No need to. My girls will consume 1 1/2 gallons of water per day and more. I just add more water and a touch of bloom booster to 650 maybe 750 ppms. Flush with water only the last two weeks. Some will use additives at this point but your just adding more of something the plant does not need. That could mean the difference between a really smooth kick ass smoke or a lung buster.

I use a very affordable nutrient. My plants love it and so far in one year I have used maybe fifteen dollars worth of nutes on 3 grows. Check out my picks under "So I got to thinking,,,, current and past indoor dwc and killer outdoor grows with 13 foot sativas and 11 foot indicas.




Hope this helps and,,,,,

My name is Boomer and I get schtoned, and you?


ftp

 

[Cissy]

In the beginning,,,,,,,

Dang I love that phrase!

anywhichway, I flush once a week when I start them in the coolers in the net pots. Water level 2 to four finger below the netpot. I keep em at 5.8 ph, 450 ppm and 67 degrees in the water. As the roots seek out the water I lower the level, but never more than halfway down. I use 120qt Igloos. Get a good tri meter and recalibrate at least once per month.

When the girls go into flower with 12/12 I don't flush anymore. No need to. My girls will consume 1 1/2 gallons of water per day and more. I just add more water and a touch of bloom booster to 650 maybe 750 ppms. Flush with water only the last two weeks. Some will use additives at this point but your just adding more of something the plant does not need. That could mean the difference between a really smooth kick ass smoke or a lung buster.

I use a very affordable nutrient. My plants love it and so far in one year I have used maybe fifteen dollars worth of nutes on 3 grows. Check out my picks under "So I got to thinking,,,, current and past indoor dwc and killer outdoor grows with 13 foot sativas and 11 foot indicas.




Hope this helps and,,,,,

My name is Boomer and I get schtoned, and you?


ftp

My reservoir holds nearly 200 gallons of water. So to get my PPM up in that much water, it takes a ton of nutes. Thats why I don't want to change this anymore often than I need to.

My PPM is at about 1500 now, 7 weeks into flower. I started at about 900 when I 1st put them to flower and gradually brought that up.

I am not going to flush though. From what I have read, it would make no sense to do so. I believe that drying and curing properly will do the trick. I just don't see the logic in depriving the plants of nutes during the time they need it most. They'd be pulling the stored nutes during that time anyway, so I just to buy into the whole flushing for two weeks thing. Seems that this is an issue that just as many people are for as are against, but it is neither here nor there as far as this thread is concerned.

So basically, youre saying that you go the entire time through flowering without changing your reservoir a single time?

I change my vegging plants and moms every 2 weeks, but like i said, it's just not practical for me to do so in the big flowering reservoir i have.

 

[myxedup]

You can go the entire grow without changing out your nutes but I would definately continue to add the H2O2 as it keeps everything clean and oxyginated. If I were you though, I would flush the system and see if your plants spurt after a day or so. If they do, then they certainly appreciated the new nutes, if not, then you know you can wait longer between rez changes.

Hope that helps

 

[sympLED]

Just one episode of root rot that killed my crop was enough to convince me. I want fresh replenished water each week. During the week I top off the reservoir with plain RO water. It's working great. I couldn't imagine not changing my water. Now, the fact that your reservoir is that big plays a huge roll. Keep on rockin the grow man! I do things differently from some of the things considered normal too so more power to you.

 

[Cissy]

You can go the entire grow without changing out your nutes but I would definately continue to add the H2O2 as it keeps everything clean and oxyginated. If I were you though, I would flush the system and see if your plants spurt after a day or so. If they do, then they certainly appreciated the new nutes, if not, then you know you can wait longer between rez changes.

Hope that helps

I did not notice a spurt the 1st time I changed it and they have been steady growing ever since. But you probably have a good idea. I should do it this time, then if there is no difference, I will know next time (if there is a next time) to not bother with it.

 

[xceptional]

i like to change my res often. not only can you see new new growth you will also fix any deficiencies you see. not saying that you are not getting growth or that you should see defiencies this just fixes them and proactively prevents slow growth and deficiencies.

 

[BoomerBloomer57]

My reservoir holds nearly 200 gallons of water. So to get my PPM up in that much water, it takes a ton of nutes. Thats why I don't want to change this anymore often than I need to.

[I]With my system I add the nutes to the coolers once I have them filled with the right amount of water. Right now I have 600 gallons of rain water stored. I monitor it for ppm and ph and keep an air stone or two in them to help keep it fresh.[/I]

So basically, youre saying that you go the entire time through flowering without changing your reservoir a single time?

I just add water from my rain barrels and add a bloom booster, monitor ph to 5.8 and keep the water temp to 67, my girls don't like it over 850 ppms. My plants are now in the third week of flower. They drink 1 1/2 gallons a day and more.

I change my vegging plants and moms every 2 weeks, but like i said, it's just not practical for me to do so in the big flowering reservoir i have.

All our systems are different. I've developed mine to not rob my wallet by buying expensive add ins. My Nutrient bill for the last 3 grows was less than $15.00

Check out my "So I got to thinking " threads and see the pics. In my shed you will find 4 Containers. Veg food, Bloom Boost and ph down and a bottle of Hygrozyme. That's it.

Tri-meters, Chemistry 101 and a blue thumb.

Know yer nutes.

My name is still Boomer and I think I'm high.....


ftp

 

[Immortal One]

I change it one time, to go to my flower nutes.

if res res is light proof, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[sympLED]

One thing I did differently with this grow was build a system that constantly circulates the solution from a bottom reservoir out of the light up to the main reservoir which drains back into the lower reservoir. I have airstones in both reservoirs. My temperature and pH stay nicely balanced and the plants have seriousl enjoyed the circulaiton.

 

[Cissy]

One thing I did differently with this grow was build a system that constantly circulates the solution from a bottom reservoir out of the light up to the main reservoir which drains back into the lower reservoir. I have airstones in both reservoirs. My temperature and pH stay nicely balanced and the plants have seriousl enjoyed the circulaiton.

I've only got one reservoir and the plants site directly in it. but i do have a shitload of airstones in there and a good flow of bubbles keeping things moving.

 

[burninjay]

200 gal is a pretty big buffer zone. Aside from contamination, a good reason to routinely change the res is because of the changing concentrations of nutrients in the solution. You can keep the ppm in acceptable range with your meter, but can you verify that the NPK after 2 weeks is the same as 5 weeks? Not possible. Now the bigger res you use vs total plant mass, the less the relative concentrations will change.

You can visually check for algae, rot, etc and treat as seen, but can't check for proper nutrient balance.

If you are succeeding, then obviously this will work for you. I wouldn't try it with a 5 gal res tho.

 

[burninjay]

On another note, If you're planning to continue 1500ppm until done, I would reconsider the flush or ramp the nutes back down toward harvest.

Forgoing the flush is certainly arguable, but IMO this is not applicable unless you are feeding at the same rate the plant is consuming. At harvest time the plant will not be building new material and 1500ppm would be a bit hot at that stage in the game.

 

[Cissy]

On another note, If you're planning to continue 1500ppm until done, I would reconsider the flush or ramp the nutes back down toward harvest.

Forgoing the flush is certainly arguable, but IMO this is not applicable unless you are feeding at the same rate the plant is consuming. At harvest time the plant will not be building new material and 1500ppm would be a bit hot at that stage in the game.

Awesome. Sounds reasonable. I think I will slowly cut back during the last 2 weeks. Maybe bringing it back down under 1000ppm. perhaps around 800

 

[tricho79]

Maybe just flush the plants with clean water? You may have to bite the bullet and change the water one time. Its called TLC and the plants need it!