Does anyone know what this shit is? I cant figure it out.

I have a few dwc setups and all but one are doing excellent. All the setups are pretty much exacctly the same, but the one I'm using for my earlier stages (seedlings etc) is developing this shit

It just seems to coat everything in the res. the water temperature is usually about 68 probably a couple of degrees cooler at night, but from my understanding its the high temperatures you need to watch out for. I'm wondering if it could have something to do with that set up having more organics than the rest. Im going crazy trying to control this shit with frequent res changes and h202 therapy and some bleach, but like everyone says its just a bandaid fix. Also i was wondering if the organics possible needed more oxygen to do what they do or what? I'm stumpped pls help.

Looks like brown algae to me. What are you using for a reservoir? Is it absolutely light tight like a cooler?

what nutrients are you using? since that is for your earlier stages, im sure you are using something different and that could be the problem. i have used things before that left "leftovers".

H202 and organics are a NoNo! That is what I have been reading more and more since I began to research DWC and hydro in general. I can't tell you why, and maybe it is an MJ thing only, cuz the non-MJ forums don't speak about that as a problem. I would cease the organics for now, do water and h2o2 only for a week. Do you have any non-organic micro formulas? From my research dyna-gro is a very complete (all micro and macro, compared to other ferts at least) with a 9-3-6 rating. A lot of good talk about it too. Good luck, but I think you will have to eliminate the organics, or the h2o2. I would think you would want organics at the end of the grow more than at the beginning.

looks like some type of algae or bacteria....try adding 1 tsp of Hydrogen Peroxide per gallon...wont hurt the plants and should remove all the impurities....kinda odd for that to develop when the temps are so low.its it building up on or comin out of the air stone?have you checked to make sure its not clogged..might want to replace them if so...a good flush,peroxide and new stone should do the trick

gumball said:

H202 and organics are a NoNo! That is what I have been reading more and more since I began to research DWC and hydro in general. I can't tell you why, and maybe it is an MJ thing only, cuz the non-MJ forums don't speak about that as a problem. I would cease the organics for now, do water and h2o2 only for a week. Do you have any non-organic micro formulas? From my research dyna-gro is a very complete (all micro and macro, compared to other ferts at least) with a 9-3-6 rating. A lot of good talk about it too. Good luck, but I think you will have to eliminate the organics, or the h2o2. I would think you would want organics at the end of the grow more than at the beginning.

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yeah i know im only using the h202 because of the shit thats growning in the res. H202 increases oxygen level do a chemical reaction which breaks the bond between the two oxygen molecules and results in an H20 molecule and an O molecule. H202 reacts with anything organic that contains peroxidasis, which in this scenario usually means aerobes which include alot of the stuff you dont want in your water. Also why it helps with root rot etc. so its basicly eating all the oganic organisms. which yeah its completely voiding the organic nuits (which is fox farm big bloom, which worked wonders in soil) but id rather have no organics than bad ones. atleast the plants live.

and about the light its 100& light proof except i dont have any covers over the net pots but It seems like there shouldn't be but a few pin holes. would some sort of cover make that much of a difference? im really trying to get this dwc thing going i've heard nothing but good things happen when you get your system working right.

I second what GUMBALL says.

Cant use both at the same time bro, one cancels the other.

I think its time to clean every really good an mix a fresh batch of nutes.

This may seem like a silly question but are your air stones putting out alot of bubbles or just a few tinny ones?

Looks like you got yourself you're own micro ecosystem there lol. Thats the shit you see is the stuff that coats fish tank filters after a while.
What it is is basically a giant buildup of bacteria, algae and other crap thats been feeding off you're organic stuff.

Heres a pic of my fishtank filter. Looks the same almost to me.

djruiner said:

looks like some type of algae or bacteria....try adding 1 tsp of Hydrogen Peroxide per gallon...wont hurt the plants and should remove all the impurities....kinda odd for that to develop when the temps are so low.its it building up on or comin out of the air stone?have you checked to make sure its not clogged..might want to replace them if so...a good flush,peroxide and new stone should do the trick

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there doesn't seem to be any clogs. and it just seems to grow on everything, but it looks like its starting on the roots. but i bleach the shit out of the stones tubes and the res almost every 3 days and im trying no to use the h202 its completley counter productive with any organics.

meezy4tw said:

Looks like you got yourself you're own micro ecosystem there lol. Thats the shit you see is the stuff that coats fish tank filters after a while.
What it is is basically a giant buildup of bacteria, algae and other crap thats been feeding off you're organic stuff. Like gumball said, Organic is NOT for dwc. If you do it with organics, regardless of temp, you're going to get that crap in your res eventually. As long as you running organics through it, you're going to be stuck battling that stuff.

Heres a pic of my fishtank filter. Looks the same almost to me.
View attachment 1109622

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Im sorry to say you are wrong on one point... There is no reson you cant use organics in DWC you just cant run it with H2o2. I have been using Botanicares organic line for two years and never had anything like that......

meezy4tw said:

Looks like you got yourself you're own micro ecosystem there lol. Thats the shit you see is the stuff that coats fish tank filters after a while.
What it is is basically a giant buildup of bacteria, algae and other crap thats been feeding off you're organic stuff. Like gumball said, Organic is NOT for dwc. If you do it with organics, regardless of temp, you're going to get that crap in your res eventually. As long as you running organics through it, you're going to be stuck battling that stuff.

Heres a pic of my fishtank filter. Looks the same almost to me.
View attachment 1109622

Click to expand...

UGH thats the conclusion im begining to come to. what form of propigatrion would you recommend. I'm trying not to go back to soil it just takes up too much space and i'm trying to get the most i can out of a little space. or is there some other kind or nuit thats comparable to FF big bloom?

Tahmi.Guhnn said:

there doesn't seem to be any clogs. and it just seems to grow on everything, but it looks like its starting on the roots. but i bleach the shit out of the stones tubes and the res almost every 3 days and im trying no to use the h202 its completley counter productive with any organics.

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well does anyone have a clue as to what causes this stuff to grow. im working with homemade stuff so theres way too many different variables that could be the problem. I'm in the process of renovating that setup but I dont know if what im doing is even making a difference. or if im just wasting my time.

Dirtfree said:

I second what GUMBALL says.

Cant use both at the same time bro, one cancels the other.

I think its time to clean every really good an mix a fresh batch of nutes.

This may seem like a silly question but are your air stones putting out alot of bubbles or just a few tinny ones?

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it actually has more bubbles. smaller res than the rest and same exact pump.


I pose when I roll bitch I'm a roll-model

Tahmi.Guhnn said:

well does anyone have a clue as to what causes this stuff to grow. im working with homemade stuff so theres way too many different variables that could be the problem. I'm in the process of renovating that setup but I dont know if what im doing is even making a difference. or if im just wasting my time.

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Check out this thread : https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=55259

Lot's of good info for you. Brown Slime .................

Try water, h202, epsom salts, and as long as no body disagrees molasses. This should help provide all the nutes your plants need to clean up that crap. Then maybe try to use your nutes again at lower ppm, or doses if no tds, and go slow. Look at dyna-gro site, they have a good soil/hydroponic nute for grow and bloom. They are a tad hight, but they only recommend a teaspoon per gallon, so It should last a bit.

Remember, if it was soil you would flush for a problem, so think of the no nutes as flushing for your problem. But in DWC you have to give them some of those micro nutes or they will get worse, that's why I suggested the epsom/molasses/h2o2 mix. Hope it gets better. Do the plants look ok?

golddog said:

Check out this thread : https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=55259

Lot's of good info for you. Brown Slime .................

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no homo but i love you man i think thats gonna help me get shit str8. its like im lookin in my own closet. thanks man

gumball said:

Try water, h202, epsom salts, and as long as no body disagrees molasses. This should help provide all the nutes your plants need to clean up that crap. Then maybe try to use your nutes again at lower ppm, or doses if no tds, and go slow. Look at dyna-gro site, they have a good soil/hydroponic nute for grow and bloom. They are a tad hight, but they only recommend a teaspoon per gallon, so It should last a bit.

Remember, if it was soil you would flush for a problem, so think of the no nutes as flushing for your problem. But in DWC you have to give them some of those micro nutes or they will get worse, that's why I suggested the epsom/molasses/h2o2 mix. Hope it gets better. Do the plants look ok?

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in general you wouldn't know there was a problem, but the lower leaves are yellowing on some and this might sound wierd but the leaves aren't dropping but on like 1 or 2 but alot of em look "wrinkled"

Dirtfree said:

Im sorry to say you are wrong on one point... There is no reson you cant use organics in DWC you just cant run it with H2o2. I have been using Botanicares organic line for two years and never had anything like that......

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Yeah I realized that, I edited it like 5 minutes after you prbably read it lol

Anyways Guhn, it looks like the people here gave you the info you were looking for, let us know how it goes.

what does it taste like?

robert 14617 said:

what does it taste like?

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are you serious? or have you been smoking some shit?