Need RDWC root help. Need info on keeping healthy roots.

I am running a RDWC setup under 500-1000w MH lights Been vegging for about a month. They are about 12-14" (all were topped and trained)
They look great up top, only one plant has any spots on its leaves. But none have good roots. They are mostly brown, light root rot here and there. There are lots of healthy why roots, just more brown then not. Have a rez chiller keeping rez at 67-69. Tons of bubbles, have a 112w, a 30w, and 4 or 5 fish tank bubblers.
I do not have an external rez yet, but planning on putting one in and make it auto top off.
I have used 29% peroxide a few times trying to fix it, it seems to help some, but Im afraid im doing more damage then good.
Any root gurus out there? Teach me the way.

Pics for the people that aren't into reading.


Oh yeah, some root pics might help. they look pink and brown X_x

i found out the hard way that too many bubbles can cause root damage.. killing off all the little fine root hairs. but over all your roots look fine plants are nice to man i just commented on your other thread about leaf pruning

The only way I can successfully do DWC is using Aquashield by Botanicare. It's a "beneficials"-type additive, which creates a system of bacteria (?) that reproduces itself. I was adding way too much at first; I found later that adding 5ml per gallon ONLY after I flush seems to keep the roots nice and shiny-white. I flush about every two weeks, and all the water re-adds in between don't seem to affect the performance of Aquashield.

But trust me - after Aquashield, DWC will never be the same again. Once you get those roots to stay clean, the DWC system begins to show its superiority. Ask anyone that ever gave up on DWC why they gave up. They'll usually say "root rot".

everything looks good to me.

I also run a RDWC set up.

Adding a control bucket will really help you out when they get big. I had a couple branches break trying to change out nutes, after that i added a control bucket and i just top off that bucket.

I do have a controll bucket, thats where the chiller and pump Are located. I am considering adding an extra rez with a float valve to auto-top off the system. Have you ever tried this? I am just worried that that water level dropping and leaving the roots exposed may have some thing to do with my root trouble. All the lower roots that stay submerged are pearly white, but the brown stuff is at the top of the rootball that gets exposed to air when the water level drops each day.

dudes, I use sub culture B and M it makes a world of difference in my tanks. I just wasnt getting the good fungus in there. If your changing the tank like we do when it runs dry, then we are loosing all the natural fungus that grows. It works. hydro is not natural remember, it takes a lot to really get what the roots need.

if you have a chiller then what is causing the root rot,my roots are brown but thats from my nutes,if your roots dont have slime on them then I dont think you have root rot.I use h2o2 once in a while.

Are you using a particle filter to filter out the dead cells your root system sheds?

wowzerz said:

I do have a controll bucket, thats where the chiller and pump Are located. I am considering adding an extra rez with a float valve to auto-top off the system. Have you ever tried this? I am just worried that that water level dropping and leaving the roots exposed may have some thing to do with my root trouble. All the lower roots that stay submerged are pearly white, but the brown stuff is at the top of the rootball that gets exposed to air when the water level drops each day.

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Ive heard its better to have your level flucuate. My water supply is right next to my controller. I top it off everyother day. But Ill say it again, your plants look nice. Why do you think you have a problem? Are they slimmy??

Dirtfree said:

Ive heard its better to have your level flucuate. My water supply is right next to my controller. I top it off everyother day. But Ill say it again, your plants look nice. Why do you think you have a problem? Are they slimmy??

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I dont think I have a real problem, I just don't think my root system is as healthy as it could be.
I don't want, "good enough" roots, I want Heath Robinson roots:

(Pic above is not mine, it is obviously Heaths Pics)
I am going to stop the H202 and and try this Hygrozyme for a while and see how it does.
I sure do love this RDWC

captain4200 said:

Are you using a particle filter to filter out the dead cells your root system sheds?

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I have been using my pump without the filter up until now, But i just put it back on.

I like to run the H2o2 when i clean out my nutes. I dont run it all the time. H202 will kill your benifical bacteria.

Heath has been doing this a while, it takes practice.
Keep up the good work!

Dirtfree said:

I like to run the H2o2 when i clean out my nutes. I dont run it all the time. H202 will kill your benifical bacteria.

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I have been using h202 @ (I think) 29%, the guy at the hydro shop said use .5ml every other rez change. This seemed pretty low so I upped it to 2ml every rez change. But I actually just picked up some Hygrozyme after hearing some good things about it. Going to try that. I hear you can run it with small amounts of h202 also with no problems (as it is an enzyme and not something living, from what I understand, I'm not an expert) I am wondering if I should use the h202 with it or not. I'm leaning towards not, but not sure if it would make a difference or even be needed.

Dirtfree said:

Heath has been doing this a while, it takes practice.
Keep up the good work!

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Thanks!
Oh I know it takes a whole lot of practice, and patience is one of the many things this hobby has taught me, that and persistence. So one minor adjustment at a time, and long as I am always improving I am happy. I am so much further now then I was a year ago.
Thanks again.