Slime

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rotrab

Active Member
First grow here. Have three three week old Super Skunk plants growing in a home made 10 Gal. DWC (7 Gal. of water). Using Lucas Formula at half strength, PH at 6 and I have developed some white slime in the reservoir. The temp is 78-80 in the cab with 24 hr. light from a MH.

1. Will the slime hurt the plants? Right now the plants are growing like crazy, so I figure I must be on the right track.

2. Is there a way to get rid of the slime?
 
Circle_of_Joy

Circle_of_Joy

Active Member
Like you, I have slime- excpt it is coating the root of my plant- and the water is always bubbling and moving. So I assume its the nutrients (specifically- the drop of SuperThrive I always add to changed/new water) and it doesnt harm the plant, cuz its been doing it for a while and Ive seen no negative effects.
 
Al B. Fuct

Al B. Fuct

once had a dog named
It's probably an accumulation of pythium or fusarium crap. Yes- it will hurt the plants.

If you are NOT using organic nutes, treat the nutrient tank with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 50% horticultural grade, at 1ml H2O2 per 1 litre of tank volume. Might go to 4-5ml as a one time shock treatment to kill the mass of pathogens.

H2O2 will instantly kill the pathogens and oxygenate the roots. Regular treatment, every 3-4 days, with 50% grade H2O2 at 1ml/litre will keep your tanks and roots pathogen-free as well as add oxygen direct to the roots.

If you're using organic nutes, H2O2 will break them down. There may be organic solutions to the pathogen problem- we have organics experts floating around who I hope will comment.
 
R

rotrab

Active Member
Thanks for input Al!

Can I find the type of H202 you are talking about off the shelf at a regular store?

In the mean time the plants are growing like crazy! I can't believe how fast they are growing from day to day! Up to 75% nutes.
 
B

basinlat

Well-Known Member
I saw some algea and something else control at store that you add to water. Didnt say it was for hydro or anything but has anyone ever used in their rez?
 
Al B. Fuct

Al B. Fuct

once had a dog named
rotrab said:
Can I find the type of H202 you are talking about off the shelf at a regular store?
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You probably won't find the 50%, horticultural grade in anything but a hydro shop. However, it's the most economical to use, especially if you buy in bulk. I get 25L jugs for about $120, lasts about 8-9 mos.

You can substitute weaker grades as found at pharmacies. 3% H2O2 should be used at 17ml/litre of tank volume. 6% at about 8ml/litre. If you have big tanks, this can get pricey. I have had someone around here also warn me about 'stabilisers' in the pharmacy grades which are said not to be good for plants. However, I have not confirmed nor denied this nor identified what these stabilisers might be. I have used pharm grades in a pinch in the past.
 
Al B. Fuct

Al B. Fuct

once had a dog named
chabnock said:
Have you done a total res. change, and flushed your plants?
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A tank change will give the appearance of removing some of the slime, but it'll be back- in force- in about 3-4 days, when all the chlorine has evaporated from the tapwater used to make up new solutions if some pathogen control is not used. Gotta kill the majority of the rotten little beggars and then keep them suppressed/controlled with regular applications of an antimicrobial like H2O2.

H2O2 is my antimicrobial choice because it gives off oxygen in the rootzone while breaking down pathogens.
 
th3bigbad

th3bigbad

Well-Known Member
ABF---NICE INFO i cant +rep ya but i would if i could. u so big brained!!!

rotrab---- have you checked your res temps???
 
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rotrab

Active Member
I did change the res, but the slime came back within a day or so. I will go to Hydro Store and see what they have. I just want to get threw this first grow and see if I want to continue. My kiddos are suspicious...sigh....:cry:
 
Al B. Fuct

Al B. Fuct

once had a dog named
rotrab said:
I did change the res, but the slime came back within a day or so. I will go to Hydro Store and see what they have.
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Kinda what I expected. Your local hydro shop will have small containers of H2O2, usually 50% or 35%. A lot of hydro shops repackage bulk H2O2 under the brand name 'OxyPlus.' A 500ml bottle should get you through at least 2 crops.

I just want to get threw this first grow and see if I want to continue. My kiddos are suspicious...sigh....:cry:
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no, we can't have much of that. :?

Hey kids, don't spoil Santa's surprise!
 
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azure_ocean

Active Member
my plant had a green slime on the roots, i live in hawaii and can hydro outside, is this causing this? will it spead? is it bad? i pulled the one that had it the worst. do the roots change color outdoors? is there too much light penatrating the growing vessel? they are suspended, using good fertiziers, help!!!
 
Al B. Fuct

Al B. Fuct

once had a dog named
azure_ocean said:
my plant had a green slime on the roots, i live in hawaii and can hydro outside, is this causing this? will it spead? is it bad? i pulled the one that had it the worst. do the roots change color outdoors? is there too much light penatrating the growing vessel? they are suspended, using good fertiziers, help!!!
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Yep, you need to block light to the nutrient tank, otherwise it becomes an algae farm. You need to block light to roots anyway. Algae won't generally hurt a plant but it will compete for food.

Yes, having a nute tank outdoors will expose it to more passing algae spores.

Roots should never be anything but white.
 
th3bigbad

th3bigbad

Well-Known Member
Al B. Fuct said:
*sigh* yeah, the cost of all the oversized hats is breaking the bank, too. ;)

Thanks for the compliment. :)
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*sign* still cant +rep ya but i feel your pain,,,i had to get a 2nd job just to afford pillows. not cuza my brain is so big,,, more cuza i have a huge ego lol
 
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