Grow Mediums Deep Water Culture Basics - Bubbleponics

[d.t]

Thanks for all the help so far, now I really need help! Turned the bubbles off earlier and good news when I went to check on them just now is there’s roots starting to poke through, but extremely bad news I have Pond life! Yes these litttle fucks are some kind of baby fly they are hopping about, any idea what they are? Are they common? What can I do apart from change the solution?

Quick google says springtails... hmmm thoughts on them?

 

[d.t]

Switched the feed hopefully that’s the end of them. I strugggle keeping temperature up in the winter as it’s in my shed, I’m thinking with a water heater as water is much easier to heat than air hydro be excellent for the winter, not so ideal in the summer! Water chillers are a lot more expensive! In the day the water temperature has been 28-30c that’s way too hot right? Probably perfect for the springtails

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Switched the feed hopefully that’s the end of them. I strugggle keeping temperature up in the winter as it’s in my shed, I’m thinking with a water heater as water is much easier to heat than air hydro be excellent for the winter, not so ideal in the summer! Water chillers are a lot more expensive! In the day the water temperature has been 28-30c that’s way too hot right? Probably perfect for the springtails

That water temperature is far from ideal which is 20°C/68°F. Are you running Botanicare HydroGuard? If not this is going to fail. I have run DWC that warm for a few weeks with hydroguard. Freeze quarts of water in jugs and throw one in each day as the hottest part of the day is coming on. It will help. Wrap insulation around the bucket even a blanket will help. Do regular reservoir changes to keep the critters out. Rinse them gently out of the net pot.

 

[Rifleman]

Double down on that. Hydroguard is a Must at those temps.

 

[d.t]

Double down on that. Hydroguard is a Must at those temps.

Can you use beneficial microbes with silver bullet roots?
I have some but haven’t added any yet. Not the hydro guard but a form of microbe tea called ‘biosys teap’ that is:
“

• 8 Species of Endo mycorrhizal fungi
• 8 Species of Bacillus
• 2 Species of Nitrogen fixing bacteria
• 2 Species of Pseudomonas
• 2 Species of Trichoderma

 

[Sage]

Can you use beneficial microbes with silver bullet roots?
I have some but haven’t added any yet. Not the hydro guard but a form of microbe tea called ‘biosys teap’ that is:
“

• 8 Species of Endo mycorrhizal fungi
• 8 Species of Bacillus
• 2 Species of Nitrogen fixing bacteria
• 2 Species of Pseudomonas
• 2 Species of Trichoderma

SIlver Bullet roots isn't compatible with any kind of bacteria/fungi - it kills them all. The choice is between running 'sterile' ie Silver Bullet (which is bascially Hydrogen peroxide with some silver ions or something) or using beneficials such as Biosys tea, TNC Bactorr or Hydrogaurd. Personally I prefer Hydrogaurd but if you're in the UK it's a b**** to get hold of so now I use TNC bactorr which works as well but does make the nutrient solution dark black and stains the roots. Good luck!

 

[d.t]

I have lifted the bucket up of the floor thinking some air underneath the pot could help? Like you see houses raised on stilts in it countries to some allow air flow. It’s bloody hot, it’s ok whilst I’m off work I can go in and put ice cubes in there, il try the frozen bottle later, I the leave door open and pray neighbours don’t smell it, but go back soon

SIlver Bullet roots isn't compatible with any kind of bacteria/fungi - it kills them all. The choice is between running 'sterile' ie Silver Bullet (which is bascially Hydrogen peroxide with some silver ions or something) or using beneficials such as Biosys tea, TNC Bactorr or Hydrogaurd. Personally I prefer Hydrogaurd but if you're in the UK it's a b**** to get hold of so now I use TNC bactorr which works as well but does make the nutrient solution dark black and stains the roots. Good luck!

ah ok this is what I thought but wasn’t 100% as it’s all new to me. I will go for the silver bullet roots and try and keep it sterile for now.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

I have lifted the bucket up of the floor thinking some air underneath the pot could help? Like you see houses raised on stilts in it countries to some allow air flow. It’s bloody hot, it’s ok whilst I’m off work I can go in and put ice cubes in there, il try the frozen bottle later, I the leave door open and pray neighbours don’t smell it, but go back soon

ah ok this is what I thought but wasn’t 100% as it’s all new to me. I will go for the silver bullet roots and try and keep it sterile for now.

My personal experience with sterile hydro ended in disaster. Good luck with that.

 

[d.t]

Ah right ok well I thinking of alternating, hitting the roots with some biosys tea every 3rd week or so, but I need to read up more not sure that will work, trying to keep it sterile other weeks be like taking 2 steps forward two steps back. Still not sure as you can probably tell! I don’t like the idea of the silver bullet roots as it means I can’t pour the old solution out on garden without killing the good microbes in my soil and I’m abit tight I don’t like wasting stuff. The old nutrients will still have plenty of good in them for my roses n that. Seems to be doing ok at the moment anyway so will let it carry on for the moment as it is. Instead of changing the solution every 2 weeks due to the high temps rpbabgl going to do it every week or less. Got a WiFi camera today which I’m happy about as always worried about it when I go out what with high temperatures n that, now I’m getting paranoid that the thing is stored on a cloud somewhere and who’s gonna see that?! But must remind myself CHILL WINSTON, ITS ONLY A COUPLE PLANTS

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Ah right ok well I thinking of alternating, hitting the roots with some biosys tea every 3rd week or so, but I need to read up more not sure that will work, trying to keep it sterile other weeks be like taking 2 steps forward two steps back. Still not sure as you can probably tell! I don’t like the idea of the silver bullet roots as it means I can’t pour the old solution out on garden without killing the good microbes in my soil and I’m abit tight I don’t like wasting stuff. The old nutrients will still have plenty of good in them for my roses n that. Seems to be doing ok at the moment anyway so will let it carry on for the moment as it is. Instead of changing the solution every 2 weeks due to the high temps rpbabgl going to do it every week or less. Got a WiFi camera today which I’m happy about as always worried about it when I go out what with high temperatures n that, now I’m getting paranoid that the thing is stored on a cloud somewhere and who’s gonna see that?! But must remind myself CHILL WINSTON, ITS ONLY A COUPLE PLANTS

I don't know why new growers seem to need to reinvent the wheel but they do. Keep posting what you do I am always interested in new methods.