Aeroponic/NFT Root Rot - Solution?

[Farmer Rich]

Hi All,

Any of you aeroponic growers having trouble with root rot (pythium) and what have you done to correct the problem?

My issues are largely related to reservoir temps getting a tad to warm. I've tried food grade H2O2 with little success.. I added 1 oz to 10 gallons of water, which made fairly mature plants go a bit limp. A quick reservoir swap fixed that, but now I'm a bit gun shy on how to handle this.. All my other systems have been sterilized but I have 6 in flower that I'm nursing to the end.. about 5 more weeks. In addition to the brown roots, there are plenty of healthy ones too.

Peace, Farmer Rich

[jcool09]

What are you using to aerify the reservior? Perhaps additional airstones would help?

JC

[Farmer Rich]

Just the cycle for aeration.. 1 on 5 off with a reasonable drop on the return. I've had successful results in the system prior to a bout of pythium that developed in veg, got a bit better, and then worse during flower.

Current plan is 1/2 oz of 35% H2O2 to 10 gallons.. all at 780 ppm at 5.7

[jcool09]

Conventional wisdom suggests adding air to your reservior.

Root rot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Hydroponics

In hydroponic applications, root rot can occur if the water is not properly aerated. This is usually accomplished by use of an air pump, air stones, or air diffusers. Hydroponic air pumps work much the same way, if not exactly, like aquarium pumps, and are used for the same purpose. Root rot and problems with water aeration are one of the reasons that lead to the development of Aeroponics."

This is a $15 solution that could save your plants.

JC

[Hogdady]

you need a chiller for your resevoir.....

[Farmer Rich]

A chiller is probably the best answer.. Once the res temps start getting into the 70's all bets are off on controlling fungus, especially in aeroponics. Word is Hydrogen Peroxide helps, but I haven't cracked the code in regard to strength and application.

[Hogdady]

Originally Posted by Farmer Rich

A chiller is probably the best answer.. Once the res temps start getting into the 70's all bets are off on controlling fungus, especially in aeroponics. Word is Hydrogen Peroxide helps, but I haven't cracked the code in regard to strength and application.

Have you seen the thread where someone dismantled an old window a/c unit and made a chiller out of it?

[Farmer Rich]

Sounds cool, I'll look into it but I'm not sure if I'm that ambitious, especially with winter coming. I have found a lot of good material on using H2O2 and will do a bit of experimenting as I'm needing a quick fix for one system.

[Hogdady]

Originally Posted by Farmer Rich

Sounds cool, I'll look into it but I'm not sure if I'm that ambitious, especially with winter coming. I have found a lot of good material on using H2O2 and will do a bit of experimenting as I'm needing a quick fix for one system.

[Farmer Rich]

Thanks Hogdady!

Peace, Farmer Rich

[PitViper]

treat with peroxide
add ben bacteria that you killed with the peroxide
add air 24/7
add chiller
thats all I got to say bout that....

[LabRat]

Hey there Farmer Rich.

You're a little low on the H2O2. I've been using 0.5ml/Liter or 2cc/USGal on start up then once a week or so throughout the grow in DWC. So for 10USG I would recommend using 20ml of 35% H2O2.

Eight years and never had root rot (knock wood), but my nute temps are around 68F all the time. My air pump runs 24/7 too.

Hope that helps.

[anthonytaurus]

Is your rez completely closed off except for the water lines? How big is it?

I ask because it might help to simply give the heat some place to go if it's completely contained. You could drill some holes at the top, use grommets and tubing to exhaust the hot air while keeping the light out. Also, it might help to move the rez to a cooler place if you have enough tubing and connectors.

Remember the higher the humidity the more heat the air will hold. And aeroponic system by nature will hold more heat. Perhaps pumping some cool air into the rootzone + exhaust will help as well.

Just some cheaper, possibly less stressful-to-the-plants idea.

[Mr Smith]

Get your res temp down, I have been batling the same issues with my aero. Hygrozyme helps but it aint a cure all. I used bleach about .5 mil per gallon. Alot more efective than hydrogen peroxide. Change water by the next day. You can actually see it fizz and work around the roots. Does cause minor root burning but it will kill the rot along with all the good and bad bacteria and enzymes. So if you use enzymes like hygrozyme, use after the treatment to help convert dead organics in water into a useful product.
Extra air in the water won't help because only so much oxygen can desolved in water when the water temps are up.

[Zenmaster]

toss some ice into the res that helps for a few hours of the hottest parts of the day i froze a couple water bottles with labels without glue ( ones with glue made them sick oops my bad ) and let them float around with a cap on them so it would last a little longer. the best thing i did for them tho was move them into a bigger room were it was colder