Plants were doing great from January to May, summer arrives and hydroponic start looking like this. We took everything out, flushed the systems, sterilized and replanted. We keep getting these results. There is white sediment under each sponge and in the holding tank. Weird thing is some plants are doing very well sporadically throughout the system. I don't know what else to try!
by hedgehog_fan
10 Comments
Would love to know more about your setup – the plants at the front of the pic that are dying seem to look like theyre under a purple light while the back ones have more of a blue tint.
Whats your PH like? Seems to me like a lockout or nutrient deficiency but lighting could do it
What’s the temperature of the water ?
What are the air and water temperatures? I assume this is indoors without the sun heating it? Is this a garage that parks a car with a big engine possibly spiking temperatures after you park it?
1. Temps, you may need a cooler. Don’t cheap out on the cooler either, you really need a proven brand that uses titanium coils… see #2
2. What material is your res made out of? Low-grade stainless or aluminum will leach heavy metals into your solution because of the high EC. Some plants are particularly sensitive to heavy metals.
Check your rez for signs of corrosion, and get yourself an EcoPlus, Vevor, or Active Aqua 1/10 cooler.
It definitely looks like a combination of things.
For one it looks very dry in there, I’d add in a humidifier or something to raise humidity.
The next big thing is going to be the access to nutrients your plants have. Have you been measuring the EC and pH ? As someone else pointed out it looks a lot like nutrient lockout which would suggest your pH is probably way too high or you added way too much nutrient solution to the point it’s creating a chemical reaction and nutrients are binding to each other.
Now as far as the sediment usually some nutrients like calcium will build up to some extent, but is not overly harmful itself. However unless I’m just seeing it wrong, that looks like a huge buildup there, like a literal pile of nutrients in that reservoir. What nutrient brand/line are you using and how much of it?
Go with square PVC better nutrition less settlement
Look like too high EC.
Details?
It almost looks like your nutes are falling out. What brand do you run and what is your EC? Try feeding 1/2 strength on the bottle. Are you maintaining a good PH? Another thing if it’s summer is to keep your humidity in check. What is your RH?
These pipe rig setups still need a bubbler in the reservoir or you will get problems like this.