Re: Stealth Hydroponics Deep Water Culture Growing Q & A
Hey all-
First I want to thank Roseman for the Deep Water Culture tutorial. I was planning to do a hydro system for my first indoor grow and decided to go the bubble route after much research.
I have a couple of questions-
1. I have a Berkey water purifier that claims to leave the beneficial minerals in the water while removing pathogens, bacteria and heavy metals. I plan to do some testing to make sure it's PH stable (since the natural buffers should remain in the water if the filter maker is telling the truth). Berkey filters are not reverse osmosis - they work like a limestone rock mass where smaller and smaller openings filter things out. I also plan to use a rez chiller I'm building myself - my concerns are that -
- has anyone used a Berkey before to filter irrigation water?
- since the roots hang down into the rez, will the temperature of the water become an issue?
2. I've read having roots in the rez is a bad thing since slime results. Does the oxygenation of the water via the bubbler solve this problem?
Welcome to 420, bro, glad you're here.
If you will look at this:
Preface, This is NOT a Grow-Journal. It is a step by step HOW - TO, or a TUTORIAL. I hope to share a very detailed tutorial here, with many pics, on growing a pound of dried, closely manicured indica buds in a closet. I will use a store bought hydroponic KIT and also use a DIY 5 gallon bucket...
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It is very comprehensive, everything is in it, every question you can ask is answered there.
I have not used that filter. I use my plain well water. I see many opinions, mandy arguements and debates about water quality and I won't get in the debate. I've seen hundreds of grows with city water, well water, rain water and unfiltered water, along with RO water, bottled water, distilled water.
My answer is WHATEVER.
Roots in the water is the basics of Hydroponics, DWC and especially Deep Water Culture. For many years, it was thought and believed that Hydroponics required flowing, moving water. (Hanging Gardens of Babylon was the first)
Then we learned it ws Oxegenated water that was required and water that is not flowing or moving is OK if there is added oxygen. (via airstones, or air diffusers) The slime is due to pythium, commonly called root rot, and 99% of the time, we get it when the water is too warm. (over 70 or 71 degrees)
You can prevent root rot with adequate airstones, water lower than 70 degrees or added cehmicals like peroxide or additives made for hydro growing, with enzymes, like SM-90 or Hydrozyme, or Hygrozyme.
Look:
Temperatures, Humidity The temperature is the hardest factor to take control of to me. When confined to a small space, ballasts and HID lights can push temperatures sky-high in no time flat. That is why I use CFLS, to avoid venting heat. This is especially true during hot summer months when...
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