Possible root rot and other issues - RDWC

[freesativa]

Hi all, I think I may have root rot starting. I have one root system that appears to have root rot starting, and one plant is starting to have yellowing leaves. This all started after my last check in last night (approx 8pm). I did notice the reservoir had a brownish build up on the sides yesterday. I am using well water and it tends to have a high iron count. All my pots and pans get a redish residue if I don't dry them right. The water looks brownish in the buckets, but crystal clear in a glass cup and it doesn't look or feel like anything but water.

Here's some info on my system.
I have a 4 5gal bucket DWC/------------ system, with a 5gal reservoir. I'm growing in my unheated garage in a 4'x4'x7' tent, with a 400w HID. Plant level temps have been in the 70-80 range, primarily in the lower 70's. The tent is vented outside and the intake is from the garage. The water temps run mostly in the 60's, with a low of 59 and a high of 73. The PH has mostly been around 6+/-, with a low of approx 4 and a high of approx 7. My base water had approx 80ppm. I am using GH flora series nutrients. I forget the amounts I used (I am using a feeding cycle I found online), but I started at approx 180ppm for the first ten days. On 4/11 I removed most of my water (10gal+ out of approx 15gal) and upped the nutrients (per the formula). I'm at approx 355ppm right now.
I am growing 3 critical kush and 1 og kush,all feminized. All the seeds were germinated in rockwool cubes. 3 out 4 of the seedlings were moved to the buckets on 4/1. A 4th seedling was transferred on 4/4 (it's 3 days younger than her sisters). All but the youngest seedling have roots dropping into the bucket.

Here are some pics:

My setup:

Youngest seedling (critical kush):

OG Kush (possible root rot):

Critical Kush with yellowing leaves:

Critical Kush (possible mutant?):

Reservior with brown residue on sides:

So what's the prognosis doctors?

 

[freesativa]

I'm debating adding bleach to the water and running it sterile from here on out. I'm not sure how much I should use though.

 

[danknessdude]

Sit tight. One of the grow gurus will show up and help you

 

[freesativa]

I added 2ml of household bleach last night. I forgot to mention before that my water is well water.
I just checked the girls and while they all look healthy, there's been no change in the roots except that the plant that might be a mutant has got a tiny bit of black on its roots now. The brownish/black substance is only on the roots that are above the water line.

 

[JJ Bones]

What is the water temperature for your buckets? Both water and atmosphere temperature is vital for a great hydroponic grow.

You should aim to keep your water temps around 65F-70F with 68F being a sweet spot.

Your air-stones won't been effective is your water temps are getting too warm, thus causing root rot.

No bleach, if anything hydrogen peroxide.

 

[freesativa]

Thanks JJ, my water temps have mostly been in the mid 60's, with a low of 59 and a high of 73. At plant level the temps have been mostly in the 70's, with a low of 66 and a high of 84. As we speak the water is at 64.1 and the plant level temp is 75.3. My temps don't tend to swing much so far.
I have been keeping pretty thorough records. Everytime I check on the pants or do anything, I write down the time, temps, changes, etc. I also have a remote temp/hum moniter that I'm constantly checking.
Thanks for any advice, I appreciate it.

 

[freesativa]

I found an infrared thermometer I forgot I had. It appears to work. So I zapped my plants and I came up with 64f, which is pretty close to the reservoirs temp of 63. The wireless thermometer/humid monitor I have sitting on a bucket appears to be absorbing the heat and giving off the wrong temps (75). Should I be concerenced with mid 60’s temps?

Here are some pics I took a little while ago:

Corresponding plant. She looks good.

This girl is confusing me, what is her story?

Hydrogen peroxide? How much and can I just add it to my reservoir?
My grow is in my unheated, unvented, moldy garage. The area I live in is a very humid area and mold is an issue once the weather warms up. The past three years I grew outside or in a greenhouse and mold was always an issue eventually. Right now my air intake is the garage and I'm vented outdoors. In another month I'm going to switch the intake to outdoor. Am I better off running (not sure if this is the correct term) a "dead tank"?

 

[David Bowman]

FWIW, while I have zero experience with hydro, that doesn't look like root rot to me. Root rot typically starts at the end of the roots and works its way up towards the plant. Yours look like they have been discolored somehow but only in the middle portion of the roots, the ends and very tops look to be in fine shape. Could this discoloration be due to low water temperature? You could try to raise the temperature up to what I understand is the ideal temperature of 68° and see what happens.

 

[danknessdude]

I was thinking it was from bruising against the basket. not a hydro guy though. I have iron in my water as well. Just had to replace my water softener due to the take being full of rust.

 

[freesativa]

Thanks guys, whatever the black/brownish stuff is, it's only on the roots that are above the water level and it doesn't seem to be effecting growth. Any thoughts on my possible mutant plant?