HYDRO I have a question about hydroponics! ( Water problem ), My plants are sick.

[LaVince]

I use Flora Gro, Flora Micro, Flora bloom.

I got the pH level right.

But like the third picture, The water is initially transparent, but after 2-3 days it becomes turbid. (like first picture)

Bubbles also rise on the surface of the water.

also, There is semen-like jelly on the air stone.

Is it okay if I don't change the water for five days?

Why is this happening?



I have a last question.

Why is the leaf curled up? ( like fourth picture )

The temperature is 27 degrees centigrade.

Please Help me..

[FlyingDutchPaddy]

hi LaVince ,

I'm a hydro grower as well.
For your water becoming cloudy, that sounds like there may be bacteria growing in there that should'nt be there.
I'm thinking that as a result of those bacteria, you're getting that buildup of a jelly-like substance on the airstones...

i'd suggest giving your system a good clean by sterilising the components.
what I do is wash reservoir/buckets with H2O2 (read the label, it should mention how much to add for sterilising/cleaning as opposed to 'just adding some extra O2')
also do the same with the hoses that go to the airstones, as well as the airstones.
while you're cleaning, let the water pump sit in some water with H2O2, as well as the airstones to them soak.

you could let the water pump run for a while in its own container, would let it clean the hoses on the inside.

can take about an hour in all.

next water change, consider adding H2O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide) at a lighter dose to add oxygen to the water, (as opposed to sterilise),

don't know if you can get your hands on something called Hydroguard... (can't find that in the EU, but should be available in the US, unsure about canada).
what I can get in the EU, and also in the US is advanced nutrients Sensizym, havent used it yet though.
supposed to be beneficial bacteria to prevent others from causing problems.

on water:
- wheres it coming from?
- if you leave say 1 gallon somewhere for a few days, does that go cloudy as well?
- could you source other water?

The reservoir:
- does that let any light in?

your plant:
- how are the roots looking like?

can you post pictures of the roots, and the whole plant?

thanks.

[LaVince]

FlyingDutchPaddy
I added a picture.
The roots also have something like a slime.

[LaVince]

FlyingDutchPaddy
May I use the bacterial activator in the fishbowl?

[FlyingDutchPaddy]

@LaVince,

i dont know about using hydroguard/voodoo juice/seisizym in a fishbowl...
i suppose it depends on what lives in the bowl...

i wouldn't want you to kill the goldfish with a bacterial infection ;-).

read the labels is the best advice i can give... that, or even contact the manufacturer to ask if it is safe to use in a fishbowl with live fish...

[LurkingInTheGrass]

your water is 27C ??

way to hot - get your res temp down to 20C (18.3ish is the sweet spot for water, that is the temperature that water can physically hold the most oxygen)

the plants are starved for oxygen (warm water cannot physically hold enough oxygen for a plant)
the slime - is also because of the warm temp - junk is growing as close to the air as possible

you should look into Beneficial Bacteria (HydroGaurd, Great White, Voodoo Juice) - these combat the bad bacteria (slime) and root rot

you will need to flush and sterilize (just an alcohol wipe down) to your buckets, airstone (might want to replace it, or soak it in alcohol), hoses, everything that as been wet, everything that gets wet

[LaVince]

@LurkingInTheGrass
May I use the bacterial activator in the fishbowl?

[FlyingDutchPaddy]

@LurkingInTheGrass,
true, the peroxide does not discriminate between good/bad bacteria...

at levels where its just used to add extra O2 to the water, usually its more or less gone after 2 days.

i would amend my first advice as such:

- run the system with H2O2 for a week to get rid of all the bacteria,
- wash the system down with clean water,
- at water change, go with hydroguard/voodoo juice/sensizyme ....

@LaVince,
the temp of 27C,
is that the water temp or air temperature?

if water, like Lurking said - get it cooler.

[LurkingInTheGrass]

LaVince
Im sorry - I don't know if you can use the Bacteria in a fishbowl (there is bound to be something for fish)

FlyingDutchPaddy
correct - a glass of H2O2 changes to water in 24 hours (loses the extra Oxygen) - I wouldn't want to drink it though

[Toker1]

What is your PH at right now? What is the water temp?
looks like your roots are suffering.