[FastForward]

Whilst checking pH and EC I noticed the roots of a number of my plants are getting brown and aren't shiny white anymore. They're in an x-stream 'aero' prop and have been for about 2 weeks. Up top everything looks fine but I'm worried that the browning is being caused by light leaks (whenever I open to check nutes, plus it's not very lightsafe with a white correx top, and my fluoro is about 6" away from the correx...).

What should I do? I can't build my veg/flower room properly until around 20th August (no space until then) and I was planning on leaving them in the prop until then (and then moving them into an amazon).

If they're too old for the x-stream, or the x-stream is leaking too much light into the tank, I have an ebb and flow setup here and could replace the prop in the tent with the ebb and flow tanks. I'd put the plants in 13cm square pots with hydroton in and then have to find money for a proper light. It'll be a major pain in the ass but if I have to, so be it.

Otherwise, is browning roots okay? I know it's not ideal but not much else I can do atm other than radical system overhaul.

[rocky]

Im no expert, but i would think just opening up to take a look every once and a while shouldnt really affect them that much. But if lights getting in constantly then thats probably your problem, do what ever you can to make sure light dosent get thru. But thats obvious lol. Im not exactly sure what correx is but maybe you could paint it black, or something so lights not getting through. Im guessing its kinda translucent being so close to the light, if you were to paint it, it would become more opaque.

Oh i just googled correx, yea i know that stuff has to be translucent with a light so close, specially being white.You could try putting cardboard on the bottom of it, or some scrap shit you got laying around and put it under it. Or double it up. I dunno, just some ideas

[hazyfontazy]

check the nute temps ,too hot they rot (brown roots ) too low they grow slow
lower temps add liquid oxygen

[ProGroWannabe]

FF...hey man, can you tell us the extent of the browning? What I mean is, is it on the last 20% of the roots...40%....etc...? If the browning hasn't taken over "most" of the roots, you can just cut all the browned roots off and change/scrub the rez. to get rid of the rot. Yes your plants will stunt a bit, of course, but it sounds like this would be the preferred route for you to go.

Got a pic?

[Midnightgardener]

Originally Posted by hazyfontazy

check the nute temps ,too hot they rot (brown roots ) too low they grow slow
lower temps add liquid oxygen

+1 and no light leaks neither

[FastForward]

Ok...here's the photos - my res tank is way too warm

Am going to drain the tank, cut off the damaged roots and run the mister instead of the sprayer....not much else I can do atm other than set up the flood and drain.....

Shhhhhhhiiiiite....I can't afford 00s of pounds to get an nute chiller...cheapest I've seen is 500. Can I freeze ice cubes of nute solution and drop them in? Alternatively, would a Hydor Aero pump create less heat? Or is it because my tent is hot that the water is hot??

[FastForward]

How toxic/dangerous is nute solution to humans? I'm about to purge the tank by siphoning it out with a piece of hose (suck it out, pour into bucket - just like nicking petrol...allegedly). Ok to do?

[hazyfontazy]

Originally Posted by FastForward

How toxic/dangerous is nute solution to humans? I'm about to purge the tank by siphoning it out with a piece of hose (suck it out, pour into bucket - just like nicking petrol...allegedly). Ok to do?

nononononono

[hazyfontazy]

,,,,take the lid with the clones in raise it so the roots dont touch anything (upside down propagator lid is good ),then empty tank

[hazyfontazy]

just realised them clones look good to go ,they dont need to be in that unit anymore ,its a cloning machine ,time to up the nutes and get them growing