Before we get all wound up about DO matters and the facts, do any of you have any idea exactly how much dissolved oxygen is really necessary in order to prevent low oxygen insults for canna rhizomes and beneficial microbes in hydroponic life support systems?
By the way, testing water quality DO with a water thermometer is as effective as testing water pH with a light meter or testing EC with a sound/noise meter. DO charts never consider the amount of DO consumed by the biomass in the water if there is any aerobes in the water at all.
I have read many, many stoned theories posted by forum gurus and salesmen about DWC canna oxygenation. A few claim that oxygenation is a major deal, many others claim with passion oxygenation is no big deal at all.
Breathe through a straw for 3 minutes or put your head in a plastic bag for 3 minutes or breathe pure nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for 3 minutes and you will gain a crystal clear understanding of how big a deal oxygenation really is for all humans, aerobic plants and microbes. The greater, larger the total biomass, the more elemental O2 the total biomass must have to remain healthy and produce sufficient ATP (cellular energy).
It is my understanding that aerobic cells are totally unconcerned with Nitrogen, but a specific concentration (PPM DO) and DO% Saturation range of essential elemental oxygen is required continuously 24/7 month after month in order to keep growing rhizomes and microbial colonies healthy, happy and thriving. You know, like enough oxygen to keeping a flame burning.
Here’s a trivia fact worth consideration - a candle flame requires an oxygen level of greater than 18.8% oxygen to remain alight. Ambient air contains less than 21% O2.
Aerobes in a hydroponic pot grow are the cannabis roots balls and beneficial microbial colonies collectively. Fungi do not, will not, cannot thrive in oxygen rich hydroponic environments. Fungi are ubiquitous and do live in hydroponic water environments.
As the roots and microbial colonies grow and thrive, the dual synergistic biomass requires even more elemental oxygen continuously for months. By the way, although ambient air does contain a little bit of 21% O2, 4/5ths of that air is Nitrogen gas and Mother Nature always controls the available oxygen concentration in air. Oxygen and ambient air are not the same gas, ask any SCUBA diver, commercial diver, welder, nurse, doctor, auto mechanic, plumber, fighter pilot or check out any basic 9th grade Chemistry book to confirm that fact.
When aerobes are deprived of elemental O2 the cells suffocate, fail to produce sufficient ATP, get sick, die, decay and rot and then the fungi thrive eating the decaying mess like turkey buzzards gather around road kill.
Hydroponic systems are basically total life support systems for all aerobes being supported within this artificial eco system. The grower has the total responsibility for all the water quality parameters except the dissolved oxygen. Mother Nature controls that when ambient air is the source gas for oxygenation.
When low oxygen crisis happens in hydroponic grows. Roots get sick, die and decay and then the fungi colonize and thrive… you have surely heard about this routine.
Well, any low oxygenation problem is always caused by the grower’s failure or ignorance to insure sufficient continuous safe oxygenation 24/7 throughout the months of growing season. Well that’s pretty simple, eh?
By the way, do any you have any idea actually how much elemental DO is required continuously 24/7/months to insure that no low oxygen crisis occurs in a hydroponic life support system?
If you do know or prefer guessing… then what is the optimal DO concentration and DO saturation range required to keep the rhizome mass and microbial colonies healthy throughout months of the growing cycle from the clone to the harvest?
Most growers never encounter or even worry about root rot or fungal infestations because these growers never have low oxygen problems.
Elemental Oxygen (O2) is THE #1 essential element required for aerobic survival, period. This magic gas is a BIG DEAL.
