Brown slime growing in rez

_B_ · Feb 4, 2023

I’ve recently started seeing brown slime building up on the wall and air stones of my system. I don’t think its light leak or high temps considering I took extra precautions on light leak and temps never get past 69F. I use orca as a beneficial bacteria and also Garden Friendly Fungicide.
Any help is much appreciated!

Bluebuddha · Feb 4, 2023

I would buy some Southern AG friendly fungicide and dose the res. I use roughly 1 ml /20 gallons. If it's algae or bacteria, that will clean it up. Edit to add, I missed that you already have it. Hope it clears up!

Ok so now that I re read your post, the thin film on the walls and stone are probably the colony from S. Ag. I have that same coating in 150 gallon system from S.Ag and TPS billions. My res smells of earthy good dirt, and have no root issues now.

How does your res smell?

_B_ · Feb 4, 2023

Bluebuddha said:
I would buy some Southern AG friendly fungicide and dose the res. I use roughly 1 ml /20 gallons. If it's algae or bacteria, that will clean it up. Edit to add, I missed that you already have it. Hope it clears up!

Ok so now that I re read your post, the thin film on the walls and stone are probably the colony from S. Ag. I have that same coating in 150 gallon system from S.Ag and TPS billions. My res smells of earthy good dirt, and have no root issues now.

How does your res smell?

It doesn’t have that stagnant water smell so thats a good thing I suppose! And it hasn’t made the plants droopy or anything just looked concerning.

pinger05 · Feb 7, 2023

Many decades ago as a young man I was a mechanic at a tire shop. We used this pink powder that was highly concentrated acid to clean up oil spills and stains in the shop area. This stuff would burn you if you put your hands in it. Powerful stuff

If I left the mop bucket out for a day or so a thick green slime would form on the top. I put some under a microscope and found it was a colony of mold!!! The stuff grew in a PH of 3.1.

Points I am trying to make is that mold/bacteria find a way to live in the most inhospitable environments. Like everyone said if your plants are OK then you should be fine. That and I still have nightmares about that green slime....

_B_ · Feb 8, 2023

Fingers crossed they keep growin

_B_ · Feb 20, 2023

Nutrients got bumped up to 500ppm and seem to be growing. Some leaves started getting a weird twisting goin on at the top. Ph has been stable at 6 and rez temps staying 68 or less. Little spots, thinking cal deficiency so might add some cal mag to the feedings.