uh oh is RIGHT!
Hopefully you grabbed that first aid kit I recommended. If so you should be OK. Brown algae doesn't usually stank. It can start with BA then get rot or pythium..which then will STANK.
With the first aid kit though you should be able to fix either root trouble (algae or rot&pythium). Stanky usually means rot/pythium. H2O2, bleach, Zone, SM90..should be able to deal with it. Strange that you got it while using Zone though. I usually give 2ml/gal of Zone as a preventative (even though my res temps are well below 70).
If it's brown algae (which shouldn't stink) then the
Great White should eat it up. If not..the physan will. I'd try the GW and then clean the system with physan to combat the algae.
You HAVE to keep your res temp below 70 and keep ALL light from getting in.
I was going to do DWC. I was planning on a weekly
perpetual harvest...but..that would have been too much of a pita.
I would have had to mix a bunch of different nutes for the different stages, would have to SOMEHOW lift the lids to get at the buckets, need "holding buckets"' for cleaning and adjusting nutes...didn't want the nutes just sitting in the buckets in the heat of the room...
I decided to fab-up a RDWC system or two so I could do a monthly harvey. All I did was install a pair of 3/4" drains in each bucket bottom 180deg apart then with elbows, I joined the two drains into one junction at the front of each bucket and installed a shut-off valve. I then went from the shut-off to the main 3/4" drain line that leads to the res. The reses are in the laundry room where it stays nice and cool.
In each res I have a fifteen dollar, 160gph submersible pump that feeds a 1/2" line that runs into the room and in between the buckets. from it I have 2 1/4" lines going to each bucket's netpot. No drippers, just a constant pour. Cheap and easy!
At first (after deciding against straight DWC) I was just going to add a 5th bucket to each 4-bucket system to act as a "control" bucket. It would just be linked to the drains of the other 4 pails. That way I could adjust nute levels and change-out nutes from the one control pod. I decided to spend the extra $50 (for 2 systems) and go (fake) rdwc.
So...If I were you...I'd at least add a control res. But..if I were me...I'd just make it into RDWC. You'll get added DO from the water movement, you'll have better access to the nutes, you can keep a res in a cooler room...and...it's CHEAP!!!!
For the small amount of $ it'll cost you it'll improve your system by leaps and bounds.
Again...I'm a strong proponent of using pure (RO or Distilled) water. I know..a lot of people use it and some even say it's better to use tap water but...I had problems with it where I live.
I don't know if it's a scientific fact or not but when you start doing DWC or RDWC..or US or E&F....you'll soon begin to think, like me, that the roots are the most important part of the plant. Keep them happy above all.
Kinda like..if you're gonna grow indoors...EXPECT the cops to show-up one day..and be READY for it to happen. Same with roots in these types of hydro systems. EXPECT EVERYTHING that can go wrong with them to (it will) and be ready for it.
If you can keep your roots happy, everything else (nutes, additives, mold, mildew, bugs, deficiencies, toxicities..EVERYTHING) is easy. If your roots aren't working...fagedaboutit.
