What do you guys prefer to run in the UC, a sterile or live res?
Either route can be successful when operated properly.....having said that, both have the potential to stumble as well. Generally, we recommend probiotics (Aquashield, Companion, basically bacillus subtillus) in solution at low dosages or EWC tea for a living system. In the event the problems arise (usually caused by excessive inputs of insoluble organics or EC being too high) it can be helpful to cycle in a periodic week long dosage of antibiotic solutions like Zone, HF, etc. After treating for a week or so with a sterilent, drain away, refill with a dilute nutrient solution and reintroduce probiotics.
What products to you recommend besides a chiller to keep your root zone health optimum?
Not necessarily products as much as practices. Many different "tools" can work well but it's more about how you use them that counts. Keep your nute solution sanitary and clean, avoid epicenter "add backs" of concentrated pH adjusters and nutes, if using beneficials avoid over feeding them as this can cause pH spikes and biosolids to develop. Most importantly watch your plants, if they slow in feeding or uptaking nutes something is starting to go wrong. It's during these stalling periods that your plants become most susceptable to attacks by pests and disease.
Last but not least what nutrients are optimum in the UC?
Clean, well balanced formulations do best in any water culture application. If what you choose stays pH stable it's likely your plants will do well as a result. Keep in mind that the more inputs you combine together in solution, the higher the likelyhood that your nutes will be imbalanced on a molecular level and subsequently less pH stable as a result.
These are the 3 most common questions regarding your system. I def. think some clarification is needed.
Frankly the nutes you see used most in the UC are as a result of our recommendations, which include DM Gold, Canna, and Ionic. This being said there are a wide variety of different nutes we get reports of growers having success with, remember it's more how you use it than what you use.
EDIT: And OH what do you think about running
hygrozyme in your system to "eat the dead roots"?
The enzymes in these bottled zyme products are very effective in bioremediating substances such as sloughed off or broken roots, root exudate (sugars exuded by the roots to feed microbes) and tiny leaf debris......
in most hydroponics systems. In the UC on the other hand these types of products have provided mixed and in many cases poor responses including pH problems, solution clouding and most often the formation of mucous like biofilms that coat roots and airstones rendering both less efficient. Once the biofilm establishes it's not unusual for algaes to become established as a result of the reduced turbulence and atmospheric O2 introduction to the solution. It seems as though something in the bottled zyme products also feeds and encourages the algae worsening any problems that may already exist
Avoid having debris in the system you'd need a zyme for, in other words be mindful to avoid putting things into the system that necessitate being broken down. And if you do have a need for enzymes it's preferred you introduce ben bacteria that will produce the enzymes you need for the bioremediating.
If you have debris in your solution our recommendation is to drain away the system content so as to remove the organic matter and not be reliant on products to digest it away, which may lead to side effects like biofilm. If debris continues to reoccur than something is out of balance in your systems nutrition and needs to be addressed, in which case call CC for further diagnosis and remedies.
