Moss and Algae Killers

[Nath]

I just bought some Yates Moss and Algae Killer from the shop, exposed rockwool blocks often have problems with this growing on them ive seen.. so just in case, got it for cheap.. I use rockwool cubes (1.5cm cube in a 7cm cube) in a cocopeat/vermiculite/perlite mix and havent noticed any buildup, because im hand watering at the moment... i want to grow one decent female from the five plants i have going.. and clone it into pure rockwool/expanded clay balls... as this seems the quickest method of growing plants. Normally algae killer is sprayed on the surface of the soil, but because ill have the pump going all the time on drippers, will it affect the roots? Also, ive seen people use white plastic at the base of the plants. At the moment I am using foil type, "pie dish"s .. cost me $1 for six of them.. cheap, and pretty strong and are like aluminium foil.. but i have a few fluoros on the plants at the moment, still small.. still waiting for my hid lighting.

[JUNIORBUDMASTER]

Throw all the fluro. you got at them it will surprise you. Good luck

[Pure]

I just bought some Yates Moss and Algae Killer from the shop, exposed rockwool blocks often have problems with this growing on them ive seen.. so just in case, got it for cheap.. I use rockwool cubes (1.5cm cube  in a 7cm cube)  in a cocopeat/vermiculite/perlite mix and havent noticed any buildup, because im hand watering at the moment... i want to grow one decent female from the five plants i have going.. and clone it into pure rockwool/expanded clay balls... as this seems the quickest method of growing plants. Normally algae killer is sprayed on the surface of the soil, but because ill have the pump going all the time on drippers, will  it affect the roots? Also, ive seen people use white plastic at the base of the plants. At the moment I am using foil type, "pie dish"s .. cost me $1 for six of them.. cheap, and pretty strong and are like aluminium foil.. but i have a few fluoros on the plants at the moment, still small.. still waiting for my hid lighting.

You should not water coco that muchyopu will dorwn your plants roots I sugets a maximum of 3 waterings a day. also I had big problems with coco storing too much water at the botom of the pot I fixed it with 2 inches of clayballs at the bootom though just something to keep in mind

[Nath]

With the coco peat.. the plants are in 14cm pots, with the 7cm rockwool taking up most of the pot, but the rest is 100% cocofibre, and I know what you mean, ,the cocopeat gets really moist.. I repotted my best plant to a 30cm pot, and I think this is even too small, ill repot them into large 50cm pots or something, when they get bigger.. I want to make a SOG setup after this.. would be good to try for a quick grow. At the moment, the 30cm pot has.. newspaper on the bottom of the pot, just holds the perlite in the holes, does a good job.. i poked holes in it, so it doesnt affect drainage at all.. then above that is cocofibre/perlite and then a layer of vermiculite and then cocopeat.. its kinda mixed in together, but the roots are loving it. My next grow I will use cocopeat/perlite for the mothers or larger plants, and clay rocks for the SOG setup ill make. I dont really know exactly how much water to put on them.. but I havent been overwatering, thats for sure.. plants are very healthy, although i need more light, fluoros suck... no matter what anyone says, ive seen rooms with 2x 1000w lights on rails and the buds were monster. Growing under different light spectrums makes a huge difference though, so I will have one 48w cf per clone, ,when the time comes. That would be ample light, for a couple weeks, then ill put it to HID to flower. Realistically its going to take me 2 weeks at the latest now, to get a HID light. Im thinking of just getting a 400w HPS, and then next grow buy a 400w MH, but id rather a 600w hps, as these put out alot more light.. I just have to wait and see

[Luke Skywalker]

Cover the top of the media with a piece of panda and it should block out light, or you could try using a product called pythoff, which I've found very good as well.

[Pure]

just be carefull what ou use because some things ie (oxypluss) will kill all your helpfull bacteria ie biobugs

[Nath]

Usually its just the exposure of the rockwool with water running on it i think causes algae, not entirely sure.. but ill add some mylar to the bases Luke, i think this will help with lighting too, I have a 400w HPS light on the way soon also, so my plants will love that.. cant wait!

[Luke Skywalker]

The algae is a simple plant, which needs light to grow. This is one of the reasons we all use black poly or vinyl tubing rather than clear, as it quickly builds up. The algae are all around us, as spores like moulds, bacteria and so on, and when they land on a suitable environment, like the surface of rockwool or media in hydroponics, they can grow.

 

They're not necessarily a problem, but they can build up and cause drain on the nutrients, as well as clogging feeding lines and encouraging moulds and bugs which can feed on them. So keeping them in control is a good idea. The main thing that will get rid of it before it starts is to exclude light from the surface of the media, this helps to keep it away and will kill any that's there.

 

You can also use things like oxyplus, which is a h202 or hydrogen peroxide additive, or a monochloramine one like pythoff, which I personally think is superior, but that's just me. Many, many growers, including me, have used h202 and it too will do the job, as well as keeping the system clean.

 

As Pure has said though, you will also kill off most of the beneficial bacteria and micorrhizza which are in soil or organic based systems, particularly if they're something like biobugs or trichoderma innoculants. So keep that in mind. I use perlite based systems most of the time, so this isn't a real issue unless I decide to use these products, otherwise you're better off with as sterile a room and media as you can get.

 

Hope that helps, and don't read anything into this about me not liking organics either, cos I do, I just don't use em personally in my growroom. Too messy.

[Nath]

the more chemicals the better.. i hate bush weed Hydro was all i smoked at one phase in time.. thanks for the info.. im looking at a product called Bio Bugs.. i might get that to help some bacteria grow in there..Also going to get Nitrozyme for the growth phase, apparently helps with cell division and such, so would help for stress when i tie the plants down

[F420]

I have just started using biobugs and I have really white roots.

Its good, but how often do ya put it in?

 

I cover my cubes.