Answered How to keep a hydro resivoir clean

[DopeDaniel]

Pool shock?
Peroxide?
Enzymes?
Bennies?
Air Stones?
Other?

Which method and why? I am currently using perixide but it seems like it has a short lifespan, considering pool shock but the zons priorities seem messed and its not expected until may, so I figure I have time to ask for opinions.

 

[Deebs]

It's the way I see alot of people going...seemed theoretically sound hence the research on it..

 

[Deebs]

grabbed an example model..posted below......UV would go between between A and C. This way C can hold your clean water, mix your biologics/organics/bennies in at N if you want to use them.

 

[macsnax]

grabbed an example model..posted below......UV would go between between A and C. This way C can hold your clean water, mix your biologics/organics/bennies in at N if you want to use them.

View attachment 7041

Now you got me thinking lol. It's definitely interesting. Funny how when something gets laid out in a different way that you can see it better lol

 

[DopeDaniel]

grabbed an example model..posted below......UV would go between between A and C. This way C can hold your clean water, mix your biologics/organics/bennies in at N if you want to use them.

View attachment 7041

Probably should have put a budget limit in the question.

Given my res is a 27 gallon tote from home depot I decided to go for an aquarium unit.

 

[Deebs]

Probably should have put a budget limit in the question.

Given my res is a 27 gallon tote from home depot I decided to go for an aquarium unit.

I think that may fit your use case.

I apologize, wasn't really thinking about a budget, rather a model to show the framework (best practice by hydro company's) you can fit UV in for DIY etc....My brain is weird ..sorry man~

 

[DopeDaniel]

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/green-killing-machine-internal-uv-sterilizer-with-power-head-1237020?cm_mmc=PSH-_-GGL-_-CAL-_-PME-_-PET-_-AQU-_-0-_-PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS-_-Local_Inventory_Ads-_-0&kpid=go_6471950367_76332473423_380230977733_pla-324731645754_m&utm_config=tad0iunwp&utm_campaign=PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS&utm_source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm9D0BRCMARIsAIfvfIYpauLqgXLSSSDyKoICP3PbOmQkPBjoPyYUkI0XWKIJonHtnlSJh5saAnXnEALw_wcB

I think that may fit your use case.

I apologize, wasn't really thinking about a budget, rather a model to show the framework (best practice by hydro company's) you can fit UV in for DIY etc....My brain is weird ..sorry man~

No worries. I saw the system in the vidieo and was like stainless steel? Not on my budget. Lol. It also looks like they are just using it on startup? I dont see if/how it recirculates?

 

[Deebs]

These guys I have heard good things about:

aquaultraviolet.com

Pondmaster-02920-20-Watt-Ultra-Violet-Light-Clarifier

 

[macsnax]

Looks like there's a bit of options for uv, I never realized the amount of units out there. Really cool, I'm bookmarking links lol

 

[spyralout]

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/green-killing-machine-internal-uv-sterilizer-with-power-head-1237020?cm_mmc=PSH-_-GGL-_-CAL-_-PME-_-PET-_-AQU-_-0-_-PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS-_-Local_Inventory_Ads-_-0&kpid=go_6471950367_76332473423_380230977733_pla-324731645754_m&utm_config=tad0iunwp&utm_campaign=PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS&utm_source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQjwm9D0BRCMARIsAIfvfIYpauLqgXLSSSDyKoICP3PbOmQkPBjoPyYUkI0XWKIJonHtnlSJh5saAnXnEALw_wcB

No worries. I saw the system in the vidieo and was like stainless steel? Not on my budget. Lol. It also looks like they are just using it on startup? I dont see if/how it recirculates?

That is very similar to what I just got too. I don't want to jack this thread but I have a question about the different application methods I'm envisioning.

 

[DopeDaniel]

That is very similar to what I just got too. I don't want to jack this thread but I have a question about the different application methods I'm envisioning.

Fire away, I just wanted to test drive the new section, plus we can upvote the responses that are relevant to the op.

I feel like for me the uv is going to be a maintenance thing and I will probably use the pool shock at res change and maybe squirt some dilute h2o2 in the tray every few days?

 

[spyralout]

I have 2 separate RO systems, both of which use a garbage can to collect, with a submerged pump circulating the water, which is also use to dispense. I plan on using an aquarium UV cleaning light left on in the RO can in one area. The other one, which is similar to yours, I plan on using in UC RDWC. Initially I was going to put it in the RO can, with a little hose coming out so it can give the can some aeration. A tote res would have the feed water, which then feeds to a float valve in the RDWC epicenter (control) bucket. The epi bucket is where a bluelab guardian meter is constantly subumerged and on. The tote res is filled from the RO can that has the UV. It gets treated with bennies. The same with the RDWC system water.
What if I were to put the UV in the epi bucket? Maybe even treat the water in the RO can for the first preparation of feed water, then before the system is fired up and full of water, put the UV in the epi bucket? Perhaps even one UV in the can, one in the epi? This would all be without any treatment other than the UV (no bennies).

 

[DopeDaniel]

I have 2 separate RO systems, both of which use a garbage can to collect, with a submerged pump circulating the water, which is also use to dispense. I plan on using an aquarium UV cleaning light left on in the RO can in one area. The other one, which is similar to yours, I plan on using in UC RDWC. Initially I was going to put it in the RO can, with a little hose coming out so it can give the can some aeration. A tote res would have the feed water, which then feeds to a float valve in the RDWC epicenter (control) bucket. The epi bucket is where a bluelab guardian meter is constantly subumerged and on. The tote res is filled from the RO can that has the UV. It gets treated with bennies. The same with the RDWC system water.
What if I were to put the UV in the epi bucket? Maybe even treat the water in the RO can for the first preparation of feed water, then before the system is fired up and full of water, put the UV in the epi bucket? Perhaps even one UV in the can, one in the epi? This would all be without any treatment other than the UV (no bennies).

I think it would be a good idea to have them in both the ro storage cans. This is where the nasties will start to form and unless you are depleting and refilling an entire can in a day I think having a permanent treatment in there would be ideal.

Then I think I would also have one in the epi buckets, this way you could still treat the feed tote with bennies. I realize the uv will kill them but it will take some time and they will be the only micros floating around in the system so nasties wont accumulate and the plants still get some benifit.

I think the bare lamp could damage/shorten the life of the guardian so unless the probes can be mounted elswhere I'd stick with the enclosed system. Plus with the bare lamps I worry about personal safety while possibly not being as effective. Damaging uv may not sterilize, so having the shroud and circulation pump seems like a better system to me.

 

[spyralout]

good points. so what I'm reading here

Then I think I would also have one in the epi buckets, this way you could still treat the feed tote with bennies. I realize the uv will kill them but it will take some time and they will be the only micros floating around in the system so nasties wont accumulate and the plants still get some benifit.

plain uv sterilized water with nutes and no bennies < water with nutes and bennies? The roots would be better off with bennies than "sterilized water"? Reason I ask is because I was thinking of going full on UV with two of those enclosed UVs (one in the can, one in the epi, maybe one in the top off res) then if things start looking shitty I brew up the tea. your comment on bluelab probes concerns me. Those aren't cheap, and I need to buy a replacement already. In fact, bluelab everything has gone up significantly in price.

 

[DopeDaniel]

good points. so what I'm reading here

plain uv sterilized water with nutes and no bennies < water with nutes and bennies? The roots would be better off with bennies than "sterilized water"? Reason I ask is because I was thinking of going full on UV with two of those enclosed UVs (one in the can, one in the epi, maybe one in the top off res) then if things start looking shitty I brew up the tea. your comment on bluelab probes concerns me. Those aren't cheap, and I need to buy a replacement already. In fact, bluelab everything has gone up significantly in price.

I think the probes will be fine with the enclosed units as long as no light is escaping, will report back whe my unit arrives if I think it leaks. Also I wonder if the exposed lamps are using a different lamp/nm uv than the enclosed ones (enclosed seemed to be 254nm). I would think too much uv would be bad for fish?

I am on the fence about bennies. I don't think the price of comercial products warrants their use, particularly when chelated nutrients are used. There are ways to harvest your own bennies both methods take additional time and space, where uv would be passive and pool shock is cheap and easy.

You already have a method for doing the bennies and I think systems should be as flexible as possible. Plus, I want you to be able to do both methods and report back! I don't think you would need a uv in the top up res if you had them in both the ro tank and epi buckets.

I feel like I need to state that I am a newb relativley speaking to hydro but have a passion for well done mechanics.

 

[spyralout]

I think the probes will be fine with the enclosed units as long as no light is escaping, will report back whe my unit arrives if I think it leaks. Also I wonder if the exposed lamps are using a different lamp/nm uv than the enclosed ones (enclosed seemed to be 254nm). I would think too much uv would be bad for fish?

I am on the fence about bennies. I don't think the price of comercial products warrants their use, particularly when chelated nutrients are used. There are ways to harvest your own bennies both methods take additional time and space, where uv would be passive and pool shock is cheap and easy.

You already have a method for doing the bennies and I think systems should be as flexible as possible. Plus, I want you to be able to do both methods and report back! I don't think you would need a uv in the top up res if you had them in both the ro tank and epi buckets.

I feel like I need to state that I am a newb relativley speaking to hydro but have a passion for well done mechanics.

Good stuff man. I like testing, tinkering, optimizing. I also like to make things more automated even if it takes more hard work up front. I think I may get another one of the enclosed units and put it in the epi bucket.

It's this one:

Amazon.com : COODIA Internal Green Water Killer Filter Aquarium Tank U-V Pump : Pet Supplies

Amazon.com : COODIA Internal Green Water Killer Filter Aquarium Tank U-V Pump : Pet Supplies

www.amazon.com

I got it because of the reviews and the replacement bulbs are fairly cheap.

 

[Deebs]

Thanks for this question @SSGrower. This turned out to be an awesome discussion. +1 with probes in enclosed units, I was just told. Better UV sanitation of the water, UV is condensed. There is an equation for watts/gpm or something like that if I recall... I am sitting here taking notes also , I am really interested in what the testing results are going to be... kind of like a S.W.O.T analysis.

 

[macsnax]

good points. so what I'm reading here

plain uv sterilized water with nutes and no bennies < water with nutes and bennies? The roots would be better off with bennies than "sterilized water"? Reason I ask is because I was thinking of going full on UV with two of those enclosed UVs (one in the can, one in the epi, maybe one in the top off res) then if things start looking shitty I brew up the tea. your comment on bluelab probes concerns me. Those aren't cheap, and I need to buy a replacement already. In fact, bluelab everything has gone up significantly in price.

Everyone is is trying capitalize to some extent right now lol

 

[macsnax]

I think the probes will be fine with the enclosed units as long as no light is escaping, will report back whe my unit arrives if I think it leaks. Also I wonder if the exposed lamps are using a different lamp/nm uv than the enclosed ones (enclosed seemed to be 254nm). I would think too much uv would be bad for fish?

I am on the fence about bennies. I don't think the price of comercial products warrants their use, particularly when chelated nutrients are used. There are ways to harvest your own bennies both methods take additional time and space, where uv would be passive and pool shock is cheap and easy.

You already have a method for doing the bennies and I think systems should be as flexible as possible. Plus, I want you to be able to do both methods and report back! I don't think you would need a uv in the top up res if you had them in both the ro tank and epi buckets.

I feel like I need to state that I am a newb relativley speaking to hydro but have a passion for well done mechanics.

Please do both methods, I'll trust your final opinion. Really good to know about the probes too

 

[Deebs]

Found something I will share..would have to search my history for the URL ref..

Edit: Cant believe I pasted that whole thing sorry..

In-line UV Sterilization
Another option is in-line UV sterilization, which allows you to sterilize your lines and the water that flows through them. This means that your water is treated as it flows into the treatment area. This configuration is helpful when using beneficial microbes in your set-up and reducing the problems with nutrient reduction as it may not be as impactful. However, if you already have a problem with algae, bacteria, or fungi in your overall system, this setup does not help eliminate it. Any algae attached to the walls and other surfaces needs to be removed another way.

Biggest Drawback with UV Sterilization
One of the biggest drawbacks in using UV sterilization is that it can deplete some of the things your plants need to grow healthy and strong. Iron, boron, and manganese deficiencies can occur when using UV sterilization. Also, UV sterilization reduces the populations of any beneficial microbes in your hydroponic set-up much in the same way it does the fungal, bacteria, and algae populations. It’s beneficial to test your hydroponic system for these deficiencies to help minimize them.

 

[macsnax]

So basically you will most likely have to switch up feed too. All good info, but that still sounds manageable.