smelly water

[hydrogrower]

i grow indoors,where temps stay around 80.
i water once in the morning and once at night, just until it drips out the bottom.
(this is how i have done it from day 1.)
i have been growing this crop in the EB about 3 months.

Just within the last few days i can tell the water coming out almost has a stagnant smell, and when i flushed out all the EB water with fresh water i can tell the water is somewhat scummy, like some sort of fungus might be growing in it.
I have about a month to go in my crop.
 
Is there something i can do to help get rid of it? And/Or Are there steps I can take next time to help prevent this.

thanks 

[mjb8743]

You could try reducing the watering schedule so that when you do water, it takes about 2 1/2 gallons before overflowing. There should be less stagnant water in the reservoir by doing this.

Mickie

[hydrogrower]

You could try reducing the watering schedule so that when you do water, it takes about 2 1/2 gallons before overflowing. There should be less stagnant water in the reservoir by doing this.

Mickie

Thank you Mickie, I will try this for sure.
I considered your idea as an option before,but I was unsure. I know how important the root system is to a plant, and in my mind I didn't want to take the risk of drying out the bottom roots too much, and hurting them.
But now Ill wait a day until i water again.
thanks again. This is a helpful forum

[gardendoc]

What are you growing indoors?  Are you adding anything to the reservoir?  Indoor growers sometimes use fish emulsion when growing the "herb". 

[cushman350]

  Seasoning for the brain. 

[Oldgrowth]

  Cushman...get outta here!  How tall does that "special seasoning" get in an EB anyway?
Are u using HIDS or CFLs and what wattage, if you don't mind sharing that info.

[cushman350]

Cushman...get outta here!  How tall does that "special seasoning" get in an EB anyway?
Are u using HIDS or CFLs and what wattage, if you don't mind sharing that info.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/solar_tracking.php
http://www.skylightguys.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=2
http://www.bigfrogmountain.com/SunTunnel.html?gclid=CJidkti4kJ0CFdFJ2god9XqK2w
Only wishing/planning. Wondering if this could help screened in patios with house roof and EBs and more sun.

[Oldgrowth]

Cushman, I have seen those Velux "tunnels" at Home Depot, and I was wondering how those would work in a basement window application, as I'm moving to Brooklyn next week and some of my gardening will be in the basement.  If it's an unobstructed area...should work. But I will probably use fluorescents.
And those tracking solar panels...awesome! 
BUT for a screened porch/plant room, regular skylights would work just as well as the tunnels, if not better though more labor needed to install.

I've grown plants indoors for umpteen years and recently, one Earthbox under a HID and CFLs. It worked well, but the tomato plant died from blight. Sad to say, it was a Bonnie plant. 

Yes, Hydrogrower, it was tomato...nothing "special".

[gardendoc]

If you are concerned about getting enough light, check out these RTU stealth growing cabinets for brain seasoning (great description cushman)
http://www.sunlightsheds.com/Turn-Key-Systems.htm?gclid=CNiJrqjpkZ0CFQO2sgodPGz-2Q

[cushman350]

My concern is about kilowatts. I would like to know the output needed for healthy plants with plug in lights and the useable output of the "solar powered" tubes. Can you grow with only the sun, with some supplemental for cloudy days. Don't want the meter registering unusually high for the particular time of year, ya know. For vegetables. 

[Oldgrowth]

Gardendoc's idea of a grow cabinet is excellent, I'm considering one for myself in the basement...for veggies, of course !   As for the watt/kw situation: 400 watthour = 0.4 kilowatt hour..so taking that and multiplying by a recommended 15 hours use = 6 kw/h per day. And multiplying that by whatever your local power company charges per kw/h will get you what it might cost to operate a 400wt HID...

The initial cost of a solar operation, considering cost of converters-(I think they still need these), batteries, etc...might be more than what you would pay for a year otherwise but in the long run, over SEVERAL years...would be quite cost effective, I would think.

Just my opinion....

[cushman350]

The initial cost of a solar operation, considering cost of converters-(I think they still need these), batteries, etc...might be more than what you would pay for a year otherwise but in the long run, over SEVERAL years...would be quite cost effective, I would think.

Just my opinion....

I think there is a misunderstanding, I don't want to power grow lights, I want to know if these "Sun Tunnel" skylights put out enough light to take the place of electric grow lights, you know , to grow veggies in doors. 

[Oldgrowth]

okay...my mistake...thought that was what we were talking about. Don't know about those... I doubt if they would without supplemental lighting, especially during cloudy weather.