How do you clean your aerocloner?

Hi everyone,
I built one of those DIY aerocloners in November and (up until recently) the thing has been working great. No problems with the misters, no light hitting the roots, and all that.

However, my clones used to root really quickly and now it's taking close to a month. I know that keeping your aerocloner CLEAN is key to good results. So I'm assuming there is something wrong with my method of cleaning it.

Here's how I've been cleaning it:

* Drain all the fluid (I put a drain in the bottom).
* Flush out with water.
* Remove the top to be cleaned with vinegar.
* Replace all the net cups and neoprene inserts.
* Remove the pump + pipe and misters for separate cleaning with vinegar.
* Scrub bottom and sides with sponge dipped in vinegar and water solution.
* Clean pump filter with vinegar, rinse, repeat with pipes and misters.
* Rinse the cloner tub again with water.
* Replace the pump and pipes and all that.
* Clean the lid, replace the pots, and replace the lid.
* Replace the airline and air stone.
* Fill the tub with 1/2 gallon vinegar and add water until the water line is above the pump. Let the pump run for 30 minutes so vinegar hits everywhere.
* Drain the vinegar and rinse twice with water. Run water through pump for 30 minutes. Then drain.
* Add a bottle of peroxide and water. Let the pump spray that everywhere for 30 minutes.
* Rinse twice with water. Let the pump run water for 30 minutes.
* Rinse the cloner out again and dry everything with paper towels.

I figured after all that, it should be ready to go... but the girls are rooting soooo slowly.

Any suggestions? Any directions based on how you clean your cloner? Does anyone use bleach? If so, at what concentration per gallon?

1 cup of bleach and hot water. run it for 30 minutes, then drain and fill with hot water to rinse then dry. i also dismantle the pump to make sure its good. done

1 cup bleach to 15 gallons water

Or clean with Physan20 the same way.

What do you start out with in the cloner ? We have been trying one and it takes almost a month and only about 50 percent make it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LOC NAR on probation

Or clean with Physan20 the same way.

What do you start out with in the cloner ? We have been trying one and it takes almost a month and only about 50 percent make it.

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What is your water temp at? I noticed if my water goes over 72 that it takes longer to root and the roots look unimpressive.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cigarettes42

What is your water temp at? I noticed if my water goes over 72 that it takes longer to root and the roots look unimpressive.

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The water is 70 to 72 never more or less unless I set it.
R/O water PH'ed to 5.8
A few drops of superthive.

On the last run one or two started roots at 2 weeks so I said to hell with it and put lite nutes GH 3 part and that's when I got the 50/50 turn out.
before that was way worse turn out.

We were trying to get away from rockwool or any starter blocks. I have seen areocloners do very well but can't seem to tune this in.

I've always had luck, I guess not in a cloners, but taking a clone and putting it in DWC, but I put the clone in a seedlings ratio of nutrients, and in about 3 or 4 days there are roots. Maybe its the misting part that has been messing with your cloners, maybe not enough O2? Just my :twocents:

-C

Thanks -- I'll try using bleach then.

I just use Hormex in my cloner, and pH it to 5.8. Water temps are usually 70-72.

Up until recently, I've had roots within a week which is why I think I'm just not cleaning it well enough. :/