Res. change catastrophe!?

ok today I drained my res. with the intention of fllushing the system for a few days with plain RO water before I switch to 12/12.

I drained the system no problem, and replaced 7 out of 10 gallons while I was waiting for more containers to fill to top it off.

I went and made some dinner and came back and my plants were drooping very badly, 1 dramatically bad. I tied the top up straight (gently) for now while I am topping up the res. Hard to tell yet if they're perking up with the new water, but in any case, all of my branches are practically pointing downward in very sad looking shape.

Is this something I should have anticipated better? I mean, it only takes me 10 minutes to drain the whole system with my pump, and at least half the root masses were in water while I was filling up more water jugs to top it up. Are they this sensitive at this age to their water level? Wow, I'm shocked. I thought putting 7 gallons out of 10 would keep them happy enough, but evidently it was not enough..

Could it be the loss of their nutes as well, or just low water that caused it? I'd like to continue with a clean flush if possible. Or should I now simply wait until they're nice and strong and upstanding (I hope) again before the change?

Mr E that is bizarre! I could drain my entire res for a few hours and not have my plants do that even at a young age. I know you have mentioned before, probably more than once but what kind of lighting are you using and how far away is it? They didn't get heat stress did they? If you are going to change anything i'd wait until your plants are "back on their feet" as it were. Let us know what happens!!

I have a 400 watt metal halide, and also a 4 ft. cool white flouro fixture for sidelighting, and 2 cfl clamp lamps which I also use for side lighting (the other side). No heat stressing evident. It's mid 70's at the canopy level. It's a Cool Breeze fixture with digital ballast.

Yes my entire grow has been bizarre hasn't it? I think I've had every problem in the book and I just hope it's not stressing them too awful bad..

I've been able to remove the tie off. The problem is with main fan leaves as big as my hand with stems as thick as a pencil, thats a lot of weight down on the branches which I'd been training up so carefully.. argh. What next?

I would say the root system is weak and needy. I'll need to monitor that water level very carefully, and make sure I have enough water on hand the next change.. I'd planned to redrain it in a few days and start on a more bloom-heavy nutrient load. Now I'll just wait until things look up and firm again, heh.

Can you show some pics? I'd love to see the before/after etc...

I use tap, when im going to change my rez I have another of the same size filled with water that I ozonated and left overnight I place the plants in this and drain the other rez then I pump the contents of the rez my plants are in the other rez and add nutes and whatever

Hey, that may well be a good idea cyclonite. Have an extra set-up all ready....thanks....