to change or not to change...my reservoir

[WeedTree's]

Change your rez. every 1.5 to 2 weeks or so. This helps as said from keeping bacteria from forming. Use the 50/50 rule for topping off your rez. If you have topped off with water already 50% of the amount in your rez, it's time to do a full change/new mix of nutrients. Remember, plants require 99% water and 1% nutrients.

WeedTree's Reviewed by WeedTree's on 02-12-2009. to change or not to change...my reservoir Hello and welcome back. I've been dying to ask this question and finally here is my chance! i want to get some opinions about whether or not i should change my reservoir every week to 2 weeks as many people prescribe, topping off with water, or whether i can get away with topping off with nutes, and not worrying about changing the res. i have quite a few tubs running, and changing the reservoirs is heavy duty labour, and i would MUCH prefer to just top off with full strength nutes and change Rating: 5

[macnasty]

well, i guess the verdict is in and there seems to be unanimous agreement. i am still not 100 % convinced though; it's just not enough for me to know that salts, bacteria levels are raising and this can be harmful. i would like to know for myself how much is harmful, and so i will conduct a side by side experiment, changing the rez in one tub every 2 weeks, and topping off with nutes in another tub without ever changing. i'll let you all know what my findings are. thanks for the tips. ciao

[Revanche21]

don't have time right now so I didnt read other ppls responses but I would install a valve near the bottom so you can drain the whole thing out

I drain my 4 gal res and add 1 gal tap water and drain again and fill up to 2 gals

I do this every 10-14 days

[LOC NAR on probation]

well, i guess the verdict is in and there seems to be unanimous agreement. i am still not 100 % convinced though; it's just not enough for me to know that salts, bacteria levels are raising and this can be harmful. i would like to know for myself how much is harmful, and so i will conduct a side by side experiment, changing the rez in one tub every 2 weeks, and topping off with nutes in another tub without ever changing. i'll let you all know what my findings are. thanks for the tips. ciao

That's what it is all about. please do a side by side and show us pic's if you can. it's all about learning and most of us have had bad times trying. that's how we learn. I'm interested to see how it turns out.

[Revanche21]

I have a bottle of hydroguard but I use it every once in a while but not religiously