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I had success for years without ever meeting the slime, and then one day it showed up, and has been here to stay for the last year. I read the entire ICMAG sticky on the topic (which is very good by the way), and have had success at getting rid of the slime using benes. Here's how.

I set up a five gallon bucket and made an EWC tea that I let brew for 30 hours. I added a heavy scoop of Great White powder to this tea, as well as 20 ml of Carboload to feed the benes. I had an airstone in the bucket, and I also bought a biofilter from an aquarium store for the benes to live in. The filter also keeps water moving in the bucket. If you do decide to use a biofilter, keep the earth worm castings in pantyhose tied off, or they will clog the filter. I have heard that you can also use lava rocks to house the benes, though I have not tried that myself.

The slime eats the carboload too, so you don't want to add this directly to your rez. You also don't want to use enzyme products like Hygrozyme, because the Hygrozyme breaks down organic material into slime food. Wait until the benes have taken hold before using the Hygro. The slime also thrives on oxygen, doesn't need light, and causes the ph to climb very quickly as soon as it takes hold. You will notice the ph climbing before the slime actually shows up. Also, it can take on different colors depending on the light it has access too. Mine was a clear snot-like color in my Power Cloner 70, and it was a brownish color in my DWC buckets that I got from Home Depot. (orange buckets)

To clean/sterilize your equipment, use Physan 20. I swear it is the ONLY thing that works on the face of this planet, because I've tried everything. You can use this stuff on roots in very small quantity to clean them. (3ml per 25 gallons for 6 hours) The slime is often mistaken for root rot, because it asphixiates the roots, and ultimately causes root rot. If you have any brown left on the roots, remove those roots or the slime will return. When you use the Physan, you should get a lot of foaming action, and you'll see a bunch of dead particles floating to the surface. This is normal.

Once roots are cleaned and sterilized, clean them thoroughly with water to remove the Physan 20. (or it will kill the benes when you add them) Next, add the benes to a fresh rez. For my 8 gallons rez in the Power Cloner 70, I added three cups of the tea. You may see a slightly different type of slime form shortly after you add this, but don't worry, it's just the benes reproducing.

I add 2 cups of the tea every 3 days to keep the slime in check, after taking 2 cups out of the rez to make room. It's necessary to continually add them to the rez, because they won't be getting any food in there, and they dies off quickly as a result. The slime is always still there, but it can't gain a foothold with the benes in control.

If you make a mistake, and add something that you shouldn't, then you can always Physan the whole thing and start over. I have heard of people running Physan continuously, but I haven't tried it.

Anyway, I have had success at keeping the slime away using benes as long as they have a place to live and food to eat. Don't overfeed them or the excess food will just feed the slime. The goal is to set up a healthy colony of benes that will out compete the slime for food.

Don't add anything that sterilizes either, or the benes will be killed off.

There was a shortage of cannabis in Holland in 2007 due to this slime, and the solution they found that works is some bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. The only place I know of to find this stuff here in the US is in Mosquito Dunks. Haven't tried this either.

I also read a couple success stories using UV light.

Anyway, I hope this helps some. I have a ton more info if you are interested. I have declared war on this stuff, and have been collecting info ever since. I have a whole file titled Slime Study that I'd be happy to share with anyone interested, but am hesitant to post it, as it is many pages long.

DEATH TO THE SLIME!!!!!!!!!
caregiver99 Reviewed by caregiver99 on . Who's running bene's bacteria and who's not ? Having a bit of a bad time with cyanobacteria and biofilm. Bene's seem to be the way to go but how did we get by sooo long without them ? Some say bene's and what you feed them clog up sprayers and drip lines and don't use them. They say to keep systems clean but don't say with what other than wash with chlorine. Some say bene's all the way the only way. And I understand all the good things they do. So just a poll. What is your source water ? Rating: 5