Simple Tips on How to Keep Hydroponic Water Clean
Every grower knows how important it is to keep hydroponic water clean. Algae and bacteria build-up can quickly ruin your plants.
I’m sure you are doing your best to keep your growing area clean and tidy, but is that enough? I did some research on the most effective ways to clean your hydroponic system.
Your hydroponic system has to have clean water all the time to ensure the quality of your harvest. The most effective way to maintain clean water is by cleaning your system regularly.
In this blog, you will learn the different methods of sterilizing and sanitizing your grow room. I have also listed the things you will need to fulfill this task.
Table of Contents
Why Cleaning Is Important?
Before we learn the best ways of keeping hydroponic water clean, let’s discuss the importance of a clean grow room.
So why is it necessary to maintain a tidy environment, and how can it affect your plants?
2 Main reasons:
The most compelling reason for cleaning grow rooms is the health of those who will consume the harvest. Human health is the main reason for performing these cleaning routines.
The second reason is that plants will suffer because your environment is predator-free. Bugs, Algae, Fungus, Mold, Mildew, and Bacteria will quickly overrun your system if you are not cleaning and sterilizing on a regular basis.
Sanitization Vs. Sterilization
What is Sanitization?
People often get confused between sanitation and sterilization, but these are two different in their approach. The result of each method is also distinct.
Sanitization refers to the general task of maintaining the cleanliness of your grow room. It includes sweeping, mopping spills, clearing out filters, removing dead plant elements, as well as keeping your harvest space tidy. These actions can affect the overall performance of your hydroponic system.
Your grow room is a common breeding ground for bacteria. If not sanitized, these harmful organisms can spread quickly to your plants.
What is Sterilization?
Sterilization is the in-depth process of eliminating microbial life that could cause disease in your plants.
Fun fact: Microbial life is beneficial for plants as many microbes that reside in the root zone of plants are vital for nutrient absorption and protection against diseases.
That is the reason why you need to be careful when sterilizing your grow room. As a grower, you aim to sterilize hydroponic media, tools, and system parts, but you wouldn’t want to have sterile plants. However, if you add hydrogen peroxide to your solution, it wont do any harm.
Remember to sanitize your grow room and equipment after each harvest.
Mildew and other pathogens can rapidly spread through your plants. For example, you harvested a lettuce head infested with powdery mildew, and you used the same clipper to collect the rest of your lettuce heads, then all of them will have it.
However, if you sterilize the clipper before using it again, you can prevent this issue.
It is also ideal to have a separate growing area where you can temporarily place your plants during the sterilization process.
Now that you have a deeper understanding of the difference between these methods, don’t think that accomplishing one is enough. Both routines are required, and you will need various materials for each.
Materials Needed to Keep Hydroponic Water Clean
You have to keep a couple of cleaning materials to perform sanitization and sterilization. Here is a list of tools and cleaning agents that you need.
Cleaning Agents:
1. Hydrogen Peroxide (Food Grade)
Hydrogen peroxide works well in sterilizing your growing medium and growing area. It can inhibit the spread of bacteria and harmful pathogens such as Pythium.
Most bacteria found in hydroponic tanks thrive in waters with low oxygen content. This oxidizing agent can help address this issue by increasing the oxygen content of your hydroponic solution.
When purchasing hydrogen peroxide, make sure to choose one that is ‘Food Grade.’ This classification means that it is safe for humans. If you are going to use full strength 35% hydrogen peroxide, use a rubber glove to protect your hands. This chemical will burn exposed skin.
How to Prepare Hydrogen Peroxide Solution?
- Dilute Hydrogen peroxide down to a 3% solution before use.
- Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with eleven parts of clean water.
2. Bleach (Unscented)
Bleach is a powerful disinfectant, which can kill bacteria on your growing medium. It is a common household cleaning agent. Therefore, it is readily available and easy to find.
This cleaning agent is best for sterilization and flushes between growing cycles. Be careful not to add bleach into your system while there are still plants in it.
Store-bought bleach usually has a strong odor, so choose the unscented ones.
How to Use Bleach for Cleaning?
- Pour one tablespoon of bleach to run through the system. (make sure that plants are not yet placed and that the water is filled to the brim before turning the system on)
- Let the bleach and water run through the system for at least 30 minutes.
- Flush out the bleach and water. Allow all components to dry.
- Fill the system with clean water.
- Add the plants, growing medium, and growing solution.
- Repeat weekly and after each harvest.
Observe your grow room regularly, and if you notice algae growth, clean again with bleach.
3. Pure Isopropyl Alcohol (Industrial Grade)
Industrial grade isopropyl alcohol is used as a cleaning agent for its antibacterial properties.
You can use this to clean the surface of your grow trays, tanks, hydroponic garden tools, and other components in your grow room.
By cleaning your tools regularly, you can prevent the spread of bacteria and fungi. Isopropyl alcohol can also dissolve fertilizer residue on your hydroponic system.
Product Suggestion:
2 x 950ml Bottles of 99.9+% Pure Isopropyl Alcohol Industrial Grade IPA Concentrated Rubbing Alcohol
4. Vinegar (Optional)
There are several options to choose from when it comes to cleaning agents. However, the last one on the list might be the easiest to find.
We all know vinegar as a common kitchen condiment, but it also works sufficiently for cleaning.
It is a great alternative if the first three cleaning products are not available.
Cleaning Tools:
Aside from cleaning agents, you will also need to use some tools to sanitize and sterilize your grow room. Here is the list:
1. Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges
A scrub sponge will help loosen dirt and mildew. You will be able to clean your hydroponic equipment thoroughly.
2. Stiff Scrubbing Brushes
This cleaning brush works on variety of surfaces. It perfect for scrubbing mildew, grime and algae.
3. Long-handled brush
Its sturdy bristles are good for scrubbing broad surfaces, and it can fit into corners or rounded areas.
4. Mop and Bucket
These tools are used for mopping any spills in your grow room.
5. Bottle Brushes
You can use bottle brushes to clean hard to reach areas in your hydroponic system.
6. Gloves and Goggles
These two are very important for your safety. Always wear your gloves and protective goggles when working with cleaning agents. Most of the solutions used for cleaning are strong chemicals, so you should take caution.
Additional Tools:
- Clean Rags
- Scissors/Clippers
- Spare Buckets
- Vacuum Cleaner
Materials Needed to Keep Hydroponic Water Clean
Even in hydroponics, safety is a priority. Here are some do’s and don’ts to remember when cleaning your hydroponic system.
Do's:
These are the things you must do.
Read the Label
Cleaning agents may look harmless, but this isn’t always the case.
Before using these chemicals, make sure to read the health and safety information on the back label. Doing so will help you understand the risks involved for you, as well as your plants.
Prioritize Your Safety
I know that wearing gloves and protective goggles can be tedious. However, when dealing with strong chemicals, it is best to wear protection.
The cleaning agent might splash into your eye or skin, which may cause irritation or other injuries.
Meanwhile, wearing rubber gloves will prevent chemical burns.
Know Your Solutions
You need to understand the type of chemicals you are using to use them properly.
For example, you need to know that food grade hydrogen peroxide has a stronger concentration. In this case, you need to dilute it in water to be safe for cleaning.
Don'ts:
Refrain from doing the following.
Don’t Mix Chemicals
This is an important rule that you need to keep in mind. Never mix your cleaning agents.
Keep your bleach away from other solutions to avoid dangerous chemical reactions. When bleach mixes with vinegar, it will create a harmful chlorine gas.
Don’t Use Concentrated Solutions
Do not add any chemical with strong concentration while your plants are in place. Bleach should never run into your system with plants growing.
Meanwhile, you can use hydrogen peroxide as long as you follow recommended levels.
Step-by-step Full System Cleaning
After cleaning the grow room, you need to focus on the hydroponic system. This is the component, which has direct contact with your plants, so make sure to keep that sterilized.
The first thing you need to do when cleaning your system is to remove the growing medium. Set it aside and treat it separately.
Step 1: Drain Your System
Drain the existing solution from your tank. There are two methods of draining the tank do whichever applies to your setup.
Return Pump Method
The return pump method is a reverse process of pumping water from your tank.
Drain Valve Method
In this method, you will use the drain valve to let the water out from your tank naturally. Remember that the drain area needs to be lower than your tank.
Using these methods might not drain the tank completely. It means that you have to remove the remaining water using a sponge or wet and dry vacuum.
Step 2: System Cleaning
It is necessary to perform thorough cleaning after each harvest to ensure that there won’t be any bacteria, algae, or pathogens left on your system.
You can use hydrogen peroxide solution or bleach during this stage. Take extra caution when handling bleach, and don’t forget to remove all chemical residues before resuming your system.
Here is the ratio guideline for these chemicals:
Hydrogen Peroxide 35% – Mix 3ml per gallon of water
Unscented Bleach 1:100 – 1.3 oz. of bleach per gallon of water
Steps in System Cleaning
- Drain your system.
- Remove any air stones. It is advisable to replace air stones every time you sterilize the system. (This is not applicable to small system growers)
- Inspect your system and remove any debris, broken off roots, or forming algae.
- Wipe down your air hoses, tank lids, and other external components with the sterilizing solution.
- Fill your system with clean water and sterilizing solution (Hydrogen peroxide or bleach).
- Allow your system to run for 4-6 hours.
- Scrub all the parts that you can reach in the system with your scrub sponges.
Preparing the System After Cleaning
- Rinse the system with clean water.
- If you are using a bleach solution, flush your system three times to get rid of any residue.
- Drain your system.
- After draining, wipe every part with a clean towel.
- You can use fans to speed up the drying process.
FAQs About Keeping Hydroponic Water Clean
How Often Do I Need to Change Hydroponic Water?
The frequency of changing hydroponic water varies depending on your setup and preference.
I recommend using your solution for no more than 2- 3 weeks. I normally change it every 2 weeks. You can extend the life of the water by adding hydrogen peroxide to keep the bacteria count low.
Never get tired of tending to your grow room because cleaning is an everyday activity in hydroponics.
What Causes Dirty Water in Hydroponics?
As we all know, any growing environment that involves water is prone to bacteria, fungi, and algae growth. These are the most common causes of dirty hydroponic water.
Other factors include chemical residue, nutrient solution residue, dead leaves, and broken roots that get stuck in the system.
What are the Effects of Dirty Water on your Plants?
If your plants are growing in filthy water, they are prone to water-borne disease. Your plants will get infected and wither, or the quality of your harvest will suffer.
What Areas Need to be Cleaned in Hydroponic Systems?
- Growing Medium
- Walls and Work Surfaces
- Lights
- Electrical Areas
- Air Intake Filters
- Reservoirs
Conclusion:
Hydroponic farming is a great responsibility. It requires passion, commitment, and time.
If you have a hydroponic system, you must be patient enough to keep a healthy and clean environment for your plants.
It is not easy to keep hydroponic water clean all the time, but there are several ways to do it. Sanitize and sterilize your hydroponic system regularly.
Now that you already know how to keep your hydroponic water clean, do you want to learn how to prevent pests and diseases? Visit our blog for more!
