Update:
Seeds - I’m still having trouble with germination. I’m in contact with seed support and we are resolving the issue.
Reservoir - three silica that i put into the system coagulated and clogged my pipes. I’m replacing all the water and cleaning the system. I have no idea why it did that. I put the silica in the plain water first and then added the rest of the nutrients. I’m just going to leave it out for now.
I keep wanting to try silica, but then I read things like this.
The last thing I need is some weird reaction in my basement sump when I dump my res for a changeover.
Yeah, I’m not real happy about this. Not sure the benefit outweighs the pain in the ass.
I know nothing about hydro, but I’m curious what kind of silica you used that caused that problem. I use this NPK Industries brand in soil and in coco. It dissolves very nicely in my water, and I just checked the packaging and it says you can add it to a reservoir, so I guess it’s safe for hydro. I’ve been using it for several years now, and my plants seem to love it.
Yeh, I’m becoming unconvinced of those benefits. The more I read, the more I see most of the claims to its fame are for monocots like grasses and grains. Broadleaf dicots like cannabis don’t uptake much of it. I’ve even seen an online store that just comes right out and says it won’t benefit dicots. Couple that with all the complications that can arise with its use, even as a pH up, and I’m thinking I’ll just wait until I have everything else all dialed in first before I start adding frills. Too bad I’m such a horrible soil farmer, soil has more than enough silica in it already 
The back of the bag of silica I’ve been using for years says “this product does not benefit dicot plants”. Does this mean I’ve been wasting a tremendous amount of time and money on nothing?
The silica turned into a goo and my ph sky rocked.
Total waste of my nutrients along with it
I’m pretty convinced I’m not going to use it either.
It certainly seems that way.
Well, I haven’t read anything that distinguishes it as an absolute; meaning monocots are the main benefactors, and dicots benefit, but to a much lower degree… some would say to the point of insignificant? One study I read about did some testing (dry weight) and found rice (monocot) to have around 11% silica and cannabis to be in the 2-3% range, with large strain variance. So there’s probably something going on.
I can’t really cite sources and quotes, as most of this is just cobbled from memory, but there it is, right on the bag.
This grow has shucked!
Woke up this morning to my entire system nutrient solution on my basement floor.
Not a happy camper.
Well that ain’t good. Do you know how yet?
Not yet. Somehow the water is just on the outside instead of the inside.
But I’m thinking a drain line popped loose.
Even the buckets? The risers you’re using should hold water for res changes I’d think, unless you pulled them out to drain…
No, the buckets are all full. It’s the 15 gallon reservoir that’s empty… so not the entire system, but damn close lol
I guess beyond a certain point, it doesn’t matter anymore. I sure hope you had a shop vac handy, I keep one ready to go. I’m clumsy enough to have learned my lesson long ago
I figured out the problem, and yes i have a huge shop vac handy lol.
My drain is to small… back to the drawing board.
Howdy Bama…wont help with your current siuation but I never add silica…I’m thinking it’s probably not necessary…good nutes is all you need…I have the benefit of good well water tho…maybe if you use ro water…maybe…Happy Growing
I think the silica is still causing me problems. I flushed my entire system and replaced the water and washed the reservoir but my ph drift is still crazy.
I’m not using the silica again.
I have heard others say it wreaked havoc with Ph
