How to Prevent Algae and Calcium Buildup on Your Flex Farm
Updated
This guide explains how to spot algae growth and calcium buildup in your Flex Farm, why they happen, and how to prevent and clean them.
How to identify algae growth & calcium buildup?
You will notice green growth or white scaling by points of moisture contact in your Flex Farm: planting spaces, where panels meet the tank lid, driplines, dripline clamps, top caps, etc.
Why are algae and/or calcium deposits on my Flex Farm?
Algae will grow anywhere moisture from the nutrient water meets the LED light. The calcium deposits will become present over time as your nutrient-rich water calcifies where it has been sitting for a while. If you use hard water with your Flex Farm, you will notice a more significant buildup of calcified minerals.
How to minimize algae growth & calcium buildup?
We want to eliminate and minimize algae growth as much as possible. The following are best practices for preventing algae growth and calcium build-up:
- Post-harvest cleanings (see How to Clean Your Flex Farm After Harvest)
- Keeping nutrients within the target range (Base Number + 700, within 100 PPM; see How to Check and Adjust Flex Farm Nutrients and pH)
- Light tower set to be on 18 hours per day (16 hours minimum)
- Regular water refreshes (see How to Refresh the Water in Your Flex Farm)
- Every 2 weeks, clean and flush the drip lines (see Weekly Flex Farm Maintenance Checklist)
- Always have a plant or a Panel Plug in a planting space when the pump is on
The Quick Reference Guide and Maintenance Checklist break down all these maintenance tips into a schedule.
Steps to Resolve Algae Growth & Calcium Buildup:
- When transplanting, ensure your rockwool plugs are flush with the planting space (if they are not pushed in all the way, more algae will grow on the exposed surface).
- A Reverse Osmosis (RO) System should be considered for partners with a water baseline of 300+ ppm from their tap. Check out our RO System Guide for more information on this system.
- To clean calcium deposits and algae growth, spray with 3% store-bought hydrogen peroxide and wipe down with a cloth (ensure not to spray plants with the 3% hydrogen peroxide as the high oxygen content can damage plant material). For cleaning the rockwool of algae, we recommend spraying 3% hydrogen peroxide on a clean cloth and lightly wiping the algae off.
- A warm water and distilled white vinegar soak has helped many partners. The acidity helps soften the mineral buildup, and then, you can scrub or powerwash the buildup off. Be sure to thoroughly rinse all parts that came into contact with the vinegar solution. Any residual vinegar could disrupt the farm's pH levels.
- As a preventative measure, you can add 2 to 4 tablespoons of store-bought 3% hydrogen peroxide to your tanks about once a week.