Reservoir cleaning and sanitation
Clean systems grow healthy plants. Biofilm, algae, and pathogen build-up are silent yield-killers — and cleaning is recurring operational work every grower needs, not a one-time task.
Sanitation vs sterilization
- Sanitation reduces microbes to safe levels — your routine, ongoing practice.
- Sterilization eliminates all microbes — for tools between plants, not for a reservoir with living roots in it.
Know which one you are doing.
Safe chemicals (and the dangerous one)
- 3% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) — safe with living plants at appropriate dilution; good for reservoir treatment and knocking back biofilm.
- Bleach — NOT safe around living plants. Use only on emptied, rinsed equipment and rinse thoroughly.
- Ozone is effective but requires care — never run it around people or plants without proper handling.
Cleaning schedule
- Reservoir: wipe biofilm and check for algae weekly at minimum for hobbyists (daily for commercial systems).
- Probes: clean monthly with a soft brush and probe cleaning solution; store pH probes in KCl solution.
- Lines: purge irrigation lines between grows.
Tools between plants
Sterilize cutting tools between plants to avoid spreading disease. A quick wipe is not enough when you are propagating.