19. Hygiene and cleanliness of hydroponic systems: the ultimate guide

Why hygiene is critical in hydroponics

Hydroponics eliminates soil, pests and many of the problems of traditional growing.
But there is a weakness: if you neglect hygiene, even a perfect system can collapse within days.

Bacteria, biofilms, algae and debris can:

• suffocate roots

• alter EC and pH

• impair oxygenation

• reduce yield and quality

• cause diseases such as Pythium or Fusarium

Cleanliness is not "an optional extra"-it is an integral part of the system.

The main enemies of hygiene in hydroponics

1. Biofilm

A viscous coating that forms on pipes, tanks, pumps and surfaces.
It is invisible at first, but can harbor millions of bacteria.

2. Algae

They appear where light enters: tanks, translucent pipes, crevices.
They compete with plants for nutrients and oxygen.

3. Organic residues.

Dead roots, limestone, fertilizer deposits.

4. Bacteria and fungi.

They find breeding grounds in stagnant or poorly oxygenated areas.

When to clean the system? The golden rule.

A light cleaning every 7 days.
A deep cleaning every cycle (every 25-40 days).

In domestic systems such as Horto2 or Horto4, cycles are short and surfaces compact: cleaning takes only a few minutes.
In professional implants, the attention must be even greater.

What is really needed to maintain a sterile facility

• Hot water (40-60°C)

• Soft brushes for tubes and tanks

• Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) at 3-6%.
  Good for dissolving biofilm and oxygenating.

• Non-abrasive sponges

• Gloves

• Neutral cleaning solution (unscented)

Weekly cleaning checklist (5 minutes)

• Empty the tub and rinse with warm water.

• Remove any remaining roots.

• Check pumps and filters.

• Sponge the interior surfaces.

• Check any spots with deposits or lime scale.

Note: Tomato+ systems are designed to be disassembled quickly and cleaned easily, because consistent hygiene is part of the design.

Deep cleaning checklist (end of cycle)

1. Empty the plant completely

Remove water, dead roots, and debris.

2. Wash with warm water and mild detergent

No scented products.

3. Apply H₂O₂ at 3-6%.

Leave on 10-20 minutes to:

• dissolve biofilm

• disinfect surfaces

• eliminate bacteria

• oxygenate pipes and pumps

4. Flush thoroughly

At least twice.

5. Drying

Essential to avoid mold.

Critical areas to always check

• tub and lid

• pipes

• pumps and impellers

• area around roots

• filters

• LED area (exterior only)

• any joints and fittings

In Tomato+ systems:
Critical areas are minimized by anti-biofilm designs and surfaces that reduce stagnation.

How to prevent algae and bacteria (without harmful chemicals)

1. Always keep everything in the dark

Algae only live if there is light.
Tomato+ tubes, tanks and modules are completely darkened.

2. Keep water temperature under control

Above 24°C bacteria and fungi explode.
Tomato+ systems include active thermal management and software control.

3. Avoid stagnation

Continuous flows and clean pumps.

4. Uses water with low hardness

Reduces limescale and residue.

Hygiene and technology: how Tomato+ automates management

Tomato+ systems are designed to make the most complex part of cultivation as simple as possible: maintenance.

• low accumulation surfaces

• darkened anti-algae pipes

• curves without stagnation points

• automatic sensors and notifications

• antibacterial materials

• Liquid-cooled LEDs (Horto Professional) that reduce humidity and thermal increases

Liquid-cooling technology helps to maintain stable conditions, reducing microorganism growth and ensuring greater energy efficiency of LEDs.

Conclusion

Hygiene is not a troublesome procedure; it is the basis of successful hydroponics.
Five minutes a week avoid:

• algae

• diseases

• drops in yield

• odors

• root problems

And they ensure a consistently performing plant.

Thank you for reading this article. Keep following us to discover new content on hydroponics, vertical farming, and smart agriculture.
Tomato+ Team