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Perhaps I'm slow &/or stupid but if ph just tells you the alkalinity or acidity of the water how is alkalinity not high pH, what is it then?
Its was my understanding that TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) are what are measured with these meters, are there not other inert solids that don't effect the alkalinity or acidity of water? If so how can you tell anything related to this from the ppm read?
Sorry I put that wrong ph is ph and alkalinity is alkalinity. Ph is a measurement of the total the interaction of the alkaline and acids. It's basically a way to measure the ratio of acid to alkaline makeup of the water. Not the amounts of either but the ratio ofPerhaps I'm slow &/or stupid but if ph just tells you the alkalinity or acidity of the water how is alkalinity not high pH, what is it then?
Its was my understanding that TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) are what are measured with these meters, are there not other inert solids that don't effect the alkalinity or acidity of water? If so how can you tell anything related to this from the ppm read?
Ok basic as she goes. RO water with 100-150 ppm of cal mag is what is the standard for RO. Well almost all of your tap water ppm will be cal, mag, sulfur and phosphate with cal making up the majority. Usually the cal mag is in a ratio of about 5 to 1. Sulfur and phosphate will be very low. So your 100ppm water will be absolutely ideal to use.I guess it sucks that I never took a basic chemistry course in 57 years, but I would think calcium isn't the only dissolved solid in water being read, I get that harder water is harder to being down than soft, but it is important to be in range so the pH is relevant I think, sorry, its been kind of a long day & I'm firing on about one cylinder right now.
Not to be a thick ass, but I don't see the point of pHing then, what am I looking for?Ok basic as she goes. RO water with 100-150 ppm of cal mag is what is the standard for RO. Well almost all of your tap water ppm will be cal, mag, sulfur and phosphate with cal making up the majority. Usually the cal mag is in a ratio of about 5 to 1. Sulfur and phosphate will be very low. So your 100ppm water will be absolutely ideal to use.
The ph difference you will see from this is because your calcium is in the form of carbonate and most cal mag is in the form of nitrate so RO may also need a buffer added. So in those terms your water is better than RO in a sense because the calcium carbonate is both a source of carbonate buffer and calcium. I won't get into the availability difference.
Short version... Your tap water is perfect for growing and your very lucky many would kill for that.
Not to be a thick ass, but I don't see the point of pHing then, what am I looking for?
I don't ph my soil grow at all and I'm at 120ppm tap... Been saying for a long time the soil will adjust the ph of the feed as long as your not loaded with high alkalinity water which your not then it won't be enough to buildup and cause any ph issues over time.Not to be a thick ass, but I don't see the point of pHing then, what am I looking for?
Seems like shooting in the dark though, I was pretty convinced not to after reading this, but got talked into it here, seems to be a bit of ritual thing for weed growers.Do you mean checking PH? You do it because it's not an exact science. Temp, dissolved o2, roots, bacteria all play a role. Just because X amount of this in Y amount of that should = ph Z. You still need to check and adjust as needed. Especially since drift is a thing.
I am sure the old school hydroponics growers had to do a lot of guesswork before easy to us PH meters became readily available.
I'm all for testing ph of soil... Just not Phing water. The soil will do that for meSeems like shooting in the dark though, I was pretty convinced not to after reading this, but got talked into it here, seems to be a bit of ritual thing for weed growers.
Soil pH Testers-Are They Accurate?
Soil pH Testers are available in several different types. Are they accurate? Do you need them? What will you do with the results?www.gardenmyths.com
Ran upon this looking for this searching for it somehow my thick head absorbed this pretty well for some reason.
Differences: Tap Water, RO Water, Softened Water, Rain Water
Many sources of water for plants; tap water, reverse osmosis water, softened water, and rain water. What are the differences, which is best for plants?www.gardenfundamentals.com
Just watering, run offs ran from 5.9 to 6.5 ppm 210 average of 6 pretty close to last time.I'm all for testing ph of soil... Just not Phing water. The soil will do that for me
Please tag me in itGoing to be running some tests. Will make a new thread in this section once I get it sorted out.
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