Reverse Osmosis vs Water Distiller?

wildman21 · Jan 19, 2021

I found my ultrasonic humidifier spewing white power (calcium carbonate) due to my having hard water and this clogs the carbon filter.
I can't buy enough distilled water fast enough for my 2 tents, and 2 humidifiers and need a solution. Can you advise whether I should go with reverse osmosis or a water distiller?
Reverse osmosis would be a filter system, and distiller is counter top model. And, can you recommend one in particular?
Thank y'all.

Oldguy71 · Jan 19, 2021

Can the countertop distiller supply enough water for your needs? Ro is great but 1/3 goes down the drain

Flexnerb · Jan 19, 2021

wildman21 said:
I found my ultrasonic humidifier spewing white power (calcium carbonate) due to my having hard water and this clogs the carbon filter.
I can't buy enough distilled water fast enough for my 2 tents, and 2 humidifiers and need a solution. Can you advise whether I should go with reverse osmosis or a water distiller?
Reverse osmosis would be a filter system, and distiller is counter top model. And, can you recommend one in particular?
Thank y'all.

I would say hydrologic and growonix for RO systems depending what your water demand and ppm of input water is.

MIMedGrower · Jan 19, 2021

Cheaper overall to just buy a 5 gallon wick humidifier.

wildman21 · Jan 19, 2021

MIMedGrower said:
5 gallon wick humidifier

can you link me to a wick humidifier? I've not heard of that design, and don't find one when i search. thanks

Dub_City405 · Jan 19, 2021

RO allday everyday hook it up at your house. And get easy RO water from the sink.

MIMedGrower · Jan 19, 2021

wildman21 said:
can you link me to a wick humidifier? I've not heard of that design, and son't find one when i search. thanks

its a regular fan run humidifier. I use this one to humidify my whole upstairs and grow rooms. I use one wick filter per season at about $20 cost.

AIRCARE 6-Gal. Evaporative Humidifier for 2700 sq. ft. 831000 - The Home Depot

With a large reservoir and extended run time, this humidifier is a customer favorite. Casters make the humidifier easy to move once filled. It has three fan speeds, an adjustable humidistat, refill indicator,

www.homedepot.com

wildman21 · Jan 19, 2021

Before i go buy another humidifier, let me ask. Would the high ppm cause stunted plant growth? My friends plants started from same clones are 3x the size of mine. Another reason I was thinking of getting a reverse osmosis filter. thanks for the humidifier link.

Jumpingspider · Jan 19, 2021

RO water- great for nutrient solution. Easy af to harvest enough water for your reservoirs. Has near 0 ppm to start. Potentially can carry some pathogens so not as good for humidifiers and such as distilled

Distilled water- also great for mixing. Not as easy to harvest (you have to refill over and over afaik) and uses electricity. No chance of pathogens.

I would go with ro

MIMedGrower · Jan 19, 2021

Should reply to the message. I might not have read this question. Or just use @Username to alert someone.

and yes too much nutrients will stunt plants. Humidity is only a problem at extremes. Maybe you should start a help thread with pics and info.

3 balls · Jan 19, 2021

I installed inline refrigerator type filters with universal fittings- no more snow.

wildman21 · Jan 19, 2021

3 balls said:
I installed inline refrigerator type filters with universal fittings- no more snow.

I did install a whole house filter system but tds ppm did not decrease at all. At around 350 ppm.

wildman21 · Jan 19, 2021

Any opinions on this RO system?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I0ZGOZM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

goingtoguano · Jan 19, 2021

That looks like a standard RO for under the counter type. They also make portable RO systems that make it so you don’t have to install anything. That’s what I did.
You will want to add some tap water back into the RO water before using it on the plants. They need some minerals, just not 350ppm.

wildman21 · Jan 19, 2021

goingtoguano said:
That looks like a standard RO for under the counter type. They also make portable RO systems that make it so you don’t have to install anything. That’s what I did.
You will want to add some tap water back into the RO water before using it on the plants. They need some minerals, just not 350ppm.

Thanks. I just changed my order to the the countertop version. I grow in fox farms ocean forest and give fox farms nutrients. Will I still need to add some tap water? thanks

goingtoguano · Jan 19, 2021

I would. Tap (well) water has dissolved minerals in it that the plants need like calcium and magnesium ect. If you used straight RO water, you would likely start to show deficiencies without adding minerals back in, like cal-mag. You can probably eliminate needing any of that by just adding tap water. Plus, you won’t have to filter as much RO water.

wildman21 · Jan 19, 2021

goingtoguano said:
That looks like a standard RO for under the counter type. They also make portable RO systems that make it so you don’t have to install anything. That’s what I did.
You will want to add some tap water back into the RO water before using it on the plants. They need some minerals, just not 350ppm.

Is this what you have? And, I already use calmag.
https://www.amazon.com/APEC-Counter...ee-RO-CTOP/dp/B00IB14XDU?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

goingtoguano · Jan 20, 2021

I bought a cheap one like 4 years ago and hooked it up to my basement sink and put a hose timer on it. It works sweet, set-it and forget-it. It is still working good but it is just starting to get slower (less efficient) so I'll probably replace it with another cheapy before my next grow.
I add enough tap water to bring my ppm up to 40-50 before adding anything else and I don't use cal-mag. I am using a heavily amended super-soil though.

TheBioMaster · Jan 20, 2021

wildman21 said:
I did install a whole house filter system but tds ppm did not decrease at all. At around 350 ppm.

You need to check your water pressure if this is true.....no RO filter will work properly with too little pressure. You would need to add a pump to increase pressure.

wildman21 · Jan 20, 2021

TheBioMaster said:
You need to check your water pressure if this is true.....no RO filter will work properly with too little pressure. You would need to add a pump to increase pressure.

The whole house sytem I installed was not RO.

Reverse Osmosis vs Water Distiller?

Reverse Osmosis vs Water Distiller?

wildman21

Oldguy71

Flexnerb

MIMedGrower

wildman21

Dub_City405

MIMedGrower

AIRCARE 6-Gal. Evaporative Humidifier for 2700 sq. ft. 831000 - The Home Depot

wildman21

Jumpingspider

MIMedGrower

3 balls

wildman21

wildman21

goingtoguano

wildman21

goingtoguano

wildman21

goingtoguano

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