Whats wrong with Tap Water. Is RO necessary?

Jimster · Mar 20, 2020

I have seen a lot of posts about the necessity of using RO or distilled water when the tap water is anything over 100PPM. I have used tap water at around 275 for decades and never had problems, or needed to add things like Cal-Mag or other supplements, which can skew the Ph and open up a Pandora's box of issues. What are your parameters for determining when a water source isn't suitable for growing? I can see not using water that is off the charts in PPMs, Ph, or other compunds, like chlorines, Iron, and Sulfur. All are essential for growing in small amounts. How many really have a need for treating their water in some fashion, other than adding Ph up/down?

Anthem · Mar 20, 2020

Jimster said:
I have seen a lot of posts about the necessity of using RO or distilled water when the tap water is anything over 100PPM. I have used tap water at around 275 for decades and never had problems, or needed to add things like Cal-Mag or other supplements, which can skew the Ph and open up a Pandora's box of issues. What are your parameters for determining when a water source isn't suitable for growing? I can see not using water that is off the charts in PPMs, Ph, or other compunds, like chlorines, Iron, and Sulfur. All are essential for growing in small amounts. How many really have a need for treating their water in some fashion, other than adding Ph up/down?

Good Information here sir. I also use tap water as well. Comes out of the tap between 150 to 180 ppm, although I do use a filter for Chlorines. They only cost about 40 bucks and will treat 5000 gallons.

Kraken.headz · Mar 20, 2020

Booooo, down with variables!

916Fisherman · Mar 20, 2020

I use tap water with no issues. Never have measured ppm

Rootbound · Mar 20, 2020

Will never use my tap water (municipal) to feed plants,drink or cook with. Nice to have meters to check the ppm and ph to know better.

fishbuds · Mar 20, 2020

depends on your source, 125-250 ppm without ridiculous stuff in it, just a standard hard h2o with plenty of cal and mag in it, seems to do pretty good, ph 7.0 comin out, add some nutes 6.3-6.8 viola. cal mag, what is that?

MIMedGrower · Mar 20, 2020

The only real problem with even most hard 250 or more ppm is that the medium will build up calcium over time cause its like pouring extra lime in every watering.

Calcium excess blocks most everything else from uptake.

Mr.Juice · Mar 21, 2020

When I switched to RO it just caused nothing but problems. Then I started doing half and half, and eventually it was too much of a bother. I fill water jugs and then run a bubbler. I think people try to fuck with their grows too much and then run into issues. Keep things simple

Formallyhap · Mar 21, 2020

I use RO because I have it for my fish tanks and someone told me nute formulas were intended for RO.
Now that I think about it the grows I did before I got the RO DI did have less random issues.

BurnzYzBudZz · Mar 21, 2020

Mr.Juice said:
When I switched to RO it just caused nothing but problems. Then I started doing half and half, and eventually it was too much of a bother. I fill water jugs and then run a bubbler. I think people try to fuck with their grows too much and then run into issues. Keep things simple

The slogan “keep it simple stupid” came to my head after reading this. So true though.

Mr.Juice · Mar 21, 2020

Don’t forget, RO systems are not the most efficient (despite what the manufacturer claims) youre looking at 4L of water used for every 1L of RO. Adds up if you need to water a lot. So your water costs are 4X and you have to buy some sort of supplement like Cal-Mag (another added cost) . I use AN cause I like not having to worry about pH but I’m still convinced most nutes are just fancy labelled bottles. Get the same results using the tub of blue crystals from crapy tire or home gardening center.

Rootbound · Mar 21, 2020

fishbuds said:
depends on your source, 125-250 ppm without ridiculous stuff in it, just a standard hard h2o with plenty of cal and mag in it, seems to do pretty good, ph 7.0 comin out, add some nutes 6.3-6.8 viola. cal mag, what is that?

My tap water is 650ppm

Jimster · Mar 21, 2020

Rootbound said:
My tap water is 650ppm

That might be a tad high!! Do you have to agitate it to keep it from setting up like cement??

PhatNuggz · Mar 21, 2020

First, in more and more municipalities are recycling water, This water contains drug residues that their methods do not remove. Beyond that whose minerals are thy buying... what quality...

Since we should all be drinking and cooking with RO water, it's a small leap to use it to mix your nutes

iSpring with a booster pump is ~ $300

hth

newbie12345 · Jun 4, 2020

Rootbound said:
My tap water is 650ppm

mines about the same having no problems about 650

cemchris · Jun 4, 2020

True story before I moved here I tested the water and Noped out of the first spot because of this. Hate using RO.

MercDod · Jun 13, 2022

I use well water with EC of 0.0 and ph about 5.9. If mixing a small amount I sometimes use my dehumidifier water which is close to the same.

Anthem · Jun 13, 2022

Ro water has some advantages and some disadvantages. Advantage is you are starting at Zero PPM and you will be adding all of the nutrients to the solution to get the PPMs to the desired amount. There is no guess work about how much Calcium or Magnesium are in the water.
Down side is cost and waste. The best units are 2 to 1 units. You get 1 gallon for every 2 gallons.

Aqua Man · Jun 13, 2022

Anthem said:
Ro water has some advantages and some disadvantages. Advantage is you are starting at Zero PPM and you will be adding all of the nutrients to the solution to get the PPMs to the desired amount. There is no guess work about how much Calcium or Magnesium are in the water.
Down side is cost and waste. The best units are 2 to 1 units. You get 1 gallon for every 2 gallons.

Yeah the cheap ones can be over 5 to 1… very wasteful

Buzzzz · Jun 13, 2022

Jimster said:
I have seen a lot of posts about the necessity of using RO or distilled water when the tap water is anything over 100PPM. I have used tap water at around 275 for decades and never had problems, or needed to add things like Cal-Mag or other supplements, which can skew the Ph and open up a Pandora's box of issues. What are your parameters for determining when a water source isn't suitable for growing? I can see not using water that is off the charts in PPMs, Ph, or other compunds, like chlorines, Iron, and Sulfur. All are essential for growing in small amounts. How many really have a need for treating their water in some fashion, other than adding Ph up/down?

Ran tapwater hydro for 15 years no issue ppm @140

Whats wrong with Tap Water. Is RO necessary?

Whats wrong with Tap Water. Is RO necessary?

Jimster

Anthem

Kraken.headz

916Fisherman

Rootbound

fishbuds

MIMedGrower

Mr.Juice

Formallyhap

BurnzYzBudZz

HOWCan.i.helPYOU?

Mr.Juice

Rootbound

Jimster

PhatNuggz

newbie12345

cemchris

MercDod

Anthem

Aqua Man

Buzzzz

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