Citizen
Mar 12 2004, 09:48 AM
Hello All,
I am wondering what the best water source for hydro might be?
I live in a hard water area but have limited access to demineralized water at .80p/gallon. I was also considering some sort of carbon or reverse osmosis unit.
Is any of this neccesary, or should I save the money and use tap with a HW nute formula?
I suppose filtration might remove some beneficial micro elements?
Thanks for any thoughts on this subject
VRG
Mar 12 2004, 11:18 AM
Hi Mate,
| QUOTE |
I live in a hard water area but have limited access to demineralized water at .80p/gallon. I was also considering some sort of carbon or reverse osmosis unit.
Is any of this neccesary, or should I save the money and use tap with a HW nute formula? |
If it's not too bad, you should be alright with hard water nutes.
Have you had a water test done?? tested the EC/PH yourself??
R.O is definatly the way to go if you have the cash!
VRG
Citizen
Mar 12 2004, 11:34 AM
Yeah, the EC is .4
Just wondering if it would be beneficial to use purified water.
Isn't there alot of water wastage with RO?
Is there a noticable difference in the crop when using RO?
Thanks
VRG
Mar 12 2004, 11:53 AM
that's not too bad mate.
| QUOTE |
| Just wondering if it would be beneficial to use purified water. |
Definatly beneficial!
| QUOTE |
| Isn't there alot of water wastage with RO? |
Yes mate, you just have one pipe going into your reservoir, and one running down a drain.
| QUOTE |
| Is there a noticable difference in the crop when using RO? |
That's down to how bad your water really is. You could have a background EC of 0.4, and be fine, it's more to do with what makes up that 0.4.
A quick example, you only need 60mg of magnesium in veg full stop. You could have 58mg's in your water fresh from the tap. So as soon as you add your grow solution, your magnesium content will rocket, this will obviuosly cause you problems.
I have a freind who uses R.O, his tap water had a background EC that ranged between 0.4-0.6. He tells me his plants look much healthier, and I beleive he is getting better results, well he's pleased with his purchase anyway!
Have you done a grow with this water before? Or are you just planning ahead?
You will get better results with R.O, simply because your starting with a blank canvas, i'e no nasties already in the water.
VRG
Citizen
Mar 12 2004, 12:22 PM
Thanks VRG!
I havn't noticed any problems with my water when growing in soil but am wanting to move into Hydro, just wondering how I can get the best out of what I am doing.
ukscroger
Apr 17 2004, 11:10 PM
ive heard that rainwater mixed with hard tap water can make the best hydro solution. or so nutriculture say anyway. dunno how good as i cant collect(sorry, havent been bothered) rainwater. but my hardwater 0.8ec seems ok