New to DWC: need opinion of water quality of Portland water quality report...

Here it is, I was wondering if I needed a different source or to invest in a reverse osmosis purifier. Im tired of getting ripped off for gallons at the market. I think the tap is ok, super low ppm etc but I would like a RIO vet to look it over if at all possible

so I don't cook my babies.

I use 11 drops of vinegar per 2 gallons to ph it down to 6.0-6.5 (drop ph kit) (it usually is about ph7 straight from the tap) and American Agriculture's "Vita-Grow" 3 part nute system.

Any advisement is helpful, my eyes are bleeding from the reading/research I have been going through...

I am going to invest in a EC meter and maybe a better ph meter if you guys dont think a drop tester is going to cut it.

link to water report: http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?a=244813&c=29551

THANKS!

It sounds like good water. I am using crappy hard water with some success, so you should be fine.
Also, they say to get the right nutes in then PH the water.

If its under 100ppm then I say you're ok. Do NOT take their report for granted as your pipes or main link could have more containment then stated. You really need to test it for sure then go from there. Never assume its ok, especially in HYDRO.

I bought a RO filter setup from California for like 70 bucks last year and been using it daily dropping my 700ppm well water to 20ppm. Plants love it, and so does my wallet.

Filters are replaceable on the cheap so its a win/win.

been using my nasty ass city water for years 270 ppm bad days around 170 on a good day ,never had a problem my plants are always in top shape i'm not a big believer in the perfect water setup money can be spent elsewhere .

Thanks guys, looks like Ill be safe with the bull-run watershed. I am still debating a hempy bucket or DWC. I like that with a hempy you can add a refill reservoir so you can leave it over the weekend if needed, but you DWC guys seem to be getting much better results with the airstone... hmm.

jusblazed said:

Thanks guys, looks like Ill be safe with the bull-run watershed. I am still debating a hempy bucket or DWC. I like that with a hempy you can add a refill reservoir so you can leave it over the weekend if needed, but you DWC guys seem to be getting much better results with the airstone... hmm.

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Once you have the roots submerged you can theoretically leave it for good (assuming no possible chance of power outage) but with DWC you will need to use h202( get food grade not the brown bottle stuff) or brew teas elsewhere and add. With a strong % h202 you can add 1 ml / L every couple days for sterilization. but other than checking on your plants every couple days you really dont need that much monitoring if you know what weather conditions your setup leaves you with

I always tell people to get a Small Boy or a Tall Boy by Hydrologic. If you live in a city, get the upgrade filter that is sold extra for like $40 - - - worth it to get out the chlorine and chloramine. Really my main goal with water filtration is to get the stuff out that kills microbiology. Other than that just remember you won't need as much cal/mag if you're not using RO so maybe go with a hard water formula.

I used RO for a long time and it just didn't seem to be that great of an investment of my money or time. Takes forever to fill a reservoir with RO.