Tap Water.

What are the requirements to use tap water? I have been using water from the store and its costing me a arm and a leg. I know I need to check the ppm but is there anything else I need to know?

I have seen people say they just leave buckets out over night and then its fine. If this is posted somewhere else please let me know. I did some searching but did not quite find what I was looking for.

Jdohman said:

What are the requirements to use tap water? I have been using water from the store and its costing me a arm and a leg. I know I need to check the ppm but is there anything else I need to know?

I have seen people say they just leave buckets out over night and then its fine. If this is posted somewhere else please let me know. I did some searching but did not quite find what I was looking for.

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hi there whats the ppm ov ur tap water

u could use rain water or let tap water sit for a few days with it been bubbled with air stone and air pump....


or if your on a buget lookup this in ur fav search engine (magnets water softener)

If you can use tap water thats great, just fill the bucket and let sit awhile (usually 24hours) before using it. You need to test it first get a TDS (total disolved solids) meter and see where your ppm (parts per million) stand then go from there. TDS meters are cheap like 20-30 bucks, if your doing hydro you will need one and a Ph meter.

My tap is 250 PPM - I let it sit out and bubble for 24 hours. I also put in Amquel which removes Chlorine & all contaminants.

I guess its all about the quality of your tap water,I use my tap water straight from the faucet for dwc, and soil with no problems.I dont have hard water like some do.I think hard water is where the problems come in.

snocat said:

I guess its all about the quality of your tap water,I use my tap water straight from the faucet for dwc, and soil with no problems.I dont have hard water like some do.I think hard water is where the problems come in.

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i wish i lived were ur livin then coz my tap water is 500ppm during summer and 450 during winter i had to invest in r/o 4 stage deionzed now i have ppm 000 or 002

man and i thought my water was bad at 200 ppm

Where is the best place to buy a ppm meter?

General Hydroponics makes one of their main nutrients specifically for hard water .. Floramicro for hard water. I fill up 30 gallons every week or so and I know your pain but it only costs me about 15 bucks max for 30 gallons of water at the water and ice store.

http://www.hydrofarm.com/pb_detail.php?itemid=515

Have any of you used this meter?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PH-PPM-TEMP-TDS-EC-CF-METER-WATER-HYDROPONIC-TESTER-/180571131244?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0ae0cd6c#ht_3651wt_905

Jdohman said:

Have any of you used this meter?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PH-PPM-TEMP-TDS-EC-CF-METER-WATER-HYDROPONIC-TESTER-/180571131244?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0ae0cd6c#ht_3651wt_905

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hi there i would not buy allin1 but it up to you

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-HM-Digital-TDS-4-Pocket-Size-Meter-TDS4-TDS-4-/170433009174?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item27ae995616

this 1 i use its on a coversion 5
most nute companys feeding chart is done on coversion 7 if u look at the chart it will tell u what ur ppm should be for conversion 5 .

lets say u was on week 3 ov flowerin and u looked at advance nute feed schdule and it said 700ppm. coz that meter is a coversion 5 you now by look at this chart u need to set it to 500ppm i hope i explained it ok if not maybe sum one else can.....

I use this combo by Hanna and it works great. So do most of the grow shop guys I know.. Its a 260 dollar combo meter ..

http://www.amazon.com/Automated-Products-Feature-HI9813-6-HIMTR-005/dp/B001W3W282/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1287003571&sr=8-29

Trick to using tap water - let it sit for a couple days first...

If you're using an aero system not as big a deal i found (i have multiple types of systems) and the aero allows for no issues with my tap water at all.. soil and flood systems are a different story imo

i use tap and the fish dechlorinator... works fine. i personally don't go past 1000ppm. my city water is horrible at 500ppm start out

As everyone has stated it is ok to use tap water (mines at 300-350ppm, depending on when they flush there system I suppose) but you must

A) let it sit for 24hr (with a air stone so it doesn't go stagnet and get bacteria) this get rid of the Chlorine. or

B) Use an additive from your local fish section to get rid of it, and I reccomend this option alot more as bigger citys now use Chloramine instead of chlorine for disinfecting water of bacteria, and simply letting it sit over night won't remove this chemical.

Jdohman said:

What are the requirements to use tap water? I have been using water from the store and its costing me a arm and a leg. I know I need to check the ppm but is there anything else I need to know?

I have seen people say they just leave buckets out over night and then its fine. If this is posted somewhere else please let me know. I did some searching but did not quite find what I was looking for.

Click to expand...

use rain water the ppm is 3-5 plants will love you

snocat said:

I guess its all about the quality of your tap water,I use my tap water straight from the faucet for dwc, and soil with no problems.I dont have hard water like some do.I think hard water is where the problems come in.

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Have you tested the ppm of your water or are you just saying that because you dont see calcium deposits on your faucet?

Not trying to start anything but most tap water is 200 + ppm unless your shit comes from a spring I doubt its under 200 ppm

Anything over 200ppm is considered hard water

I dunno he could be 150-200ppm and be on a new water line wit no buildup, think 300+ppm for tap is pretty hard

Why not buy a Brita filter, or the like? They're cheap and effective. For $20, my girl got one the other day that included a cheap TDS meter.

I have been using tap water for my hydro for years. ppm of about 150. Never had any problems. I have been using this meter and its on the cheap. I highly recommend it. I once had an ec dipstick I paid almost 100 bucks for then i left the battery inside of it and it blew up, acid all in the inside. I found this meter and its worked great for less than 20 bucks. as one of the other posts said. I think they are selling the same type of meter with a brita filter at bed bath and beyond for less than 30. http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-TDS-EZ-Tester-Purity/dp/B002C0A7ZY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1287347448&sr=8-2