HotKarl2
Well-Known Member
I currently run an 8x4 with an 80 gallon res. I currently make about 80 gallons of RO+ DI water a week from my well, which is pretty expensive in filters. I live close to a lake and could use the lake water in the summer as my base water, currently with my RO+ DI water I use CalMag and A&B and Hydroguard.
The lake water has a EC of 0.2-0.4 typical, so I probably wouldn't need to add anything other than my nutrients, which in this next cycle will be MegaCrop.
My question I guess is has anyone here ever used lake water in hydro like this before? I was wondering if I could get away with just adding HydroGuard and hoping the bennies would outnumber the baddies, or if I should chlorinate the water first, and then after it dissipates transfer to my res? That last part is a hassle so it would be cool if I could just pump it directly into my tank and add Hydroguard and be done with it. But I'm thinking I might need to kill any bacteria/algea first with Chlorine in a holding tank, and then after it dissipates transfer to res and add the hydroguard. Basically I am worried about creating an algea nightmare with all the stink and bugs that come along with that.
Thoughts?
The lake water has a EC of 0.2-0.4 typical, so I probably wouldn't need to add anything other than my nutrients, which in this next cycle will be MegaCrop.
My question I guess is has anyone here ever used lake water in hydro like this before? I was wondering if I could get away with just adding HydroGuard and hoping the bennies would outnumber the baddies, or if I should chlorinate the water first, and then after it dissipates transfer to my res? That last part is a hassle so it would be cool if I could just pump it directly into my tank and add Hydroguard and be done with it. But I'm thinking I might need to kill any bacteria/algea first with Chlorine in a holding tank, and then after it dissipates transfer to res and add the hydroguard. Basically I am worried about creating an algea nightmare with all the stink and bugs that come along with that.
Thoughts?