Tap water 520 ppm - should I switch to osmosis?

W

WeedLover487

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

I found out that my tap water are 520 ppm lately (I made a mistake and didn't test them for a while before adding nut, only after, just kept i under 1200).
They used to be 120-150 but now its over 500 (HM TDS meter, 0.5 factor, 520 ppm)


Maybe this is why I have nut lock, I get there are only bad salty stuff in that 500 ppm and not helping the plant (if you want you can see it here -> Nut burn)


I have a reverse osmosis at home, not fully clear as there is calcium adding filter for better taste (can't remove it).
water from osmosis on 38 ppm.

Can I switch them without issues? is it recommended?
I am finishing week 6 since flip.
I am balancing ph every watering anyway.

Anything I should know about?
Is it worth the effort?


Thanks
 
Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
WeedLover487 said:
Hi all,

I found out that my tap water are 520 ppm lately (I made a mistake and didn't test them for a while before adding nut, only after, just kept i under 1200).
They used to be 120-150 but now its over 500 (HM TDS meter, 0.5 factor, 520 ppm)


Maybe this is why I have nut lock, I get there are only bad salty stuff in that 500 ppm and not helping the plant (if you want you can see it here -> Nut burn)


I have a reverse osmosis at home, not fully clear as there is calcium adding filter for better taste (can't remove it).
water from osmosis on 38 ppm.

Can I switch them without issues? is it recommended?
I am finishing week 6 since flip.
I am balancing ph every watering anyway.

Anything I should know about?
Is it worth the effort?


Thanks
Click to expand...
Tap water with an EC of 1.0 is unsuitable for hydro. Your previous EC of 0.2-0.3 is more typical, and fine for hydro.
What happened to the water?
Ensure that the difference is in the water and not your measurement.
My Lake Michigan tap is 0.3 and has not changed in years.

If your water is really an EC of 1.0, it would be a good idea to cut it with RO water back to a suitable level.
 
jcdws602

jcdws602

Well-Known Member
I’m in Phoenix and we have really hard tap water with similar ppm. I tried using it and had a plethora of problems so I switched to ro and haven’t looked back. I’m not sure about the calcium thing. It might work but also might throw things off if you’re mixing in nutrients with calcium already in it. I personally would use normal ro water.
 
W

WeedLover487

Well-Known Member
Billy the Mountain said:
Tap water with an EC of 1.0 is unsuitable for hydro. Your previous EC of 0.2-0.3 is more typical, and fine for hydro.
What happened to the water?
Ensure that the difference is in the water and not your measurement.
My Lake Michigan tap is 0.3 and has not changed in years.

If your water is really an EC of 1.0, it would be a good idea to cut it with RO water back to a suitable level.
Click to expand...
I am on peat, not hydro.
I will take that as a yes?
Checked all evening, its on 520 pp while the RO is on 38.
 
W

WeedLover487

Well-Known Member
jcdws602 said:
I’m in Phoenix and we have really hard tap water with similar ppm. I tried using it and had a plethora of problems so I switched to ro and haven’t looked back. I’m not sure about the calcium thing. It might work but also might throw things off if you’re mixing in nutrients with calcium already in it. I personally would use normal ro water.
Click to expand...
I can't change it, I will have to make it work as this is the RO in the house and I can't have another system in this house.
Thanks!
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
WeedLover487 said:
Rent apartment, no water in the grow room etc
I guess 38 ppm with calcium is better than 520 of I don't know what
Maybe I can remove the calcium, I will ask
Click to expand...
You don't need it in the grow room. I put mine under my bathroom sink. The installation isn't anything that can't be reversed.
 
MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
The 500PPM in your tap water will likely be full of calcium either way. 38ppm starting water is great. Will be 100% fine growing with it. Just to give you a reference value Ive been growing for years at 350PPM starting water PPMs with ALOT of that being calcium.
 
W

WeedLover487

Well-Known Member
MidnightSun72 said:
The 500PPM in your tap water will likely be full of calcium either way. 38ppm starting water is great. Will be 100% fine growing with it. Just to give you a reference value Ive been growing for years at 350PPM starting water PPMs with ALOT of that being calcium.
Click to expand...
Thanks
I have few successful grows, but this time its a gentle strain.
And I always have some issues with salts and flushes..

I think that my main issue is the 500ppm in the water, too much cal as you said;
And me that always waited with watering until there are total dry and very light pot - from reading I see that this is not good.
Its good for house plants but not for weed... My bad.

From now I will water when there are light in weight but still moist.
 
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