Run out of water!?

[hmmm123]

Normally i let my water sit for at least 24hours, but i forgot i needed some more i only had like 250ml of water for my 2 plants gave them that between them when i got up but i dont think that was enough there wasn't even any run off, bit concerned cos my leaves are dropping quiet a bit. What should i do? Just leave them and hope they are going to ok till at least tomorrow when i have some more water for them? Any advice anyone? Thanks.

What about rain water? Do i need to let the stand or do anything to it? Just noticed it's started raining here so i guess i could try collect some of that if it will be ok for my plants?

 

[Kludge]

You should be fine either way. I personally would just wait till tomorrow because I'd be more concerned about the chlorine destroying helpful living things in the soil.

 

[mane2008]

24hrs of the water being exposed to air will kill all chlorine. Kludge is right bra it can destroy benifical microbes etc in ya soil. If you really in a hurry you can get sum water conditioner and it get rid of the chlorine immediately bra.

 

[OnSolomonsGrave]

If you live in an area with high calcium water, or just bad water to begin with and you are looking to get your ppm down to a reasonable level. I bring you....THE MR. CLEAN AUTO DRY CAR WASH. Ok so seriously, you are asking me grave, what the hell does this have to do with me and my hard water. Well I read about this on some other forums and thought I could help a few people out here with it. The starter filter that comes with it does about 30 gallons, and the real filters do about 3 times as much so each filter filters about 100 gallons at the price of 6.50 a filter thats about 6 and a half cent s a gallon for water thats 20 ppm. You can tear apart the actual gun and turn it into a nice wall unit, it's very small and portable. You need a garden hose or garden hose attachment to put it on your sink. Ace is the only local place I found that carries em, but who knows do a lil reasearch and find yourself one, at the price ratio of most 200 dollar R/o units you can get a small home unit for 30 bucks, it takes it about an hour to fill up a 35 gallon rez. If you have any questions lemme know. Obviously you don't use the soap.

 

[weezer]

either go buy some bottle water or just give them tap water..
i had to use tap water yesterday..
keep up with your chores

 

[CaliMedicated]

ya.. no biggie if you cant wait go by some distelled water at the store for a couple of bucks

 

[masterganja]

just use a water bottle then once you get more water just get some milk gallon containers then fill those and let em sit then you have water a plenty

 

[Seamaiden]

Normally i let my water sit for at least 24hours, but i forgot i needed some more i only had like 250ml of water for my 2 plants gave them that between them when i got up but i dont think that was enough there wasn't even any run off, bit concerned cos my leaves are dropping quiet a bit. What should i do? Just leave them and hope they are going to ok till at least tomorrow when i have some more water for them? Any advice anyone? Thanks.

What about rain water? Do i need to let the stand or do anything to it? Just noticed it's started raining here so i guess i could try collect some of that if it will be ok for my plants?

Because almost all water municipalities have moved away from chlorine and to chloramine, allowing the water to sit out is no longer effective. Chloramine is a compound comprised of chlorine and ammonia, it is very stable and does not present the same health hazards as straight chlorine. I only know of one municipality that uses chlorine only (where I used to live), and I wouldn't be surprised if they've been mandated to switch.

In any event, as such, chloramine requires another chemical to break the bond. It's a perfectly safe chemical, and how you decide to acquire and use it is up to you. It's sodium thiosulfate (a.k.a. aquarium water dechlorinator). If you buy it premade it's ready to go. If you want to be able to dechlorinate pretty much for the rest of your life, Google sodium thiosulfate (I always add 'best price'), buy the bucket of dry S.T., then mix to a 1% aqueous solution and use.

Rainwater is usually perfectly safe to use, but it is dependent upon where you live, as not all air quality is equal.

Get yourself that sodium thiosulfate, and you'll be golden.

 

[hmmm123]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, i can't really afford to be buying anything else at the moment looks like my plants will just have to wait till tomorrow now. Think they should be ok though. (as i'm not traveling 10miles to buy a bottle of water lol.)

 

[Kludge]

Because almost all water municipalities have moved away from chlorine and to chloramine, allowing the water to sit out is no longer effective...
Get yourself that sodium thiosulfate, and you'll be golden.

Excellent post! Thanks for the info. I used to buy pH down for $12 a quart until I found info on how to make it myself for about 50 cents a quart.

One question though. The water I let sit for 24 hours doesn't smell like chlorine while my tap water does. I assumed that was because the chlorine offgassed. If that's not happening why doesn't it smell like chlorine any more?

Thanks again for the info.

-- edit --

I should update this. I did a little research and my local municipality uses chloromine mostly; but once a year, for a few weeks, they use chlorine to flush the system.

-- edit 2 --

And further research shows the city next to mine only uses chlorine.

So, while what Seamaiden says may be true for big cities, if you live in the 'burbs you should research your local water. It only took me a few mins to find the info for my area.

 

[hmmm123]

Yer maybe i should look into the water in my area since i live in the middle of know where, don't think the water is too good around here though. Know for deffo it has a lot of lime in it whether or not that could effect them? My taps and kettle are wrecked due to limescale out of the water.

Excellent post! Thanks for the info. I used to buy pH down for $12 a quart until I found info on how to make it myself for about 50 cents a quart.

One question though. The water I let sit for 24 hours doesn't smell like chlorine while my tap water does. I assumed that was because the chlorine offgassed. If that's not happening why doesn't it smell like chlorine any more?

Thanks again for the info.

-- edit --

I should update this. I did a little research and my local municipality uses chloromine mostly; but once a year, for a few weeks, they use chlorine to flush the system.

-- edit 2 --

And further research shows the city next to mine only uses chlorine.

So, while what Seamaiden says may be true for big cities, if you live in the 'burbs you should research your local water. It only took me a few mins to find the info for my area.

 

[Seamaiden]

Excellent post! Thanks for the info. I used to buy pH down for $12 a quart until I found info on how to make it myself for about 50 cents a quart.

One question though. The water I let sit for 24 hours doesn't smell like chlorine while my tap water does. I assumed that was because the chlorine offgassed. If that's not happening why doesn't it smell like chlorine any more?

Thanks again for the info.

-- edit --

I should update this. I did a little research and my local municipality uses chloromine mostly; but once a year, for a few weeks, they use chlorine to flush the system.

-- edit 2 --

And further research shows the city next to mine only uses chlorine.

So, while what Seamaiden says may be true for big cities, if you live in the 'burbs you should research your local water. It only took me a few mins to find the info for my area.

First off, VERY glad I inspired someone to do some research. Every municipality is different, but it's been found that chlorine can break down into cancer-causing compounds (sorry, drawing a blank on the specifics), thus, the move away. Also, because it does dissipate, another reason they've moved away.

Second, you're using your nose! I used to tell ALL my (aquarium) customers, Use your nose, your nose knows!

Third, if you haven't posted your secret for adjusting your pH down, you should. (Assuming it's not just white vinegar.)

 

[hmmm123]

Haha no i don't ajust my ph with white vingar i use a couple of drops of lemon juice instead lol.

First off, VERY glad I inspired someone to do some research. Every municipality is different, but it's been found that chlorine can break down into cancer-causing compounds (sorry, drawing a blank on the specifics), thus, the move away. Also, because it does dissipate, another reason they've moved away.

Second, you're using your nose! I used to tell ALL my (aquarium) customers, Use your nose, your nose knows!

Third, if you haven't posted your secret for adjusting your pH down, you should. (Assuming it's not just white vinegar.)

 

[Seamaiden]

Both work, but I prefer vinegar because we're paying for lemons by the piece now, it's getting fucking outrageous. In a state that GROWS CITRUS.

 

[hmmm123]

I just bought one of those i think there called jiff lemons that you can get from the supermaket usually used for pancakes, only cost my 40p and still on my first one so i'm chuffed lol.

Both work, but I prefer vinegar because we're paying for lemons by the piece now, it's getting fucking outrageous. In a state that GROWS CITRUS.

 

[hmmm123]

Dont even get me started on the price of things like that seamaiden lol. A quick pop to the shop these days costs me a fortune to what it used to, i'll stop now i'm sounding old lol.

 

[jivalst]

I know its not the safest thing to do but i've been using tap water to fill my e&f system and I am producing perfectly. Though my water is only 75ppm out of the tap. On my next grow I plan to have an osmo filter. Not suggesting it....just saying. Happy Growing

 

[Seamaiden]

jivalst, if it ain't broke...

 

[Kludge]

... if you haven't posted your secret for adjusting your pH down, you should. (Assuming it's not just white vinegar.)

It wasn't my invention but I use sulphuric acid, easily purchased at any auto parts store as "battery acid" for $5 a quart. I then mix it 15 to 1 by taking a gallon of RO or distilled water, removing a cup of the water, then replacing the cup of water with a cup of the battery acid. This takes the acid from 33.5% to about 2%. At 2% I need about 15ml per gallon of tap water to take it from a pH of 8-ish to a pH of 6-ish. I then either add nutes which drop it down to about 5.5 or I add a little more if I'm just going to water without nutes.

If you don't know how to handle dangerous chemicals this might not be for you but if you've ever mixed chemicals for your pool and/or know acid to water, never water to acid, then you're set.

This is a savings of about $183 for 4 gallons vs. buying it for $12 a quart ($192 for 4 gallons).

-- edit --

As some of you know vinegar isn't an optimal solution because it breaks down very quickly. This will cause your pH to bounce all over the place with you chasing it as it goes.

 

[Seamaiden]

It wasn't my invention but I use sulphuric acid, easily purchased at any auto parts store as "battery acid" for $5 a quart. I then mix it 15 to 1 by taking a gallon of RO or distilled water, removing a cup of the water, then replacing the cup of water with a cup of the battery acid. This takes the acid from 33.5% to about 2%. At 2% I need about 15ml per gallon of tap water to take it from a pH of 8-ish to a pH of 6-ish. I then either add nutes which drop it down to about 5.5 or I add a little more if I'm just going to water without nutes.

If you don't know how to handle dangerous chemicals this might not be for you but if you've ever mixed chemicals for your pool and/or know acid to water, never water to acid, then you're set.

This is a savings of about $183 for 4 gallons vs. buying it for $12 a quart ($192 for 4 gallons).

-- edit --

As some of you know vinegar isn't an optimal solution because it breaks down very quickly. This will cause your pH to bounce all over the place with you chasing it as it goes.

Now, what I put in colored text, I did not know. I do know that trying to adjust pH of alkaline water (alkaline as in "buffered", not necessarily as in base) that lots of trouble can ensue from pH bounce. However, I've found it doesn't seem to be quite the problem with plants as it is aquatic organisms. Even the available pH changing solutions made to use for aquaria don't really help you with that bounce if the water "wants" to be at a particular pH.

Good stuff, Kludge.