R/o system and guardian vs blue lab pens

Slantir

Slantir

Member
About to start a new cycle 2 dwc buckets with a 5 gallon cycle reserve and a 30 gallon top off reserve. I have cheapo pens right now they work but I want better. Is the guardian worth the extra motley? Like can anyone who uses it tell me why they like the guardian? I've read around and everyone just says get the guardian and not really why, read reviews just want first hand feedback.

Also my water quality sucks I can buy 30c a gallon but a r/o system just makes sense it'll cost about what I'd pay for my water for a full cycle. Can anyone give good direction for them as I know nothing about them and even reading specs is just jargon to me.
 
blackforest

blackforest

Well-Known Member
Slantir said:
About to start a new cycle 2 dwc buckets with a 5 gallon cycle reserve and a 30 gallon top off reserve. I have cheapo pens right now they work but I want better. Is the guardian worth the extra motley? Like can anyone who uses it tell me why they like the guardian? I've read around and everyone just says get the guardian and not really why, read reviews just want first hand feedback.

Also my water quality sucks I can buy 30c a gallon but a r/o system just makes sense it'll cost about what I'd pay for my water for a full cycle. Can anyone give good direction for them as I know nothing about them and even reading specs is just jargon to me.
Click to expand...
I use a RO system and a guardian. I use an RO because my tap is kinda high. I just got a 4 stage I think off ebay for like $100. I have a 6 site rdwc and just got tired of measuring the ph/ec all the time is why I got a guardian. It's nice to peak in there and just see what is going on vs having to measure it. I ran hydro for a long time without one, so they are not necessary, but a nice feature imo.
 
Jimbo01

Jimbo01

Well-Known Member
I too use RO water and use a Guardian. I switched to RO water because I was always chasing my PH around and using more PH up/down then I was nutes. I switched to the Guardian when I dropped my pen. Can't fix the pens but you can replace the probes. I wish I could have justified the Guardian Connect, but that would have just been another toy for the most part. If you want to be precise get yourself the Guardian.
 
Slantir

Slantir

Member
Wow thanks for quick replies. My tap is like 550 it's terrible. I never knew it was that bad till I got my pen and tested it.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Have you done a side by using RO and your tap water? It would be interesting to see the difference. I'm using well water (half the EC of yours though) and once I got it dialed in and started using an amino acid supplement the plants thrive. Never tried a run using RO so curious in the difference. At first I was chasing PH as well but it's extremely stable now.
 
Bareback

Bareback

Well-Known Member
blackforest said:
I use a RO system and a guardian. I use an RO because my tap is kinda high. I just got a 4 stage I think off ebay for like $100. I have a 6 site rdwc and just got tired of measuring the ph/ec all the time is why I got a guardian. It's nice to peak in there and just see what is going on vs having to measure it. I ran hydro for a long time without one, so they are not necessary, but a nice feature imo.
Click to expand...
Sorry about asking this your thread, but I too am looking at doing the same set up with 4 bucket everything else is the same. My question is about RO 4 stage 5 stage what's min. I know 50 gpd or 75 gpd is referred to as volume I curious about filtration.
 
Slantir

Slantir

Member
Bareback said:
Sorry about asking this your thread, but I too am looking at doing the same set up with 4 bucket everything else is the same. My question is about RO 4 stage 5 stage what's min. I know 50 gpd or 75 gpd is referred to as volume I curious about filtration.
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Don't apologize both are good questions. Like do I need a 5 stage or will a 3 stage ro buddy suffice? I don't rlly know a whole lot about 3 4 and 5 stage and hydroponics this is my first hydro but 3rd grow.

I was gonna get a 50gpd system my entire system will be under 50 gallons
 
Jimbo01

Jimbo01

Well-Known Member
I use 3 & 6 gallon water jugs. I have several 1/2 gallon milk jugs as well. Then I use measures 5 gallon pails for water changes. You'll want to get that water up to temp before you use it
 
Bareback

Bareback

Well-Known Member
Thanks jimbo, do you have a hook up on replacement filters also. Any thoughts on a float switch kinda thingy.
 
blackforest

blackforest

Well-Known Member
Bareback said:
Sorry about asking this your thread, but I too am looking at doing the same set up with 4 bucket everything else is the same. My question is about RO 4 stage 5 stage what's min. I know 50 gpd or 75 gpd is referred to as volume I curious about filtration.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how many gpd it is. It's a generic 4 stage filter that takes 250 ppm standard house water to 10 ppm or less. No need for anything above that. Over time I've learned it takes 15 min to fill up 1 gal of ro water. Once a week I fill up a 30 gal container w/ ro water and add my nutes, etc.
 
blackforest

blackforest

Well-Known Member
purplehays1

purplehays1

Well-Known Member
Slantir said:
About to start a new cycle 2 dwc buckets with a 5 gallon cycle reserve and a 30 gallon top off reserve. I have cheapo pens right now they work but I want better. Is the guardian worth the extra motley? Like can anyone who uses it tell me why they like the guardian? I've read around and everyone just says get the guardian and not really why, read reviews just want first hand feedback.

Also my water quality sucks I can buy 30c a gallon but a r/o system just makes sense it'll cost about what I'd pay for my water for a full cycle. Can anyone give good direction for them as I know nothing about them and even reading specs is just jargon to me.
Click to expand...

https://www.amazon.com/Watts-Premier-RO-Pure-4-Stage-Reverse/dp/B0091OBMY4

Bought one of these (Older model but not much has changed) like 15 years ago, changed the membrane and filters one time, ppm 15 tops and nearly exactly 7.0 ph every gallon.
 
DrCannaPath

DrCannaPath

Well-Known Member
I have the guardian and I have been using it for maybe 3 years now .. its accurate and reliable.....after 3 years of using it i thought its starting to act up and its time to get a new one .... i ordered one and got it 3 days ago only to realize my old guardian was fine and that it was my RO filters that needed replaced (the guardian reading my ro water at high ppms) ...anyway now i have a backup guardian :-)

Sent from my SM-G930F using Rollitup mobile app
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
If it's just for your growing needs I'm pretty sure you can get away with the fewest prefilters that is available due to they are mostly for taste (I think), just learning all of this stuff, our company is starting to offer RO and softners, woohoo, free stuff lol.
 
Slantir

Slantir

Member
Yeah I have an idea what I'm looking at now. I'm gonna get the RO system and follow Lucas. I have iffy testers I'm gonna stick with and see how this grow goes. If it's good get I'll a guardian and up the count from 2 to 4. I'll post pictures and such in the grow journal once it's all together. I really want the guardian but I prolly won't have enough left after purchasing everything else I'll need.
 
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