how to check if ur tap water is ok to use for hydro?

J

Jhaz

Active Member
I heard from my local grow store that our water is filled with salt. Anything I can do to check my water to make sure I can use it? Have a 50 gall tank and buying 50$ worth of water every 10 days does not sound cool...lol
 
pilgram

pilgram

Well-Known Member
go to your water department and ask for a water report,it is your right,they only test 1 time a year where im at though
 
rowlman

rowlman

Well-Known Member
I was buying water too at 1st...I got a small boy RO filter set-up...for $100 bucks youll have clean water for like 3000 gallons...then you just replace the filter every 6 months or so ...not sure how much the replacements are though...lol...sorry
 
justparanoid

justparanoid

Well-Known Member
Get a ppm or parts per million meter. they are cheap and its the only way to easily see your water quality on demand.

JP
 
J

Jhaz

Active Member
I have a ph reader, the ph is 7 from the tap.

But i was told it still has the salt in there..is there a way to rid the tap water of it?

For you guys that say check it with a ppm meter, what exactly am I looking for result wise? thanks in advance
 
J

Japanfreak

New Member
Jhaz said:
I heard from my local grow store that our water is filled with salt
Click to expand...
Yes it is, and that salt is good for your plants. Here's the thing, most tap water is fine to grow with but many people have let others convince them that it's not. The simple fact is, most nute lines are formulated to use with tap water because that's what most people use. Many people use R.O. water and take out the salts and what do they do? The cal-mag cha-cha-cha, they put it back in by buying another product at their local hydro store (who told you tap wasn't good?)

So about 90% of the tap water out there is fine to grow with, the best way to check is by doing a grow. You can buy meters and all type of crap to test your water, but just doing a grow will also.

If your water is really really really bad, then you'll have to filter it.

Here's another bit of info they don't tell you, since your tap water's pH is 7.0 there is a good chance your pH will be perfect after adding nutes without adjusting.
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Get city supply report if u want.
Or just buy a R/O filter WITH an ACTIVATED CARBON filter !
That is the most effecient at sediment and chemical removal and the only one that removes Chloramine, which most ppl know nothing of or about in their city tap.
Lowes or Home Depot for sink and whole house systems.
Whether I grow soilless or hydro, I use R/O the ENTIRE GROW.
I know my ppms are 18 and what I am feeding my plants.
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Get city supply report if u want.
Or just buy a R/O filter WITH an ACTIVATED CARBON filter !
That is the most effecient at sediment and chemical removal and the only one that removes Chloramine, which most ppl know nothing of or about in their city tap.
Lowes or Home Depot for sink and whole house systems.
Whether I grow soilless or hydro, I use R/O the ENTIRE GROW.
I know my ppms are 18 and what I am feeding my plants.
 
J

Jhaz

Active Member
Thanks man for the info...I had posted prior without seeing this. Ill give it a run and i guess if they turn yellow its time for distilled lolol..appreciatte the help tho..starting monday my first run so im hoping for the best!

Japanfreak said:
Yes it is, and that salt is good for your plants. Here's the thing, most tap water is fine to grow with but many people have let others convince them that it's not. The simple fact is, most nute lines are formulated to use with tap water because that's what most people use. Many people use R.O. water and take out the salts and what do they do? The cal-mag cha-cha-cha, they put it back in by buying another product at their local hydro store (who told you tap wasn't good?)

So about 90% of the tap water out there is fine to grow with, the best way to check is by doing a grow. You can buy meters and all type of crap to test your water, but just doing a grow will also.

If your water is really really really bad, then you'll have to filter it.

Here's another bit of info they don't tell you, since your tap water's pH is 7.0 there is a good chance your pH will be perfect after adding nutes without adjusting.
Click to expand...
 
G

g0dl1ke

Well-Known Member
Go the Bluelab Truncheon meter - grab a cleaning kit for the probe too, by far the best nute meter on the market.
 
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