Snow water

hey guys I just collected alot of snow and melted it. after melting it I tested the ph and the ppm. the ph is at 5.7-5.8 witch is good for a dwc system right? the ppm tested 1-2 ppm is that ok? or will I have to add any thing to it to supplement it such as nitrogen , calcium. my tap water test 220-295 ppm witch scares me cauz I have no ideal what is in it. I am using bc grow ,boost and bloom nutes along with thrive alive b1 red, right now I am not using the bloom due to the fact my babies are only 2 1\2 week old . I have been running around 700 ppm with the tap water so thats about 400 ppm of nutes right? so I quess my question is do I need to suppliment any thing else or is my normal nutes fine to use with snow water ? if not what would you recomend supplimenting with ? and if my nutes are fine whats the recomended ppm level for use with snow water for plant 2 1\2 weeks old?

I like the way you think man, I am getting pretty over .41/gall. I would say that boiling to kill of the bacteria is good, but what might concern me its the amount of dissolved carbon atoms it the hydrogen, much less the potential for toxic chemmies. If you live in a pristine area you could be good, but if you are anywhere downwind of a coal plant or heavy industry it could be nasty. I would take some snow, boil it, then measure PPM. if your TDS is anywhere below 100, you are money. Otherwise, you could try distilling the water, big deal but would do the job.

hey thanks for the replys . I tested the water right after letting it melt and the ppm was at 1-2 ppm so thats great right? if the ppm is 1-2 wouldnt that mean it is almost pure water ? is there any way to test for any thing else? or do I need to worry bout any thing elso due to the ppm reading being so low? and being the ppm is so low is there any trace elements that could missing that I may want to add ?

with a 1-2 ppm, that water is great. dont stress over contaminants. just add nutes and use it. late

jsgrwn said:

with a 1-2 ppm, that water is great. dont stress over contaminants. just add nutes and use it. late

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thank jsgrwn , I'm not worried bout contaminates. I'm just wondering if there is any trace elements missing ? and if there is what could I use to suppliment with . My plan was to add nutes and use it . but I was wondering if there is anything else I should add to suppliment the water to help them out even more?

The only diifference between 'rain water' and 'snow water' is the temperature, research rain water. VV

VictorVIcious said:

The only diifference between 'rain water' and 'snow water' is the temperature, research rain water. VV

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ya dont worry about contamination. rain water is used to water plants well forever

If the PPM is that low, you are so money and you dont even know it. Think of that snow as pure distilled water, after you remove potential bactieria, (if you are getting freshly fallen stuff i bet its clean, maybe dont need to boil).

I know that when ur out in the snow your not suppose to drink it melted because of bacteria. so i would suggest boiling it.

there NO need to boil it. plants are watered with snow run off everywhere, its just nature.

Actually I think a recent study was done on bacteria in snow. I don't have a link at the moment but I'm sure it's not that hard to come by. The theory goes taht snow needs something to start on...and since bacteria is plentiful most snow starts off of a piece of bacteria. So while its not BAD for plants its probably not too good either.

As for it not effecting plants come spring runoff...the saying goes "dilution is the solution to pullution"

AnitaNuggs said:

I know that when ur out in the snow your not suppose to drink it melted because of bacteria. so i would suggest boiling it.

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the reason for not drinking snow water while out in the snow is because it lowers you bodys core temp and being that you out in the snow it could send you into hypothermia. (spelling?) Thanks for the replys guys , I'm gonna add some nutes and use it . hope my babies like it

garder54 said:

Actually I think a recent study was done on bacteria in snow. I don't have a link at the moment but I'm sure it's not that hard to come by. The theory goes taht snow needs something to start on...and since bacteria is plentiful most snow starts off of a piece of bacteria. So while its not BAD for plants its probably not too good either.

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I agree.

garder54 said:

Actually I think a recent study was done on bacteria in snow. I don't have a link at the moment but I'm sure it's not that hard to come by. The theory goes taht snow needs something to start on...and since bacteria is plentiful most snow starts off of a piece of bacteria. So while its not BAD for plants its probably not too good either.

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may be wrong but I thought snow was formed by the temp getting low enough to cause the water to shed its heavy metal deposits such as iron . thats how a flake is formed . I seen a segment on the news the other day explaining how a snow flake is formed . now if my memory serves me correctly thats what I heard\seen on the news , may be some bad info though but i dont know cause im not a scientist. I do know rain water and melted snow water has been used since the beging of time to supply plants with water to grow .

i have heard of guys useing only snow and a basic nute to water plants for years,they never talked of haveing to boil it,unless you live by some acid contaminateing factory your good to go im useing some today.

garder54 said:

Actually I think a recent study was done on bacteria in snow. I don't have a link at the moment but I'm sure it's not that hard to come by. The theory goes taht snow needs something to start on...and since bacteria is plentiful most snow starts off of a piece of bacteria. So while its not BAD for plants its probably not too good either.

As for it not effecting plants come spring runoff...the saying goes "dilution is the solution to pullution"

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ya, i think i heard the same thing... i cant remember where i heard it either. your going to have to melt it somehow, after its melted just heat it up to 100 some odd degrees to kill anything.... then again, doesnt freezing temps kill bacteria too? thats why you can eat sushi? maybe im way off...... now im confused .........

(February 28, 200--There are "good" bacteria and "bad" bacteria" but who knew they play a role is forming snowflakes?
Scientists have long known that moisture in most cases needs something to cling to in order to condense.
Now, a new study shows a surprisingly large share of those so-called nucleators turn out to be bacteria that can affect plants.
In some samples as much as 85 percent of the nuclei were bacteria.
The most common bacteria found was a kind which can cause disease in several types of plants including tomatoes and beans.
The study, published in the journal "Science," found it in 20 samples of snow from around the world.
Subsequent research has also found it in summer rainfall in Louisiana.
Scientists are now mulling whether planting crops infected with the bacteria could encourage needed snow and rain.

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I just did a google search and this was the third link...
Snow Comes With High Probability Of Bacteria

Now, this may just being picky, but there is a difference between snow runoff watering plants in nature and using snow water to water your plants. "Dilution is the solution to pollution"...meaning as long as the pollutants are diluted you really have nothing to worry about, which would be the case in spring runoff. However, if you are using snow to water your potted plants the dilution is not able to take place and you are focusing the bacteria on your one plant. Of course, boiling snow would destroy most if not all of the bacteria.

It probably doesn't matter if you are using snow water to water your plants or not. But I guess there is always the chance that it could be poisoning your plant. I doubt it really matters....

i drank it for years while trapping in the bush,mind you it was mixed with ice as well.i never felt sick,except when i would get hyperthermia or pnumonia.so it has to be good enough for plants.