Tap water vs RO vs carbon filter

I live in Thailand and my tap water comes out at 190ppm. Thai tap water is not safe to drink so I’m just wondering how bad it is for plants. Should I go for a RO filter or just 1 carbon filter for coco?

I was able to have an ok harvest using tap water only but I want to optimize my set up.

Do you know what is in the water that makes it unsafe to drink? Lots of folks grow successfully with 190 ppm water. You should be fine as is but if you decide to filter your water, an RO filter would be better than a carbon water filter.

If you can afford it get an RO unit and a UV filter so you can drink the water too. My tap water comes from a dugout on my property and we can't drink that. The UV filter I got was $85Can and good for one gallon a minute and the RO won't be moving that fast even with the 75gal/day RO membrane filter.

A small 3 stage RO filter is all you would really need and of course some jugs to store it in. We can get something like that for around $150 at the hardware store.

I bought 3-way valves to be able to take water for my plants after the RO filter and before it goes thru the UV. Still have to set it all up tho.

Highway61 said:

Do you know what is in the water that makes it unsafe to drink? Lots of folks grow successfully with 190 ppm water. You should be fine as is but if you decide to filter your water, an RO filter would be better than a carbon water filter.

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google says it’s because of old pipes so the water can be in contact with unwanted stuff. No one drinks tap water here in fear of getting sick, I wonder what exactly can cause this. Anyway it doesn’t sound safe for the plants that’s why I want a filter.

OldMedUser said:

If you can afford it get an RO unit and a UV filter so you can drink the water too. My tap water comes from a dugout on my property and we can't drink that. The UV filter I got was $85Can and good for one gallon a minute and the RO won't be moving that fast even with the 75gal/day RO membrane filter.

A small 3 stage RO filter is all you would really need and of course some jugs to store it in. We can get something like that for around $150 at the hardware store.

I bought 3-way valves to be able to take water for my plants after the RO filter and before it goes thru the UV. Still have to set it all up tho.

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Can I ask you your experience with feedings your plants RO water?
I’m still debating RO vs a single carbon filter.
The reason for going with a carbon filter vs RO is because it’s cheaper, faster to fill up, no wasted water, it keeps some of the needed minerals and still seem to be doing a good job at lowering the ppm (especially chlorine). RO seem to be more complicated, I’ve dig lots of messages on forums and many RO users seemed unhappy and switched to carbon filter. It needs more care, seems like it’s not so good to use with clones/seedlings and most people say it’s better to mix like 25% tap to get some of the wanted minerals otherwise there’s lots of probable deficiency problems. It always sounds more complicated than just adding cal/mag and you’re good to go.
Seems like 50% of people who used it swear by it and 50% had problems and regret buying a RO filter.

No need for any of that for watering cannabis. Your hardness level is more than acceptable. For your own use drinking or cooking that’s another matter.

OverCloudz said:

Can I ask you your experience with feedings your plants RO water?
I’m still debating RO vs a single carbon filter.
The reason for going with a carbon filter vs RO is because it’s cheaper, faster to fill up, no wasted water, it keeps some of the needed minerals and still seem to be doing a good job at lowering the ppm (especially chlorine). RO seem to be more complicated, I’ve dig lots of messages on forums and many RO users seemed unhappy and switched to carbon filter. It needs more care, seems like it’s not so good to use with clones/seedlings and most people say it’s better to mix like 25% tap to get some of the wanted minerals otherwise there’s lots of probable deficiency problems.
Seems like 50% of people who used it swear by it and 50% had problems and regret buying a RO filter.

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You say the contamination comes from the pipes, are they lead pipes? If so just get a carbon filter that filters lead.

Fallguy111 said:

You say the contamination comes from the pipes, are they lead pipes? If so just get a carbon filter that filters lead.

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that actually works, carbon filters do eliminate about 98% of lead in water....and they're cheaper than ro filters, most places.

Fallguy111 said:

You say the contamination comes from the pipes, are they lead pipes? If so just get a carbon filter that filters lead.

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I would love to find more info on this but Thai is not my first language and can’t find any other English info other than « damaged/old pipes, polluted water ». When I read that, RO comes to mind right away but I’m not sure, I have no experience with it

OverCloudz said:

google says it’s because of old pipes so the water can be in contact with unwanted stuff. No one drinks tap water here in fear of getting sick, I wonder what exactly can cause this. Anyway it doesn’t sound safe for the plants that’s why I want a filter.

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Lead pipes?

OverCloudz said:

I would love to find more info on this but Thai is not my first language and can’t find any other English info other than « damaged/old pipes, polluted water ». When I read that, RO comes to mind right away but I’m not sure, I have no experience with it

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a carbon filter should be sufficient if the problem is lead. RO would do the same thing, but at at least twice the cost.
The particulate count you mentioned isn't that high, i honestly wouldn't worry about it at all, if it was me.
Plants will filter most particulates out themselves, and at the count you mentioned, unless the contamination was 100% lead, there's no chance of you being effected by it.
The filtration system will be for your psychological benefit, not the plants physical benefit...or yours.

Can’t find if it’s lead pipes, but I’m reading an article saying: « bacteria, heavy metals, sewage and industrial wastewater are present in Phuket tap water, that’s why it’s unsafe to drink »

Roger A. Shrubber said:

a carbon filter should be sufficient if the problem is lead. RO would do the same thing, but at at least twice the cost.
The particulate count you mentioned isn't that high, i honestly wouldn't worry about it at all, if it was me.
Plants will filter most particulates out themselves, and at the count you mentioned, unless the contamination was 100% lead, there's no chance of you being effected by it.
The filtration system will be for your psychological benefit, not the plants physical benefit...or yours.

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Thanks! I’m leaning towards a carbon filter but just needed some confirmation from the community first

Carbon filter for the plants and a RO for yourself.

pahpah-cee said:

Carbon filter for the plants and a RO for yourself.

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So if you had a RO filter and a carbon filter at home, you would still use the carbon for plants and not the RO? Is the reason for keeping some of the wanted minerals?

OverCloudz said:

So if you had a RO filter and a carbon filter at home, you would still use the carbon for plants and not the RO? Is the reason for keeping some of the wanted minerals?

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I have ro for coffee and drinking water. To me it's wasteful and unnecessary added cost to use on plants.

RO systems are ecological disasters as far as water waste goes. When I search Phuket water it’s actually the shortages that come up because of drought.

OverCloudz said:

So if you had a RO filter and a carbon filter at home, you would still use the carbon for plants and not the RO? Is the reason for keeping some of the wanted minerals?

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If you run straight RO you will need to increase your feed to compensate for a lack of starting minerals. It’s just counter intuitive to strip your water down to 0ppm just to add cal mag.

Got it, I thought the polluted water would make you guys with more experience lead to RO but not. I’ll start looking for carbon filters, thanks guys

OverCloudz said:

So if you had a RO filter and a carbon filter at home, you would still use the carbon for plants and not the RO? Is the reason for keeping some of the wanted minerals?

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i think it's more to reduce the costs...But RO does require you to add a little calmag to each watering, as there is almost NO mineral content in RO water...while carbon filters don't remove calcium.