Tap water?

Smokymickpot

Well-Known Member
I know this has probably been asked a 1000 times. On my last grow I used distilled water. On this grow I am wanting to use tap I just don’t know if I need to dechlorinate the water first or if I can use it straight from the tap. Autoflower in FFHF
 

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
I know this has probably been asked a 1000 times. On my last grow I used distilled water. On this grow I am wanting to use tap I just don’t know if I need to dechlorinate the water first or if I can use it straight from the tap. Autoflower in FFHF
Chances are, your municipality is likely using Monochloramine which cant be dechlorinated like it used to be by merely sitting it out for a day or so or by boiling it. There will still be ammonia present so all efforts to remove would virtually be for nothing. You would need to use a filtration system to get it all out. TBH, I have been using tap water forever and have had zero issues with using it and I run all hydroponics. Maybe if your ppm is outrageously high right from tap, then you may have an issue but other than that....
 

Smokymickpot

Well-Known Member
Chances are, your municipality is likely using Monochloramine which cant be dechlorinated like it used to be by merely sitting it out for a day or so or by boiling it. There will still be ammonia present so all efforts to remove would virtually be for nothing. You would need to use a filtration system to get it all out. TBH, I have been using tap water forever and have had zero issues with using it and I run all hydroponics. Maybe if your ppm is outrageously high right from tap, then you may have an issue but other than that....
Will boiling bring down my ppm? My tap water is 443 which is way to high for an auto.
 

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
Will boiling bring down my ppm? My tap water is 443 which is way to high for an auto.
No real way to answer that definitively without knowing what you are trying to "boil out of it". You would need a breakdown of the water quality data sheet from your city to know what it is you are trying to boil out of it. If your water is high in salts...then boiling it wont help, but probably make it worse as the only thing to boil away would be the water -in turn leaving the salts in the water that hasnt been boiled away into steam & actually doing the exact opposite by increasing the ppm. Hope this makes sense?
You could always easily boil a pot of water and do ppm test before and after to find out for yourself.
 

Smokymickpot

Well-Known Member
No real way to answer that definitively without knowing what you are trying to "boil out of it". You would need a breakdown of the water quality data sheet from your city to know what it is you are trying to boil out of it. If your water is high in salts...then boiling it wont help, but probably make it worse as the only thing to boil away would be the water -in turn leaving the salts in the water that hasnt been boiled away into steam & actually doing the exact opposite by increasing the ppm. Hope this makes sense?
You could always easily boil a pot of water and do ppm test before and after to find out for yourself.
Reverse osmosis system it is.
 

Lethidox

Well-Known Member
i run tap water currently only plants seem to be doing fine outside of the typical heat stress ( my room needs an AC without it im pretty fucked temp wise no matter what ) i've only used tap to begin with the only thing i don't do with my current grow due to current situation is i don't check the PH. PH pen needs to be calibrated but have no transportation to buy calibration liquid nor money in my bank to order some.

doubt they would get fucked majorly though. my tap water isn't that bad even when i used to PH it.
 

Smokymickpot

Well-Known Member
i run tap water currently only plants seem to be doing fine outside of the typical heat stress ( my room needs an AC without it im pretty fucked temp wise no matter what ) i've only used tap to begin with the only thing i don't do with my current grow due to current situation is i don't check the PH. PH pen needs to be calibrated but have no transportation to buy calibration liquid nor money in my bank to order some.

doubt they would get fucked majorly though. my tap water isn't that bad even when i used to PH it.
Yeah my ph is 9 something and ppm is high as well in all it just not good water.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Chances are, your municipality is likely using Monochloramine which cant be dechlorinated like it used to be by merely sitting it out for a day or so or by boiling it. There will still be ammonia present so all efforts to remove would virtually be for nothing. You would need to use a filtration system to get it all out. TBH, I have been using tap water forever and have had zero issues with using it and I run all hydroponics. Maybe if your ppm is outrageously high right from tap, then you may have an issue but other than that....
What Red said. Use your tap water.
 

newgrow16

Well-Known Member
Monochloramine, from what I have read is active in a closed system, water pipe, goes away as it gets out, air and soil. My backyard vegetable garden soil is alive, tap water only.

Municipal water report says ppm around 360. My ppm meter read 660 for tap and 10 for ro water. Abundance of calcium carbonates which accumulate on faucets forming stalagmites over years.

Therefore I mix 1/3 tap with ro water and don't worry about chloramine killing soil that is alive in small 7-10 gallon containers indoors.
 

dandyrandy

Well-Known Member
I bought a $100 ro unit off fleabay about 4 years ago. I've changed the "filters" etc. About 6 months ago. $35 for new ones including membrane. I ran tap which checks at ~33 grains and iron. I have a 5 micron and then a 1 micron whole house filter before the softener. Water heaters last about 5 years around here without a softener. Since the ro unit was added for drinking, cooking and the ice maker as well as cooking. The plants also benefit. Worth the $100.
 
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