Water: Ro or not to RO, that is my question

green_machine_two9er

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
Dr.4:20 said:
I started using the water from my dehumidifier a couple weeks ago, now I have what looks like mag deficiencies in both tents :cuss:. My well water is 6.5ph and around 300 ppm, I just wanted to give the well a break but not like that. You think I'd be ok don't half and half?
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Also. Why tske out good ca mg fe that is in your well water only to have to add the nutrients back in? 300 is not to high ( although getting close) and water ph is not as important in organics. If you really want to cut down your water hust get a two stage sediment/ carbon filter.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
Dr.4:20 said:
I started using the water from my dehumidifier a couple weeks ago, now I have what looks like mag deficiencies in both tents :cuss:. My well water is 6.5ph and around 300 ppm, I just wanted to give the well a break but not like that. You think I'd be ok don't half and half?
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Dehumidifier water is just fine too use. Been using it for years. And mixing your well water 50/50 is cool also.
 
green_machine_two9er

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
Alexander Supertramp said:
Dehumidifier water is just fine too use. Been using it for years. And mixing your well water 50/50 is cool also.
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Just fine and cool imo dont work. Toxic metals literally and being pulled into this "grey" water. Along with bacteria and fungal spores. I mean i grow medicine and really dont like the idea of snoking toxic metal residue. Shit were trying to heal cancer. Not cause it. So unless there is no other access to water i will not never see it as a viable option.
 
Dr.4:20

Dr.4:20

Member
The dehumidifier water isn't really pulled "through" the compressor. It's condensation so as I understood it was that it was water in the near purest form. It comes out to be like 12 ppm, which that 12 could have come from my buckets. Though the dehumidifier is new I do see the concern of it later harboring mildew and such. I guess prior to using it though I didnt realize how much the plants were benefiting from my well water, and I will definitely go back. It hasn't been an issue with the well yet, I was just trying to think preventative. I would run into the same issue if I started collecting rain water too wouldnt I?
 
green_machine_two9er

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
Dr.4:20 said:
The dehumidifier water isn't really pulled "through" the compressor. It's condensation so as I understood it was that it was water in the near purest form. It comes out to be like 12 ppm, which that 12 could have come from my buckets. Though the dehumidifier is new I do see the concern of it later harboring mildew and such. I guess prior to using it though I didnt realize how much the plants were benefiting from my well water, and I will definitely go back. It hasn't been an issue with the well yet, I was just trying to think preventative. I would run into the same issue if I started collecting rain water too wouldnt I?
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Just do a simple google search into the topic. Lots of good info on the actaul mechanisms which cause the heavy metals to contaminate water. But rain water will be muxh better! Although your going to need to suppliment your soil with extra minerals to make up for void rain water. Osyter shell. Lots of it. Gypsum. Rock dust ec.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Dr.4:20 said:
The dehumidifier water isn't really pulled "through" the compressor. It's condensation so as I understood it was that it was water in the near purest form. It comes out to be like 12 ppm, which that 12 could have come from my buckets. Though the dehumidifier is new I do see the concern of it later harboring mildew and such. I guess prior to using it though I didnt realize how much the plants were benefiting from my well water, and I will definitely go back. It hasn't been an issue with the well yet, I was just trying to think preventative. I would run into the same issue if I started collecting rain water too wouldnt I?
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A drop or two of bleach in your collected water and no problems.
 
bird mcbride

bird mcbride

Well-Known Member
The majority of "hard" water in north america is that the water has too much cal/mag and limestone etc. More or less a high micro mineral content. Much of this content including copper, zinc etc are nessecary for the growth of healthy plants. The plant converts these minerals etc into bio compounds. Too much mineral content can cause lockout of other essential content. A res is much simpler. If you have no other choice you can cut this "hard" water with RO or distilled water to about 120 ppm's or whatever you feel is best. The water I have smelled coming from some air conditioners was really repugnant:)
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
green_machine_two9er said:
Just fine and cool imo dont work. Toxic metals literally and being pulled into this "grey" water. Along with bacteria and fungal spores. I mean i grow medicine and really dont like the idea of snoking toxic metal residue. Shit were trying to heal cancer. Not cause it. So unless there is no other access to water i will not never see it as a viable option.
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Grey water? Toxic metals? Bacteria and mold? Really? Its nothing more than condensation. Thats it, plain and simple. And a great source of water for a garden. Its also known as recycling. Kinda like rain ya know...
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
Alexander Supertramp said:
Grey water? Toxic metals? Bacteria and mold? Really? Its nothing more than condensation. Thats it, plain and simple. And a great source of water for a garden. Its also known as recycling. Kinda like rain ya know...
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it is considered grey water, it was condensed on an aluminum and copper coil and collected in a plastic drain. if not kept clean, that drain will grow some gross shit. so I see their concerns.
 
green_machine_two9er

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
Alexander Supertramp said:
Grey water? Toxic metals? Bacteria and mold? Really? Its nothing more than condensation. Thats it, plain and simple. And a great source of water for a garden. Its also known as recycling. Kinda like rain ya know...
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Just do a bit of research into the subject. All these things are real. And unless the condenser is made out of something other than aluminium. Brass. Copper.

And a brand new unit will be clean of mold and bacteria but after being used for awhile you better believe there is shit in there. Every elbow or piping corners than never drain. Standing water. Yuck. Shit would you drink the water? Im guessing no. So unless one lives in mad max world with basically zero access to water this practice of recycleing dehum water is a complete waste. Detrimental and dangerous!

Don't take my word for it.

http://grist.org/green-living-tips/ask-umbra-can-i-reuse-the-water-from-my-dehumidifier/
 
E

elephantSea

Well-Known Member
RO water for sure, but I would try to find a different way to supplement cal-mag other than a bottle of cal-mag. Most cal-mag is actually cal-mag+. the '+' stands for nitrogen (& whatever else), and if it happens to say 'organic' on it, it's probably organic based, which really only means that at least 15% of it comes from organic sources :(

I've recently stopped using ca-mag alltogether with my RO water, and with different simple teas, ive been able to get all the calmag I need, it would seem. Plants have never been happier.

goodluck!
 
TheFuture

TheFuture

Well-Known Member
Definitely use RO water, but you can also purchase a re-mineralization cartridge that helps offset these issues. I think the main calcifying agent in those is the Oyster Shell (Calcium Carbonate) or Gypsum (Calcium Sulphate). As for prepared organic emulsifiable Calcium, try Calcium Citrate -- but it is difficult to use, is not unlike cement/glue, and will clog emitters and lines if you use them. Epsom Salt is Magnesium Sulphate.
 
Grandpa GreenJeans

Grandpa GreenJeans

Well-Known Member
I've used the GO line and I love it. I pulled 3 pounds from 2 plants this last April using it. But I learned that RO isn't the best for this fertilizer. Since the GO line is very acidic, adding it to RO water drops the ph into the 4 range. But when I use filtered tap, my ph was in the low 6 range.
I don't worry about chlorides or chloramines because I have filters that remove it in the pre filter stages of my 8 stage 350 gpd RODI system.
If you insist on using RO because you don't have these special carbon filters that's fine, but I'd advise you to bubble your mixed fertilizer solution for 12 hours first to help stabilize pH and get those microbes going. If you don't you can have pH swings, or will have to add pH up and that can have negative effects once in the soil and sky rocket the pH way up. Hope this help some-
 
Grandpa GreenJeans

Grandpa GreenJeans

Well-Known Member
green_machine_two9er said:
Just fine and cool imo dont work. Toxic metals literally and being pulled into this "grey" water. Along with bacteria and fungal spores. I mean i grow medicine and really dont like the idea of snoking toxic metal residue. Shit were trying to heal cancer. Not cause it. So unless there is no other access to water i will not never see it as a viable option.
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I'm just throwing this out there.... dehumidifier coils are copper. Copper is toxic to plants in high levels. Copper is use to root prune. Why would anyone reclaim water that came off of copper and most likely has heavy metals in it because the water being pulled from the air is very low ppm, so it's very likely more able to disolve minerals.
 
Dr.4:20

Dr.4:20

Member
Just wanted to chime in on the metals aspect of it, strictly out of curiosity, not to argue. Wouldn't the well water have very similar exposure to metals, between the well pump, the pump in house, both of which may have metal impellers? The steel pressure tank that could have rust inside, then the lengthy passage through copper pipes to the faucet?
 
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