Watertest results and dwc

Hi,

after growing some runs with soil mostly biobizz and struggling with soil ph and fungus gnats I would like to try dwc I have a ro System but would like to use tap water because they waste a lot of water.


i made a lab test and would like to know if it is possible with this results to use Tab water only?

Copper 0.42mg/l
Lead 0.0021mg/l
Iron 0.05mg/l
Nickel 0.01mg/l
Cadmium 0.0003mg/l
Nitrate 1.3mg/l
Nitrite 0.1mg/l
Sodium 23mg/l
Sulfate 34mg/l
pH 7.8
EC 0.5(322ppm) 500 scale
Calcium 72mg/l
Magnesium 6.5mg/l

My ca:mg ratio is shit but can be fixed with 0.3ml/l canna mono mg 7%.

thx

any chlorine or chloramine?

rkymtnman said:

any chlorine or chloramine?

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33mg/l

which one?

Chlorine...Someone told me the sodium is high but I’m not sure...

If I were you, I'd start hydro with RO water for your first few grows. Then slowly start using tap/RO mix and see what happens.

kenmastazz said:

33mg/l

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1mg/L = 1ppm so according to your test you have 33ppm of chlorine in your tap water? Thats extremely high...if your test results are accurate.

redi jedi said:

1mg/L = 1ppm so according to your test you have 33ppm of chlorine in your tap water? Thats extremely high...if your test results are accurate.

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they are but doesn't chlorine evaporates over time?

redi jedi said:

1mg/L = 1ppm so according to your test you have 33ppm of chlorine in your tap water? Thats extremely high...if your test results are accurate.

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a hot tub in a swingers club doesn't even use that much.

I agree with @rkymtnman Use RO at first so you can eliminate the possibility of some crazy phantom problem that's being caused by your waters get the hang of it with a clean slate (RO) first.

kenmastazz said:

they are but doesn't chlorine evaporates over time?

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Yes it does but 33ppm is way above what is considered safe for everyday consumption. Makes me question your test results. Do you drink your tap water? Does have a strong chlorine odour? At that level, it would be stronger than a public swimming pool.

kenmastazz said:

My ca:mg ratio is shit but can be fixed with 0.3ml/l canna mono mg 7%.

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epsom salt

The Na is the problem. You really want a RO filter.

Renfro said:

epsom salt

The Na is the problem. You really want a RO filter.

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another person told me that also with Na....guess have to use the ro

rkymtnman said:

any chlorine or chloramine?

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sorry i guess im mistaken chloride with chlorin0.3mg/l chlorin

At 0.3 PPM the chlorine / chloramine isn't an issue, especially if you are going to run sterile and end up adding pool shock anyways to get around 4 PPM.

what amount sodium is acceptable for plants?

and just so you know, the better RO systems are 1:1 ratio of clear/gray water. watch out for the cheap-o ones that are 1:4 or worse.

instead of a RO unit, i bought it from walmart or the grocery store in 5 gallon jugs for years. i slowly stopped using it and am now on well water.

but like i said before, use it for your first few grows. get your stuff dialed in and if you switch to tap and have problems, then you know what the cause is.