Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Ok, this is probably a stupid question, but bear with me, my water straight from tap has an ec of 1.1, 530 ppm on the 5 scale. Is that bad for watering soil with? Any help is greatly appreciated.
1.1 ec tap water. It's it bad?
- Thread starter Hollatchaboy
- Start date
Dreminen169
Well-Known Member
If you know what’s in your water you can taylor your inputs to fit your water. You might be able to find records of your cities water online
twentyeight.threefive
Well-Known Member
Yes that's terrible. That's not even acceptable as drinking water. Might have an in home pipe issue.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I have an ro filter but I thought I heard that's not good for watering soil. Is there a better way?
Kushash
Well-Known Member
500 ppm water is common for anyone getting their water from the Colorado river,
There is good stuff in it collected from the runoff from the rocky mountains.
For drinking water I use RO. For my plants I cut it with RO down to 150 - 200 ppms.
As said above it helps to know what the 500 ppm water consists of.
Some well waters have issues at 500 ppms and should be tested for any excess levels of nutrients.
twentyeight.threefive
Well-Known Member
I run coco, and I'd rather RO quality water. My tap water is about 35 ppm so I'm happy. Sorry I know that doesn't help with your soil grow.
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
First is this an approved water supply or a well? If it’s an approved supply find the latest analysis online.
twentyeight.threefive
Well-Known Member
It may be common in places but the standard for drinking water is <500 ppm.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Thanks. I have city water, and judging by the build up I'm guessing it has a lot of calcium. Is it bad to water with ro?
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Its city water. I'll see if I can find it.
Kushash
Well-Known Member
Mine has a lot of calcium also. Calcium in water is good up to a certain point. If you have faucets that develop a white crust then you probably have to much. If you go with RO you would want to supplement with some Cal/mag. If you had tap like mine with a lot of good micro nutrients it, it would be better to cut the tap with RO. With a detailed water report we could give you an idea.
Hard water isn't really that bad. If you live where tap water is used to water landscapes and is used for house plants or vegetable gardens then it is probably fine to cut it in half.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Cut in half as in, half tap, half ro? What would a good starting point ec be? I could add cal mag, I just wanted to get of bottled nutes(synthetic fertilizers). You're right though, people around here have to be using the water for their houseplants, gardens, etc...
Kdoggy
Well-Known Member
Go 1/2 to 1/3 nute level on recommended bottle dosages. Say if using flora series i have a high ppm city tap water and just cant go full nutes or i get issues doesnt matter what veg or weed strain im growing.
Kushash
Well-Known Member
Yes, cut it with RO. To an EC between .3 and .4. or 150-200ppms on a 500 scale ppm tester.
I have cal mag but rarely use it. If I have a deficiency it's not going to be calcium it's going to be magnesium and in that case I would water in a small dose of epsom salt.
Be careful if you are a grower who PH's your water. There are experienced growers who do PH their water in a soil grow with great results here on RIU.
On the flip side 4 out of 5 new growers who use PH down with a soil like ffof and think they have a calcium problem don't, they have a PH problem from using PH down or from not adding additional buffers to the soil like dolomite lime or oyster shell flower.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I don't add nutes though. I use dry amendments and ewc.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
I've never heard that about ph down. Can you point me towards info on that? I believe I might be doing something wrong.
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
Are the yards green or sick looking in summer?
Kushash
Well-Known Member
I probably worded that poorly. Probably should have left that out. I'm a bit stoned and was reflecting on another thread.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Lol no they look pretty good. The town i live in has the water reclamation for a good part of the county. Plus I live on a chain of lakes. The water here should be good. Just seems like the ec is too high.
Hollatchaboy
Well-Known Member
Well something put that idea in your head, and I'm interested. If you can point me to that thread I'd appreciate it.