Question on Tap Water

I'll start by saying I have read many posts and am still slightly confused. If I want to do an all organic grow with one the the LC mixes with either the meals or the guanos, so I just have to add water the whole life cycle, here is my question:

My tap water is around 225ppm. It also has chloramine (not chlorine). What water should I use?

-Tap w/ aquarium drops? (I've read the drops also do something to other minerals in the water?)

-Tap w/ molasses? (think i read somewhere that a drop per gallon would neutralize the chloramine?)

-RO water with calmag?

-Bottled Spring water? I read this is still supposed to have minerals in it, but last time i bought it the ppm was about 0. Does that mean everything is gone from it?

Thanks in advance for any help. It's greatly appreciated.

Hydrologic Small Boy filter with the upgraded catalytic carbon. Less wasteful of water than RO, and removes chloramine.

Take a look at pure water products. They have sediment filters, activated charcoal filters and R/O. I decided to go with a sediment filter and two activated charcoal filters to remove the chloramine from my water. Of course if you have access to R/O water already - then just add some calmag and go.

I would use RO, there is allot more pollutants in tap than you even want to know..

You should check into water delivery in your area. I get my RO water delivered once a week for 25 cents a 5 gallon jug, and it's so cheap I do all my cooking/drinking with this water as well.

You drink the tap water but it's too unhealthy for a plant? Think a little deeper.

Rising Moon said:

I would use RO, there is allot more pollutants in tap than you even want to know..

You should check into water delivery in your area. I get my RO water delivered once a week for 25 cents a 5 gallon jug, and it's so cheap I do all my cooking/drinking with this water as well.

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Good advice.Senate you should look in to collecting rain water,works great I never worry about ph or ppm's.I just collected 10g that should last me about 2 months w/3 plants.good luck.peace

B166ER420 said:

Good advice.Senate you should look in to collecting rain water,works great I never worry about ph or ppm's.I just collected 10g that should last me about 2 months w/3 plants.good luck.peace

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Water stored without a disinfectant will grow, among other things, Pseudomonas. Begins in 24 hours. Infective to human beings in bad ways. Explaining chloramine and its use. Read up on it. Every form of refuge has its price.

hotrodharley said:

Water stored without a disinfectant will grow, among other things, Pseudomonas. Begins in 24 hours. Infective to human beings in bad ways. Explaining chloramine and its use. Read up on it. Every form of refuge has its price.

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I keep it refrigerated till I use it,i thought this would help?fridge in garage.

People have been collecting and using rain water for irrigation (and other purposes) a long time, usually in the very large 50 gallon barrels. You can collect it in a 5 gallon bucket underneath a downspout also, though. It wouldn't hurt to filter it somehow before using, but for watering plants or AACT it's really no problem. Any bacteria that are in there will fit right in.

A teaspoon of humic acids per 5 gallons of tap water will also neutralize chlorine\chloramines. There are other substances in tap water, though, and it is having hard water that could present problems. With a lot of minerals in your tap water there are other considerations, and you certainly don't want to use water with too much sodium or heavy metals.

Nullis said:

People have been collecting and using rain water for irrigation (and other purposes) a long time, usually in the very large 50 gallon barrels. You can collect it in a 5 gallon bucket underneath a downspout also, though. It wouldn't hurt to filter it somehow before using, but for watering plants or AACT it's really no problem. Any bacteria that are in there will fit right in.

A teaspoon of humic acids per 5 gallons of tap water will also neutralize chlorine\chloramines. There are other substances in tap water, though, and it is having hard water that could present problems. With a lot of minerals in your tap water there are other considerations, and you certainly don't want to use water with too much sodium or heavy metals.

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Thank you,well said.

I've heard it can also be aerated and the contaminants will evaporate. Haven't tried it yet.

Rain water collection and filtering may be tough for me. I started a new thread by mistake with this question:

My tap water's PPM is 280. I have both an RO system and a Small Boy. I was always told never to use RO water with organics. After purchasing the small boy to just get rid of the chloramines, I noticed it does not lower the PPM at all. It remains at 280. I've also heard that you should not use tap water above 200.

Should I be using the small boy with 280ppm water, or should I be using RO water? If RO water, should I be adding anything to it?

I responded to that thread.

Stealing your thread because I had the same question!

My tap waters information is this:


Is it OK to just water with this after letting it stand for 24 hours? I will be using a modified subcool super soil.

I ran tap for a long time, and used both hydro/soilless and just add water organics my ppm could up to 500 sometimes. Never really had any issues and still produced plenty good smoke. I finally went and got a filter so I could also stop buying bottled water and have good clean water to cook and drink and give to my dog.

I did alot of research and found out that all the stuff sold at Hydro stores are marked up 2-3x what they should cost strictly because they are relabeled or restickered for "growing" that being said.... you can get just as good better quality stuff for way less if you are a knowledgeable shopper.

There is a company called Filter Direct out of So. Cal you can get a 3 stage carbon, cat. carbon, sediment for like $90 shipped and the 3 stage with r.o. for like $125 shipped. Way cheaper and better quality then Hydrologic if you are that worried about the Chloramine.

mjauo said:

Stealing your thread because I had the same question!

My tap waters information is this:

Substance
pH	-	~8,1
Total hard-rate	dH	3,6
Fluoride	mg/l	0,1-0,15
Calcium	mg/l	22
Salinity	mg/l	~10

Is it OK to just water with this after letting it stand for 24 hours? I will be using a modified subcool super soil.

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Anyone? =)

mjauo said:

Anyone? =)

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Doesn't say much else... I mean you know you have to bubble the water and also if your local water district uses Chloramine not Chlorine then bubbling is pointless as the Chloramines will not be removed in this fashion.

Please read the entire thread as most of the information is universally applicable and it seems lately people all tend to act like their issue is all individually different, or special.

i water with my tap until the plants stress , its 587 ppm total dissolved solids , pure crap after the plants show signs of stress i fall back on my collected rain water