RDWC Water

Hey there,

I am a beginner looking to gain abit of clarity.
I am looking into RDWC system consisting of 4 - 13 gallon buckets and an outside res tank.

What are the options for water sources ?
Is tap water sufficient?
Any special precautions to think about when using tap water?
If I didn't use tap water, I was thinking of getting a few of those large blue jugs and finding a place that sells bulk DI or RO water. Roughly how often will I need to be completely emptying the water from a RDWC with res? If I can fill it up initially with non tap water and use it for awhile maybe it would be worth it. But if I need to change the water more often then I think tap would be my best bet

Logistically, how do some of you guys fill up your RDWC systems? Whether tap or non tap.

Feel free to throw in any other knowledge you'd like to share.

Thanks

Best suggestion would be an analysis of your water-then you'll know if you need to adjust your feed regimen.
I run a 4 site UC system in 17 gal totes with a total volume of 40 gallons.
I tend to do a dump every 10-14 days and have my system set up to drain itself.
I use a garden hose attached to the showerhead pipe and use a simple inline water meter to gauge how much water I'm using.
My water is super clean from my well, so I don'/t do anything extra to it.

I use an RO and fill as they drink. I've never fully drained during a grow, just partials when I felt like there may be a deficiency or slight lock out, hot nutes, etc.

Don't over think it, imo.

I have a waterline brought from my washer into my room with a hose bibb. To that I have a water meter and to the water meter a garden hose.

I use a submersible pump attached to another garden hose to pump water from the system to my washer machine ptrap. Works for me. Every so often I forget to put the washing machine hose back and someone does laundry and my basement floor gets a nice washing lol

I raises my sites with cinderblocks so it all drains back to my control tote

I use 27gal totes with 1" bulkhead fittings. 8 of them with a control bucket. Total volume around 120gal.

Each site has 3 bulkhead exits in case one gets clogged. Theres a 1000GPH pump in the control bucket that waterfalls to each site via a 1" main and 1/2" branches to each site

I’ve done well with plain tap water for my RDWC at around 120ppm. I just do a nice flush with Clearex down the stretch.

My tap water is about 220ppm. How does this impact my nute concentration?