reverse osmosis

Oh ya. Using R/O water is extemely wasteful. For every gallon that comes from the R/O tap 3-10 gallons are flushed down the drain. Low water pressure to the unit and dirty membranes being key culprits. If you are going to use one a least run a booster pump to maintain 65psi+ to the unit for maximum efficiency...And IMO its not the best choice for growing in soil.....

cowboylogic said:

Oh ya. Using R/O water is extemely wasteful. For every gallon that comes from the R/O tap 3-10 gallons are flushed down the drain. Low water pressure to the unit and dirty membranes being key culprits. If you are going to use one a least run a booster pump to maintain 65psi+ to the unit for maximum efficiency...And IMO its not the best choice for growing in soil.....

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My unit wastes exactly 4 gallons for every 1 gallon of RO water. Since I have to pay for this water (whether or not I actually use it) I put the drain line into my washing machine. Other than the water being a little "hard", it is filtered to 0.2 microns and completely chlorine free.


To MrStickyScissors:


I fully support your right to grow and consume whatever you wish inside your own domain and I fully support your right to keep and bear arms; the feds do not. The firearms + ganja might be just what some newly recruited G-man coming straight out of G-man academy, looking to make a name for himself as a rookie, might take an interest.

CoralGrower said:

My unit wastes exactly 4 gallons for every 1 gallon of RO water. Since I have to pay for this water (whether or not I actually use it) I put the drain line into my washing machine. Other than the water being a little "hard", it is filtered to 0.2 microns and completely chlorine free.

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That is very cool

CoralGrower said:

My unit wastes exactly 4 gallons for every 1 gallon of RO water. Since I have to pay for this water (whether or not I actually use it) I put the drain line into my washing machine. Other than the water being a little "hard", it is filtered to 0.2 microns and completely chlorine free.


To MrStickyScissors:


I fully support your right to grow and consume whatever you wish inside your own domain and I fully support your right to keep and bear arms; the feds do not. The firearms + ganja might be just what some newly recruited G-man coming straight out of G-man academy, looking to make a name for himself as a rookie, might take an interest.

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yeah I notices the waste line runs way quicker than the pure one. I think I have to pay by the gallon now Im curious how much a gallon they charge at the water company. I hardly ever use the water at this house other than for the plants so I think it might average out to a family that would live in a 4 bedroom house taking showers everyday. and yeah even though everything I have is legal might want to watch out for sum rookie trying to make a name for himself.thanks for the info on the RO

CoralGrower said:

My unit wastes exactly 4 gallons for every 1 gallon of RO water. Since I have to pay for this water (whether or not I actually use it) I put the drain line into my washing machine. Other than the water being a little "hard", it is filtered to 0.2 microns and completely chlorine free.


To MrStickyScissors:



I fully support your right to grow and consume whatever you wish inside your own domain and I fully support your right to keep and bear arms; the feds do not. The firearms + ganja might be just what some newly recruited G-man coming straight out of G-man academy, looking to make a name for himself as a rookie, might take an interest.

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a couple posts up sumone said that RO water isnt the best choice for soil. what would be a better choice? tap water? I thought the RO would be the best place to start. is there another option if you have hard water?

MrStickyScissors said:

a couple posts up sumone said that RO water isnt the best choice for soil. what would be a better choice? tap water? I thought the RO would be the best place to start. is there another option if you have hard water?

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RO water is fine for everything. The only thing you are doing is taking out calcium & magnesium along with trace elements that plants can use.

First off, most of those trace elements should already be found in your soil if it is good. So, you might just have to add back some cal/mag but at least you are in more control of the nute mix.

Also, people always say that watering marijuana with tap water is bad due to the chlorine. Then why do people water their lawns with tap water?

It all depends on your particular situation.

NLXSK1 said:

RO water is fine for everything. The only thing you are doing is taking out calcium & magnesium along with trace elements that plants can use.

First off, most of those trace elements should already be found in your soil if it is good. So, you might just have to add back some cal/mag but at least you are in more control of the nute mix.

Also, people always say that watering marijuana with tap water is bad due to the chlorine. Then why do people water their lawns with tap water?

It all depends on your particular situation.

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yeah im thinking I will get a way better of a flush.

NLXSK1 said:

Also, people always say that watering marijuana with tap water is bad due to the chlorine. Then why do people water their lawns with tap water?

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There are a lot of growers who swear by chlorine's power to cheap their rez clean from disease. But they aren't running any bio shit.

NLXSK1 said:

RO water is fine for everything. The only thing you are doing is taking out calcium & magnesium along with trace elements that plants can use.

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Actually, this is mostly taken out by DI filters, and mostly let through ro membranes (like most trace minerals).

NLXSK1 said:

First off, most of those trace elements should already be found in your soil if it is good. So, you might just have to add back some cal/mag but at least you are in more control of the nute mix.

Also, people always say that watering marijuana with tap water is bad due to the chlorine. Then why do people water their lawns with tap water?

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Because their lawns aren't worth $200-$300 an oz C'mon, most people shove their houseplants in a window. We pay hundreds for 400-1000w lights. Comparing growing weed to a lawn is pure humor

NLXSK1 said:

It all depends on your particular situation.

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Best info in the post!

edit: I use ro/di, 0ppm. Mag, iron, and calcium are all things which won't be plentiful enough in the soil, and are abundant in tap water. You will need to supplement them with pure water. Hydro nutes tend to be even more complete, and are a good idea. The advantage is the control. If you know you have 100% pure water, you know they get nothing but what you add, that can be a huge benefit to some, or a hindrance to others.

CoralGrower:

How do you have your waste line set up to your washing machine? Is it just filling it all the time, and you just use what's there?

Did you splice the line into the cold water inlet?

Boarder86 said:

CoralGrower:

How do you have your waste line set up to your washing machine? Is it just filling it all the time, and you just use what's there?

Did you splice the line into the cold water inlet?

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I'd take pics, but I work away from home during the week.


The RO unit is in my laundry room. I put a "Y" adapter on the cold water spigot for the washing machine; one supplies the washing machine, the other supplies the RO filter. Directly behind the incoming water is a drain where you would place the washing machine drain hose. I can direct the waste line on the RO filter (nothing more than a 6 feet piece of 1/4 inch vinyl tubing) into this drain, or I can simply open my washing machine (top feed) and put the hose in the basin.


Any time I need to make some RO water (25 gallons per week), I simply do laundry at the same time. By the time I fill a five gallon jug with RO water, my washing machine is full. I turn off the RO filter, add clothes to the washer, turn the machine on, and wait for the rinse cycle. I then turn the washing machine off, turn the RO filter back on, make another 5 gallons of RO water (which adds 20 gallons of rinse water to the washer) and finish the cycle. I can usually get 2-3 loads of laundry done simply using RO filter waste water.


I am not anti-tap water. I shower, shave, brush my teeth, wash my motorcycle, and water my outdoor plants with it. I do not drink it, nor do I feed it to my prized annuals.