Water ph question

[sirshamus]

Just bought one of those cheap ph tester for aquarium from walmart just to get a clue what my spring well water is like. I think it is reading high 6's may 7 on the nose. Is this too high, or will it be adequate? Kind of hard to read that shit.

[hudson88]

Hi Sirshamus, yeah they are a little tricky to read. I assume you're growing in soil, if so thats fine.

Good luck!

[sirshamus]

yes, using ocean forest, thanks for your input. just got done transplanting my 4 sensi star clones, so hope all goes well. do you think my spring well is better than using ro?

[texas grass]

yes, using ocean forest, thanks for your input. just got done transplanting my 4 sensi star clones, so hope all goes well. do you think my spring well is better than using ro?

using either or would be good
using spring water you shouldnt need to add any calmag or anything else like that
using ro water you should need some calmag
using ro water you can add more nutes cause the water naturally has less ppm

[stinkyattic]

If you can take a sample of your spring water to be tested, like at the grow shop or at an aquarium shop (tell them you are trying to decide if it is feasible to run a saltwater aquarium with your well water), have them check the ppm. If it is very 'soft', you will need calmag. I've killed a crop using spring/well water that pH'd at 7.0 but it was all humic acid and I should have been using calmag. Live and learn! With luck, you live in an area with a limestone substrate and should be just fine.

[sirshamus]

thanks guys! was thinking about taking a sample to the swimming pool place and say was thinking about getting a pool and have them test it. I know they would test ph, but would they do ppm and know all the stuff in the water? Just curious.

[stinkyattic]

It's less likely that a pool place would do ppm.
To know what chemicals are in the water, you'd have to send it to a lab. My old lab charged on average $30 per compound, per sample, and that was a discount for researchers- commercial labs would send us samples and then charge the customer TWICE that. If you sent in a sample to be tested for chlorine, phosphate, nitrate, and hardness as CaCO3, you'd be looking at over $100. Forget that!!!
Luckily for you, almost all tap water is fine to use for growing, but if your tap water is questionable, you should choose a true soil grow rather than hydro or soilless.