Tapwater PPM???

[sergentjunk]

Well I've searched and searched and searched and cannot find the answer to this question: What is a safe PPM level for growing in a coco/perlite mix? I am watering with tap water. It's PPM measures 600 out of the tap. I have no idea what my plants' PPM levels should be at, and cannot find a definitive answer on this. From what I've read I think 600 is a little high. Now of course when I add nutes that's going to go up...most likely double. I've been testing my PPM runoff, and originally it was 1400 because I wasn't watering correctly...my troubleshooting thread. (http://boards.cannabis.com/plant-problems/172766-please-help-ts-form-included.html). I've been flushing the past couple days to get it down and now it's down to 600-700.

So:
What is a safe PPM level for growing in a coco/perlite mix?

Do I need distilled water?

Is the 600 out of the tap ok to add nutes to and feed, not needing distilled water, but most likely doubling the PPM level?

Is there a way to lower tap PPM?

I'm not looking for free info here, but if someone can even point me in the right direction to do my own research I would really appreciate it. Like I said, I've searched here and other sections and can't seem to find the answer. I could be missing something(s) though, been known to happen ;)

Oh ya...I'm feeding with Pure Blend Pro Grow, but changing to Pure Blend Pro Bloom here soon. There is a feeding schedule, but does not mention PPM.

Thank you!

*junk

[SpaceNeedle]

Yea, 600 is high. I would not start cloning using that water. Go buy a couple of gallons of bottled water at the grocery store. Once they are rooted I think you'd be alright using it, just go easy on the nutes and see how they take it.

SN

[sergentjunk]

I'm a good sercher :p

I found a post someone made in the Hydro section that details his grow log using the same nutes I'm using. He logs everything in PPM, so that's exactly what I need!

Thanks SN for confirming what I found.

*junk

[oldmac]

Hello sergentjunk,

Before I was use that tap water on my plants, and before I would drink it myself, I'd have a quick "water analysis" done to see what was in it! Cost is about $50-60 dollars done privately and you my be able to find someplace to get it done free.

You did not say what the source of your tap water is, municipal or private well. Well water is typically high in calcium and other minerals and metals. High enough concentrations of certian substances plus items in your nutes my add up to poor nutrient uptake by the plant. Certian heavy metals present in your drinking water my start you to grow a tail, or other health problems.

[Dutch Pimp]

"I don't drink water. Fish fuck in it"-W.C.Fields

[oldmac]

I forgot about that...

....a pretty old quote there, are you sure your only as old as dirt?:stoned:

[sergentjunk]

You did not say what the source of your tap water is, municipal or private well

Yep, sorry 'bout that. It's municipal water. From what I've read during my research since this post, it's pretty fucking disgusting LOL. I went and bought 10 gallons of distilled last night, and am saving up for a 100gpd ro system.

The water I bought turned out to be 35PPM. I mixed my Pro Blend flowering in it last night to bring 4 gallons up to 360 PPM. The previous night I was able to flush my plants down to 600-700 depending on the plant. Total runoff after feeding was around 550. Not as high as the grow log I found, but I want to ease back into it after the previous problems I was having.

It just feels better using distilled now...better peace o' mind now that I know EXACTLY what's in it and I can control it. I know it's probably a "no shit" moment for the seasoned growers out there, it's my first grow though and I'm learning some cool shit.

Great input everyone. Thank you!

*junk