Is Rain Water Better???

[moonlightcsp]

Anyone here use Rain Water, I seem to have a problem with PH, Rain water is about natural is this recommended, or should I mix 50/50 with tap water to bring PH up to 6.0-6.5

thanks
Moon

[SmokeyD.Bear]

Pure rain water would be preferred. No chlorine, fluoride, lime, plus trace nitrogen

[oldnslow]

It depends on where you live about how pure rainwater is. Having lived in a few places in the states, i can personally assure you that rainwater is not nearly as pure as most peeps think. The ph can be really low from rainwater that falls downwind of a city or an industrial area. I suggest you get a ph test done on rainwater befoe assuming its "sparklin' clear"

From your post it seems you have already found a low ph in the rainwater in your area? If youre thinking about needing to mix 1/2 and 1/2 tap and rain water to get the ph up? i would not use the rainwater at all. I bet the rain ph is somewhere in the 5.0/5.5 range. Dont use it if so

[mendokid]

CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O ⇌ Ca(HCO3)2

Yeah once you add nuits to that it will be 4.8 and WAY too acidic