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I have found lots of info on Ph and nuets and I think I get it. But I still have someone telling me that I should get a meter to read solids. They also say because I live on a mountain with a well that the water is too hard. What is too hard?? What else is their to the solids thing?
I have poked around here but I am not using the right search terms. Can someone point me to a post or article??
Thanks
Are you in soil or hydro?
Hydro, yes, you absolutely need a meter.
Soil, you can usually get around it by grwoing in a humus-based compost and flushing preventatively
The "Disolved Solids" are measured in your water by a T.D.S. pen/meter. T.D.S. = total disolved solids. If well water its porbably hard, and maybe iron, sediment, pH probs, who knows, depending on where you are at. Well water can be some funky stuff.
Do you get lots of suds from soap ? Do you get a soap scum ring around your tub? Does your water turn your fixtures orange ? Does it smell like shit ?
Go have it tested. Usually if you have a place around that sells water conditioning equipment they will test for free. Look in yellow pages.
If you take them a smaple, fill the jar til its overflowing while putting lid on. You do not want any air in the jar while you take to their place.
GH recommends using Hard Water Formula if water is over 20 grains hard I do believe. And if your water is that hard you aint had soap suds in your life.
With hydro you need a TDS meter (100-150 bucks for a good ph/TDS combo meter) to know what your water is before you start adding nutes and to correct the pH. Really hard/iron water may have a TDS of 400-500 before you add anything.
Google T.D.S. or Total Disolved Solids and you can read for weeks on the subject:D:D
Hope that clears your water situation up, no pun intended!
b0nger
You guys are most excellent. I am learning more each day. The public health said they would test for nothing if I went and got the kit so I will do that now. Thanks!
Google is a great tool but for some of the stuff, I actually like to hit this board first because you folks have tried it and I find the seasoned vets here to be on the money.
Penngrove, I'm not sure what kit they want to to get, but for a lab analysis of TDS at the levels you are looking at in your well water, the jug from a gallon of distilled water is appropriate.
Rinse 3x with your well water, fill, cap, keep cool until delivery to the lab.
How do I know this?
Guess what I do for a living! :D
The county puts all the stuff in a kit. A sterile bottle, some bleach, and a bag for the tag. They will check it for several things they are interested in and in return I get to see what the different levels are for things I am interested in. The area had a problem with nitrites from some big old farms so they like to see what the wells are pulling. That way I can see how hard it really is. I know the well for the house is plenty hard as I run that through a conditioner. The out buildings pull from another well 600 yards up and I have had little experience with that well. It was certified and never had too many issues. Now I can find out all the stuff I need to know from my local government for cheap.
I know everyone says thanks but I will say it again. Thanks stinkyattic you really are very helpful to many people. And if you are sampling water to keep people healthy for a living, I tip my cap.