rainwater, good or bad??

[metalmilitia777]

they add chlorine in tap water from what i know and other things to keeps city water bacteria free i just collect rainwater or let tapwater sit out for a few days kuz i hear it naturally removes chlorine idk

What I do with my tap water to get get rid of chlorine is hook up an aquarium air pump to push air through the water making it easier for the chlorine to evaporate:thumbsup:

[JackdaWack]

Tap water is entirely dependant on where you live, so is rain water and well water. Water is not just water!! most companies like poland spring RO there water to get that good taste. Tap isnt bad, however u need to let the chlorine evaporate like noted above. I use well water, and its got loads of minerals in it i need to account for when adding my nutes. Also a lot of place now filter there waste water and in my area they have been finding chemicals from digested pharmaceuticals, it's very low but its there, mad loot to clean up. Check your areas water content before using it. I use distilled water until my seedlings turn into plants, because they have stored enough nutes until that stage nothing is needed. My well water is far to strong for them.

[Rubberbubbler]

If you collect rain water just wait about 5 to ten minutes before collecting from a down spout so it can clean any dirt off of the roof and gutters. then what I would do is put a pond filter its like cotton you get it at the pet shop for like 6 dollars and then get a small container of activated carbon make a filter to fit in the downspout. You will want to do this at the top of the downspout in the gutter if possible so it will not clog the spout and you can manually clear anything stuck to the filter. Now your water should be clear if it is not you did not allow enough rain to clean the roof.
Now with a tds meter check the ppm of the collected water it will probably be about 10 to 30 ppm then check with a pH meter or drops the water should be 7.0 on the money if it is you can use it for your plants you will have to add cal-meg or magic-cal.I was tiered of haling water so I just bought a hydro-logic ro 100 my water is about 200 ppm from the tape when it comes out from the ro its 0 ppm good luck.

[Rusty Trichome]

Google rain ph. You'll immediatelly see in the responses you get, the problem with using rainwatwer or creekwater. (generally acidic)

"5 gallons of rainwater + 1 tsp lime + 1 multivitamin" (for a plant...?)
"Any water will do"...?
Although bottled water companies use tapwater, it is filtered. Major liabilities if not.

Image Reaper is right. Loads of bad info here, and it's so easily Googled. Seems to me the blind shouldn't be offering advise to the blind.

"Wellwater is far too strong"...? Perhaps diluting with bottled water would help? <kidding>

[calicollectives]

I collected about 20 gallons of rain water in our most recent storm. Should I simply put some Cal Mag and some PH Down in it? Sounds like I'd be good to go if I did (and I have both of those). Thx.

[Stellybutton]

I would pick rain water over tap water any day. All I know is after it rains my other grass grows like a weed. Just be sure to strain out the chunks.

[WashougalWonder]

FROM EXPERIENCE actually trying that......DONT do it. Damn near lost my garden doing that.

[WashougalWonder]

I would pick rain water over tap water any day. All I know is after it rains my other grass grows like a weed. Just be sure to strain out the chunks.

After 30 plus years growing indoors and sometimes outdoors, having used distilled water, rain water, reverse osmosis water, and just plain ole city tap water, I get my best results with tap water. Do as you wish, but don't be so set in your ways that you can't open your eyes.

Not only that, tap water costs the least. :jointsmile:

[Lynhal]

After 30 plus years growing indoors and sometimes outdoors, having used distilled water, rain water, reverse osmosis water, and just plain ole city tap water, I get my best results with tap water. Do as you wish, but don't be so set in your ways that you can't open your eyes.

Not only that, tap water costs the least. :jointsmile:

Same here ... been there, done that, and the best results I have gotten have come from plain, old tap water. And the price is right compared to buying distilled or purified at the store.

Shhh, don't tell anybody but there have even been a few times I forgot to let it sit out for a couple of days and there were no noted adverse reactions from using it without evap'ing the chlorine.

[WashougalWonder]

*whispers back* ya me too