What kind of water to use

[pkash]

I read a thread that said not to use tap water? What kind of water is good then, deep park? haha.. I'm not sure if they were ok. Someone just let me know. So Im sure.

pkash Reviewed by pkash on 05-30-2006. What kind of water to use I read a thread that said not to use tap water? What kind of water is good then, deep park? haha.. I'm not sure if they were ok. Someone just let me know. So Im sure. Rating: 5

[elcheapo]

Best water to use is Reverse Osmosis water. 'RO' for short. Although you do then need to add something that goes by the name of CalMag +.

I personally use tap water. Try and leave it to stand for at least 24hrs. This will help evaporate some of the chlorine and ensures it is room temp so it doesn't shock the roots.

[The Grim Reefer]

Yeah, with the tap water out here I can SMELL it let alone give it to my plants. (It's disgusting!)

I have the best luck with anything labeled "spring water", BUT - I have a PH pen and after mixing my nutrients with the water, I get the PH to 6.5 using baking soda (to raise) or PH down (to lower).

I found Arrowhead to lock out nutrients without balancing the PH.

I found the local wal-mart gallons of spring water to be perfect during veg, but I still had to balance the PH a tiny bit to make it a perfect 6.5.

I don't use RO water because the process takes everything out of the water, good and bad. A lot of people use it, all you have to do is add a product named calmag plus into the water.

I believe that PH is the key to everything, get a pen if you can - it ran me 40 bucks at the local hydro store.

Hope this helps in any way!

[orangeman]

I read a thread that said not to use tap water? What kind of water is good then, deep park? haha.. I'm not sure if they were ok. Someone just let me know. So Im sure.

It's ok to use tap water but it's said you should let it sit to get to room temp and break down all the other shit thats in it thats not helpful at all. Or you could just go buy some bottled water .

[The Grim Reefer]

If you wish to use tap water, let it sit for 24 hours so the chlorine can evaporate.

[Jdzzl03]

Walmart also caries DI water which is what I always use.......

[pkash]

The Grim Reefer, the pH pen. Do you think walmart, home depot, k-mart any of these places will have it?

[HARDDON]

You wont buy quality pH pens at the local Wal Mart or anywhere else.

Tap water is perfectly fine. If its water, the plant uses it.

I too do not use distilled water as every single electron has been boiled off. In fact, try this...

Drink nothing but distilled water and see if you live for 2 weeks.

You wont.

You cant.

Plants are a bit different but still, tap water is fine. Let the water sit as said above, for a day to let the chlorine gas escape.

The preferred pH of plants is strain dependent. I personally use as close to 7.0 as I possibly can. Continued watering with acidic water can cause problems with soil becoming too acidic...leading to other issues.

A neutral 7.0 will not have an effect on soil...just the plant....and you wont get nute lockout as easily.

[pkash]

How can I tell what the pH is though? I dont have a pen or anything. Just leaving tap water out will ensure me 7.0 pH?

[HARDDON]

Without a tester there is no way to determine the pH.

www.discounthydro.com has the best pens for the best price...in my opinion.

If there is a Worm's Way near you, or any hydro store, they have them.

pH is so critical that to water without it in an indoor setting is asking for failure.

Outdoors has a lot of environmental elements that will buffer the water naturally. Indoors does not.

Get a pen.