AC condensate?

[Snook]

I live in florida and have just revamped my grow space to exclude a 51 gallon 'pickle barrel' from HarborFreight but what to do with it?
My AC runs about 90% of the year, why not burry that barrel and collect the condensate for nute mixing? Some might say trace metals are no good.. Personally I donno. Is it worth burring with a mag drive in it for access to it?

 

[Littleleaf]

I have used the distillate water for house plants with no ill effects. but it was only when there was enough to use, a 5 gal bucket full. My dogs would drink most of it.

I wouldn't worry about contaminates. It will be cleaner than most tap water.

 

[Levitationofme]

the only issue could be Bacteria if the system doesn't flow right all the time.

 

[PDX Dopesmoker]

I believe that might be pretty good way to breed Legionella pneumophila (legionnaires' disease), I'm not an expert on the topic though.
How about filling with dirt and growing pot instead? You can harvest a couple pounds outdoor from a 50gal container.

 

[who dat is]

How about we address the fact that your "AC runs 90% of the time"? That has to be an issue in and of itself too right? Are you properly insulated throughout your house? Decent windows, air sealing, door weatherstripping, etc? That's more of my strong point where I could help you out at least

 

[blastfrompast]

someof the big warehouses here recycle their condesation this way....

Not really my thing...

 

[St. Phatty]

I wouldn't worry about contaminates. It will be cleaner than most tap water.

Compared to city water with fluoride - it's probably more healthy.

BUT you don't know for sure what materials are present, unless you test.

What if the manufacturer used a lead or cadmium part ?

Probably doesn't matter, otherwise person-kind never would have survived the "lead pipes" phase of our existence.

 

[Sisu]

I've used what collected in 5 gallon bucket in the past, fairly regularly. I've never checked it so it's possible it has nasties. I do know the plants always do well with it.

Doesn't seem strange for the AC to run 90% of the year in Florida; spent lots of time in the Deep South and I had similar experiences.

 

[Vanilla Phoenix]

I've heard of ppl using water from a dehuey....same thing as condensation from ac

 

[brown_thumb]

I can't be helpful regarding air conditioner condensate other than I do use it often. But, to be honest, I'm a lousy grower. At the moment I'm collecting rain water which I'm guessing is an even better alternative.

 

[Snook]

I believe that might be pretty good way to breed Legionella pneumophila (legionnaires' disease), I'm not an expert on the topic though.
How about filling with dirt and growing pot instead? You can harvest a couple pounds outdoor from a 50gal container.

Ha! good idea but in Fla the POPO no likey outdoor growing AND one of my neighbors is a POPO. Legionnaires ?? good thought

 

[Snook]

How about we address the fact that your "AC runs 90% of the time"? That has to be an issue in and of itself too right? Are you properly insulated throughout your house? Decent windows, air sealing, door weatherstripping, etc? That's more of my strong point where I could help you out at least

no, no, WDI, it doesn't run 90% of the time/day, the humidity is over 60%-70%, 90% of the days/yr. although at one point, when I didn't have a window open a crack, in the dead of summer, and had no supplemental AC in the room, the grow room exhaust fan was out pulling the input from the household AC and it was running all day..

 

[Snook]

Compared to city water with fluoride - it's probably more healthy.

BUT you don't know for sure what materials are present, unless you test.

What if the manufacturer used a lead or cadmium part ?

Probably doesn't matter, otherwise mankind never would have survived the "lead pipes" phase of his existence.

I'm a product of those lead pipe days and yes, we may have survived but how much was our/my physiology affected?

 

[Snook]

I can't be helpful regarding air conditioner condensate other than I do use it often. But, to be honest, I'm a lousy grower. At the moment I'm collecting rain water which I'm guessing is an even better alternative.

Thanks for the assumptions and conclusions.
I too have used condensate 'occasionally' for nuteing up but
this last run I used it exclusively to start and with this in mind, look twards 'not so good' water as the problem (yellowing lower leaves and new growth) was, for me, the easiest change to question initially but not really buying 'in my mind' that it is.
I used to develop and test computer software. The first thing one does when testing is to ensure that only one change in any single test case is made at one time to investigate any degegation or change to the codes previous function before moving on.. eliminating "was it this? or was it that?" scenario.
ONE CHANGE at a time

so this run, what do I do?? changed : type of water (condensate), method of mixing nutes (mixed by volume not PPMs), light ( was HID, now LED) and one other thing that escapes me ATM. So now I juggle... I've already drained and refilled with RO and Jack+C, and raised the LED from 28" to 38" inches... now I wait and see.
BTW, the drum no longer in use is approx. 48" tall x 24" wide, guess I could grow ONE really tall plant!. If it was legal to do here.

 

[who dat is]

no, no, WDI, it doesn't run 90% of the time/day, the humidity is over 60%-70%, 90% of the days/yr. although at one point, when I didn't have a window open a crack, in the dead of summer, and had no supplemental AC in the room, the grow room exhaust fan was out pulling the input from the household AC and it was running all day..

Well if you ever have questions regarding your HVAC, air sealing, insulation, or general energy efficiency stuff hit me up.

 

[Snook]

Well if you ever have questions regarding your HVAC, air sealing, insulation, or general energy efficiency stuff hit me up.

Thank you, and I will

no,no WHO DI!