was running village tapwater for many years in one location & went from straight water to RO water finally realized RO water was just an unnecessary and could not see any improvements with it at all.. went back to straight tapwater
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Chlorines effects on plants
- Thread starter RobFromTX
- Start date
Orange's Greenhouse
Active member
RO units usually have a carbon filter before the RO membrane. This is because the membrane get's damaged by chlorine. The aforementioned article is false in that respect.
To remove chlorine most carbon filters are fine. Chloramine needs special carbon filters as not all that remove chlorine are also efficiently removing chloramine. Activated carbon can release heavy metals and those filters should be avoided.
Regarding the relevancy of chlorine for plants. It doesn't matter much at the amounts present in tap water. Chlorine to sanitize recirculation fertigation systems is two to ten times higher than tap water and plants thrive.
Other components from tap water, depending on local conditions, can be troublesome. Excessive hardness, sodium (from water softening treatment), heavy metals and fluorine (more than the amount used to improve teeth health) are some. RO is necessary here.
To remove chlorine most carbon filters are fine. Chloramine needs special carbon filters as not all that remove chlorine are also efficiently removing chloramine. Activated carbon can release heavy metals and those filters should be avoided.
Regarding the relevancy of chlorine for plants. It doesn't matter much at the amounts present in tap water. Chlorine to sanitize recirculation fertigation systems is two to ten times higher than tap water and plants thrive.
Other components from tap water, depending on local conditions, can be troublesome. Excessive hardness, sodium (from water softening treatment), heavy metals and fluorine (more than the amount used to improve teeth health) are some. RO is necessary here.
Douglas.Curtis
Autistic Diplomat in Training
The most amazing thing about r/o and cannabis, is the ability to share (USEFUL) information with other *pure* r/o growers. Take out everything, then only put back in what the plant needs. (Mixing tap water back with it completely ruins this benefit)
A small r/o unit is around $200, 50gal plastic drum is $100'ish, a good mag drive pump is about $70, Hosing for $20, a good float shut-off valve and r/o unit line for under $30... Clean, dechlorinated, r/o filtered water on tap for under $500. Completely worth saving for and putting in.
(Edit: Please be aware of siphoning effects and mag drive pumps, eh? heh Either fill above the barrel, or punch a tiny air hole in the hose before it exits the barrel. This hole will break suction and allow water to drain back into the barrel when you turn off the pump. Very handy, vs having the entire barrel siphoned off when you're not looking. lolol)
A small r/o unit is around $200, 50gal plastic drum is $100'ish, a good mag drive pump is about $70, Hosing for $20, a good float shut-off valve and r/o unit line for under $30... Clean, dechlorinated, r/o filtered water on tap for under $500. Completely worth saving for and putting in.
(Edit: Please be aware of siphoning effects and mag drive pumps, eh? heh Either fill above the barrel, or punch a tiny air hole in the hose before it exits the barrel. This hole will break suction and allow water to drain back into the barrel when you turn off the pump. Very handy, vs having the entire barrel siphoned off when you're not looking. lolol)
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