Should i invest in a R/O system?

[StrictlyHerb]

Thanks for your answers!

Yeah, R/O is indeed the superior.
I like to imagine R/O water similar to rainwater.

I would love to get one but feel unsure because

1. i do not know how to wire it, i live in apt so i have no clue how to switch off watersource (to not flood the floor when installing the R/O)

2. Thought about hiring a plumber to install, but feels risky...

3. i'm renting so i have to be able to remove the r/o when moving

4. quite expensive

 

[Snook]

Thanks for your answers!

Yeah, R/O is indeed the superior.
I like to imagine R/O water similar to rainwater.

I would love to get one but feel unsure because

1. i do not know how to wire it, i live in apt so i have no clue how to switch off watersource (to not flood the floor when installing the R/O)

2. Thought about hiring a plumber to install, but feels risky...

3. i'm renting so i have to be able to remove the r/o when moving

4. quite expensive

SH, regardless of the water source, there can always be the possibility of a water event, be sure to keep your plants in some kind of water containment feature.

there are no wires, you are filtering water. a simple on/off valve installed between the water source and the ro filter. expensive??? growin your own 'is' expensive. GL..

 

[Floridian]

The whirlpool WHER 25 is 146 bucks at Lowes

 

[oop]

imo R/O water is absolutely essential for organic grows, or at least water WITHOUT chlorine (rainwater) or especially chloramine which CANNOT be bubbled out. The chlorine/chloramine will kill all of the microbes that you are trying to infuse/feed in your soil. When you use water with chlorine in an organic grow, you might as well switch to regular nutes because your just going to continue killing microbes and building up salts. I see lots of bad advice in this thread so be cautious and jump into some proper literature from a reliable source.

 

[redlaser]

I didn't use R/O until recently, had plants with older leaves yellowing. Chloride was 380 mg per liter. R/O or distillation is the only answer that I'm aware of

 

[BakedBandit]

If you are talking water pressure from the faucet it's real good... I see them @ 50GPD @ 75GPD and 150GPD and more. but I'll call the guy.. thanks..

Using 2 membranes inline is awesome if you have the pressure. Run waste from one into the other. Less waste faster production.

 

[Snook]

Using 2 membranes inline is awesome if you have the pressure. Run waste from one into the other. Less waste faster production.

but BB, the input comes directly from the water pipe, how would one run the waste line into the input to the filter?? I like what youre saying though... and then piggyback another membrane?? Holeeshipbatman..

 

[MJPassion]

Using 2 membranes inline is awesome if you have the pressure. Run waste from one into the other. Less waste faster production.

Ran in parallel, they'd be more efficient.

Growing weed isn't expensive... buying it is!

You may be able to solve your problems with a simple KDF type filter.

What you really need, though, is a filter stack...
Mine goes like this
--sediment filter--Activated Carbon filter-- KDF filter-- RO purifier--

String filter removes anything larger that 10 microns
Carbon removes chlorine
KDF removes chloramine
RO removes nearly everything else

Test your water... I've read that bicarbonates are bad for your soil causing lock ups. Not sure the source.

 

[Floridian]

Calcium is what causes problems in most areas,too much calcium and magnesium is totally blocked out,and people wonder why their leaves are yellowing and their plants look unhappy.

 

[BakedBandit]

but BB, the input comes directly from the water pipe, how would one run the waste line into the input to the filter?? I like what youre saying though... and then piggyback another membrane?? Holeeshipbatman..

Run your system as normal, but yeah, piggyback and extra membrane on after the first one by taking the waste line from the first membrane and run it into the input in the second membrane. Just gotta have the flow restrictor after the second membrane.

 

[BakedBandit]

Ran in parallel, they'd be more efficient.

Growing weed isn't expensive... buying it is!

You may be able to solve your problems with a simple KDF type filter.

What you really need, though, is a filter stack...
Mine goes like this
--sediment filter--Activated Carbon filter-- KDF filter-- RO purifier--

String filter removes anything larger that 10 microns
Carbon removes chlorine
KDF removes chloramine
RO removes nearly everything else

Test your water... I've read that bicarbonates are bad for your soil causing lock ups. Not sure the source.

Everything is correct here except for the more efficient comment. It would produced water slightly faster, but waste twice as much, and not be more efficient at all for your prefilters. Efficiency to me is more product water w less waste. You have already filtered the water with your prefilters stages, the waste out of the first membrane is all set to be run through another membrane rather than treating more fresh water and wearing out your prefilters faster.

 

[StrictlyHerb]

Hey again everybody! Wow, nice to see so many people answering
I dont have a grow running for the moment but will start one up in a while.

Fyi, all my plants (tomatoes, bonsais, aloe veras and others) are showing yellow and/or purple leaves. Never seen this when living elsewhere with better watersource.

Oop: absolutely!! I actually was forced to switch to mineral nutes from organics bcuz all of my problems in soil.

 

[Floridian]

Well SH I hope you took the good advice here bro an R/O system is important in soil grows and changed my grows significantly.PH is not a problem and can always be adjusted but PPM's can only be reduced by R/O.Another piece of advice if you don't use it already is General Hydroponics PH test kits.Its all you need for soil grows to keep a healthy soil PH level.I started indoor in 2002 and still don't have a ph pen,no need for one.Its good for hydro I imagine.A lot of the better R/O systems include a PPM pen.I installed a whirlpool WHER 25 a few years ago and the pen still works!

 

[StrictlyHerb]

Long time no see!
I went ahead and bought an R/O!! its great, easy to install and portable. It gives me a water with 5ppm.

To all of you guys who uses R/O in soil: Do you put calmag in it? or do you mix your minerals in the soil from the begining (dolomite, gypsum, oyster shells)?
Rainwater has a very low ppm, so i would like to only use R/O if possible. Is anyone using ONLY r/o with their grow?

 

[Tri_Cho_Me]

RO water seems like a waste. Collect rain water (I only have two plants so it's easy, free and lasts). If you're going to spend the money, why not just get distilled?

http://hightimes.com/grow/grow-psa-dont-filter-your-water-using-reverse-osmosis/

Tri_Cho_Me

 

[WelderDan]

I've used rainwater, tap water that's been bubbled over night, tap water that's been allowed to sit for a few days and straight from the tap water. I even watered some backyard guerilla plants with water straight from my freaking POOL with no ill affects.

Unless you have something seriously wrong with your water, and I mean serious, water is the last thing I worry about, beyond the PH.

 

[StrictlyHerb]

I cant, its impossible for me to grow organically with my tap! its has a PH of 8, and the composition between iron, calcium and magnesium is in the wrong levels for my plants.

Rainwater will be difficult now when winter is arriving.
I have an r/o. I want to use it.

The question is aimed to those who grow organic with R/O, how do you use it? Add minerals, or use it clean?

 

[Floridian]

I use just R/O water coming from the R/O spigot with 1/4 inch tubing and running about 6 ft into the top of a 50 gal rainbarrel.Just let her fill up usually takes a dozen hours or so till the rainbarrel is full.Its too simple just scoop up a gallon out of the top every time and mix in your favorite nutes.Mix ferts a gallon at a time not the whole barrel.I use PBP and calmag every other watering.I also use a tsp per gallon dolomite lime in my soil mix.To answer your question though yes its easy my ph is also high so it all works out when I use ferts it brings it down.Use General Hydroponics P/h test kit.Its all you need for soil grows.So yes 100% R/O water zero rainwater the two cant be compared IMO.You control your liquid destiny not the heavensEDIT Of course if the numbers from the rain water and all other criteria were right,I would pee sitting down I swear I would.You know I hope I didn't ruin this I'm sorry trying to help really lol...What does that mean I apologize for wasting your time I really am.