Water troubles

[cr0n]

I moved a while ago and started having some problems growing. I researched as much as possible to try and figure out why my plants always started looking bad. I use Advanced nutes A & B (lowest recommended dosage) with big bud and overdrive, I grow in peat moss keep my pH to 5.9-6.0 and I am not sure what is wrong. Then I check out the water chemical analysis for my area.

Parameter Units Stats. Where I Live
Temp ºC 4.9
Aluminium mg/L 0.008
Flouride mg/L 0.487
Ammonia mg/L 0.5
Hardness mg/L as CaCO3 202
Conductivity uS 488
Total Dissolved Solids ppm 327
pH 6.92
Alkalinity mg/L as CaCO3 118
Total Chlorine mg/L 2.11

These water analysis readings make me think this is the source of my problem. I think the TDS of 327 ppm is to high for growing. It alway seem to look like I have a phosphorus deficiency or something. I need a digital camera, but I hoped someone wise can assist me with out having to post a pic (paranoid).
Any advise or thoughts are welcomed. I think I need to get RO water, let me know what you guys think.

 

[MynameStitch]

That is very hard water, yes most defiantly get a RO system, but when you do, always add a micronutrient to your water with every watering so the plants will have enough micronutrients. Your tap water will be fine to water seedlings with, but after 2 weeks of age switch over to RO water.......

 

[Aquaman2112]

I buy steam distilled water.... Target has it about 70 cents a Gallon
The micronutrients additive is asways Nice!

Aqua~

 

[Heady NUGs]

don't buy water, buy a reverse osmosis system, but that still won't solve your problem, the plants need a specific pH, 5.8 is perfect from my reading. Maintaining this pH in hydroponic water is hard when you start with reverse oxmosis water. There is no buffer, so the pH is all over the scale. I am having the same problem as you, wish someone could help out.

 

[Tactical Farmer]

RO water really needs a buffer if you want to keep a certain PH range, you need to cut it with a more solid water source.

Say 1/2 RO to 1/2 Tap - that will drop your water solid levels. or 1/4 - 3/4 till you get good readings.

Even better option would be to use Pond / Creek / Rain water if available - then some RO to drop the levels if you so desire.

 

[cr0n]

I think I will try to get an RO an mix it with the tap water. Maybee 1/4 tap to 3/4 RO because the water is so hard. Can you explain the buffer you guys are talking about for RO water, I do not fully understand. Does that mean that it is hard to get the pH to exactly what you want?

 

[Tactical Farmer]

1/4 tap to 3/4 RO is a good idea - do a PPM test & see how much that drops ya.

Your RO should be 0 PPM

A water buffer is basicly a water source that has some solids in it ex. tap / pond / creek / something with minerals in it.

Say you got a gal of tap & it takes 10 drops of PH down to drop it 1 point & you got a gal of RO it will probally only take 1 drop of PH down to accomplish the same 1 point drop BUT when it mixes with the grow medium (soil or soil less) that adjusted RO will not stay put PH wise because its so (thin solidly).

Like when you are trying to adjust your soil PH down because your runoff is to high - pure RO sucks because as soon as it hits the medium it changes to whatever the mix already is due to the RO's pure properties..

The RO is great to have for many reasons but if you have access to a natural water source like the ones I listed - Not only because its free but because it has many beneficial organisms that will help with your plants heath.

 

[cr0n]

Thanks Tactical Farmer, your advice is greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, I don't have a ppm meter (i should). I only have a pH meter (cheaped out!). But I think this is my plan of action, hopefully I will get healthy and heavy plants.

 

[Tactical Farmer]

NP - Good Luck

Good read for water knowledge:

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=23357

 

[cr0n]

Thanks for the link Tactical Farmer.

Does anyone know if I need to use a water softener with my RO system. A sales person recommended it to me, so I want to get others opinions. He said the hardness of my water would damaged the RO membrane to quickly if i did not use a softener with my RO system. I'm not sure if it is a sales pitch.

 

[Tactical Farmer]

Cant see that it would damage the unit - you would for sure need to replace the filters more often though..

Pre-filtering before the RO unit would be optimal but not "totally nessessary"

A PPM / EC meter is something that should be worked in also, any combo of the 3 items should give you gains getting your operation "dialed in" that should make the items pay themselves off if you play your cards right..