Afternoon,
After years of putting it off and dragging 5 gallon and 7 gallon jugs up a flight of stairs, I finally took steps to obtain a small but effective RO system. Its only purpose is for grow (and ice cubes), so a 50 gallon per day is fine.
Reason, is that I have well water and the TDS is in the 600+. Even when I go to local Walmart and get the fill your self water, it is still about 200-400. I assume this cause I am pulling 25 gallons and their system is not that large, so I am getting some non-RO water towards the last 15 gallons.
So here is the data and questions:
So I learned later on that with RO water since it pulls everything out of the water, that I was suffering from a CAL-MAG deficiency.
So today I switched out with 3 gallons of RO water. Added in 24 ml of Cal-Mag (suggested dosage on bottle). Then went half and half on the Grow and Bloom nutrients (24 ml of each, half suggested dosage on bottle). End result was TDS of 1410, from a start of 40.
So my end question, is there anything else I need to know about RO water or any other nutrients I may need?
My current supply of nutrients are:
Not looking to get every product on the market, but like to have the basics as needed.
Thank you in advance for any help.
After years of putting it off and dragging 5 gallon and 7 gallon jugs up a flight of stairs, I finally took steps to obtain a small but effective RO system. Its only purpose is for grow (and ice cubes), so a 50 gallon per day is fine.
Reason, is that I have well water and the TDS is in the 600+. Even when I go to local Walmart and get the fill your self water, it is still about 200-400. I assume this cause I am pulling 25 gallons and their system is not that large, so I am getting some non-RO water towards the last 15 gallons.
So here is the data and questions:
- The RO system drops my TDS from well water down to 40.
- I am using Deep Water Culture (DWC) in 5 gallon bucket.
- 140 Watt UFO LED lighting (18/6 cycle)
- Advanced Nutrients Sensi Grow A+B and Bloom A+B Perfect PH.
- Growing Blue Dream Auto
- Believing in the Perfect PH, I did not bother to PH the water at the seedling stage (before RO purchase). Result was slow start and the leaves 2 sets below always had yellow/brown spots. So I pulled out my PH meter, calibrated it, and PH was in high 6s/low 7s. So I dropped that PH to 5.8
Results: Growth started to quicken and top leaves were very green and lush.
2. Purchased the RO system and used the new water for the switch from seedling to grow stage (nutrient strength change and new water). Growth was still rapid and green, but leaves a few sets down was still had brown/yellow spots as before. Was testing PH twice a day and was never getting above 6.3 and always dropping it down to 5.8, so I would assume that PH was always within acceptable range.
2. Purchased the RO system and used the new water for the switch from seedling to grow stage (nutrient strength change and new water). Growth was still rapid and green, but leaves a few sets down was still had brown/yellow spots as before. Was testing PH twice a day and was never getting above 6.3 and always dropping it down to 5.8, so I would assume that PH was always within acceptable range.
So I learned later on that with RO water since it pulls everything out of the water, that I was suffering from a CAL-MAG deficiency.
So today I switched out with 3 gallons of RO water. Added in 24 ml of Cal-Mag (suggested dosage on bottle). Then went half and half on the Grow and Bloom nutrients (24 ml of each, half suggested dosage on bottle). End result was TDS of 1410, from a start of 40.
So my end question, is there anything else I need to know about RO water or any other nutrients I may need?
My current supply of nutrients are:
- Cal-Mag
- PH Up
- PH Down
- Sensi Grow A
- Sensi Grow B
- Sensi Bloom A
- Sensi Bloom B
Not looking to get every product on the market, but like to have the basics as needed.
Thank you in advance for any help.
