Colloidal silver failing

Thaddeus Thundabuds

Thaddeus Thundabuds

Well-Known Member
I am an auto flower grower. I went from using filtered , UV’D RO water from the water store to using An RO unit on my water well ( lots of minerals in my well water) the plants grow great in my ebb and flow system with LED lights. Since changing my water, I can’t seem to make any pollen sacks with colloidal silver... the bud sights seem stunted, hairs die off but no sacks. I have turned hundreds of plants male with my colloidal silver in the past. Had a successful breeding program. Same nutes for the last 7 years. What could cause this? I have tried my last three grows to make males. Oh and some of my stable strains ( just random plants on the same genome) started taking Up to 16 weeks to fully mature when 10-11 weeks is my norm.. I am totally stumped and can’t afford to buy 300 gallons of water every 2 weeks.
 
Fardsnarp

Fardsnarp

Well-Known Member
At minimum I'd pick up a cheap TDS (total desolved solids) meter. RO systems differentialy reduce mineral content. This will give you an idea on how much stuff is left in the water. You might have to have it tested to find out ratios. If you need that much water a week you might try getting a softner and using the RO system after the softner.
 
Herb & Suds

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
Fardsnarp said:
At minimum I'd pick up a cheap TDS (total desolved solids) meter. RO systems differentialy reduce mineral content. This will give you an idea on how much stuff is left in the water. You might have to have it tested to find out ratios. If you need that much water a week you might try getting a softner and using the RO system after the softner.
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WELCOME TO RIU :weed:
 
Fardsnarp

Fardsnarp

Well-Known Member
CatHedral said:
Can you tell me on which impurities RO does less well?
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Not off hand. It's been quite a while since I've had water issues so this is no longer a fresh memory for me. I know high pH can really make a big difference in how effective the RO system performs. Long story short, I went from having 75% to 90% efficiency with lowered pH. From a practicle point of view this doen't make a lot of difference in most circumstances. I only brought it up because the OP is pretty convinced they have an issue with the water and I just wanted to point out the RO system might not be doing all they think it is for a variety of reasons. The only want to know for sure is to have the water tested.
 
CatHedral

CatHedral

Well-Known Member
Fardsnarp said:
Not off hand. It's been quite a while since I've had water issues so this is no longer a fresh memory for me. I know high pH can really make a big difference in how effective the RO system performs. Long story short, I went from having 75% to 90% efficiency with lowered pH. From a practicle point of view this doen't make a lot of difference in most circumstances. I only brought it up because the OP is pretty convinced they have an issue with the water and I just wanted to point out the RO system might not be doing all they think it is for a variety of reasons. The only want to know for sure is to have the water tested.
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I am not sure about this, but RO is not good for filtering methanol or ammonia, molecules that “look” like water to the membrane. Ionic or large molecules tend to get excluded.

So the thing I’m wondering is membrane integrity. An RO cartridge contains hundreds of square meters of fragile barrier, and once that starts to leak, the RO effect diminishes.

My RO unit has a pair of prefilters. I’ve changed them at need, and I’m 10 years on the original membrane cartridge. Some food for thought, maybe.
 
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