Checking Water Quality? And Treatment Options?

[MintyDreadlocks]

Whats up everyone, just got all my grow equipment back from my ex after a messy breakup, cops yadda yadda litigation etc.

I'm all set up. I use town water supply, from my understanding the water sucks and is hard water, lots of chemicals and chlorine etc water main lines break often in this town and there's contaminants from time to time. I was wondering how you use town water supply and check for its quality and what options are there to treat it so its safe for my plants. I have a TDS, EC and Temp meter so I suppose thats a start I just need to know how to use it and what I can do about crap quality water.

 

[MintyDreadlocks]

*grow setup in process of being complete*

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

Well...you might start by taking a reading of the EC/PPM so people here might be able to suggest what would work?

 

[MintyDreadlocks]

39 PPM

 

[Dreypa]

Thats near RO, lets trade. If thats accurate, thats extremely soft water.

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

39 PPM
View attachment 5214775

Seriously? Not hard in the least. Just use the water.

 

[MintyDreadlocks]

Thats near RO, lets trade. If thats accurate, thats extremely soft water.

I did move into a more modern house with better pipes but I still live in the same town. Maybe my other house being that is was 100 years old with old pipes could that have been my problem back than? I just assumed it was the town water.

 

[Nope_49595933949]

Look at the local water report

 

[Dreypa]

I did move into a more modern house with better pipes but I still live in the same town. Maybe my other house being that is was 100 years old with old pipes could that have been my problem back than? I just assumed it was the town water.

Yup, mineral build up over time. Especially if old water heater.

 

[MintyDreadlocks]

Look at the local water report

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

View attachment 5214782

Yeah, that all jibes with having low PPM/EC. Note that some of the listings are PPB not PPM. When you add up the PPM you get ~23PPM taken from the source...you've got a very small additional PPM probably from the pipes.

Seriously, our well water is 240-330PPM. Be happy with what you have. Way better than what most people have.

 

[MintyDreadlocks]

Yeah, that all jibes with having low PPM/EC. Note that some of the listings are PPB not PPM. When you add up the PPM you get ~23PPM taken from the source...you've got a very small additional PPM probably from the pipes.

Seriously, our well water is 240-330PPM. Be happy with what you have. Way better than what most people have.

I appreciate all the help thank you for painting the picture for me a bit. Its been awhile since i've grown due to life challenges and gotta relearn some things again.

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

I appreciate all the help thank you for painting the picture for me a bit. Its been awhile since i've grown due to life challenges and gotta relearn some things again.

Your pH is in the ~7 range, so depending on what you are using for nutrients you might be right in line with where it should be for a soil grow or you may need to adjust for hydro. Keep an eye on plants for either calcium or magnesium deficiencies and treat those 'in the moment' if that happens.

 

[MintyDreadlocks]

Your pH is in the ~7 range, so depending on what you are using for nutrients you might be right in line with where it should be for a soil grow or you may need to adjust for hydro. Keep an eye on plants for either calcium or magnesium deficiencies and treat those 'in the moment' if that happens.

Im using Earth Juice - Grow/Bloom in soil. FFOF mix with happy frog. What do you recommend to supplement cal/mag

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

Im using Earth Juice - Grow/Bloom in soil. FFOF mix with happy frog. What do you recommend to supplement cal/mag

I'd look at the labels for Earth Juice (or published feed schedules) and see if they recommend using it or not. It's not one that I've got any experience with.

 

[Rurumo]

Is there another page to that water report with ph, alkalinity, carbonate hardness, cal/mag levels etc?

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

Is there another page to that water report with ph, alkalinity, carbonate hardness, cal/mag levels etc?

I think pH is buried in there at 7.06...

 

[hotrodharley]

I did move into a more modern house with better pipes but I still live in the same town. Maybe my other house being that is was 100 years old with old pipes could that have been my problem back than? I just assumed it was the town water.

The water utility does regular assays of the water. These water quality reports are nearly always online or available by mail by calling and requesting one. Start there.

 

[pahpah-cee]

OP just wanted to brag about his new clean water source.

Down in LA we have to chew our water.

 

[speedwell68]

Im using Earth Juice - Grow/Bloom in soil. FFOF mix with happy frog. What do you recommend to supplement cal/mag

Your water is more or less the same as mine. I was getting Ca/Mg deficiency. I simply added a teaspoon of Epsom Salts and Calcium Chloride every other watering and I haven't had it again.

 

[firsttime69]

Thats better than my tap here and mine floats about 55ppm