Water PH Drops Significantly After Leaving Out Overnight

red0021

Active Member
Is this normal?

I get my water out of the tap, and let it sit for at least overnight, sometimes an entire day (edit: sit out without a lid on). It comes out of my tap at 6.8, after I leave it out it'll drop down to 5.0-5.2.

Thanks.
 

Weed Anubis

Well-Known Member
hmm i dunno but does it matter? use some ph up if u need too. and should get a small air pump to have movement in the water if u don't already.
 

HereticHero

Active Member
That is weird. Maybe get water from a different source? You could also buy cheap distilled water from the store if you can't get any normal water lol
 

Weed Anubis

Well-Known Member
haha ok fine sense it matters, whats the ppm of your water before u let it sit and after? and water temp when first pourd and room temp, and is your water standing still? for 24 hrs? with more info im sure we can figure this out.
 

Bayou bud

Active Member
Yea dude, the number one thing i tell people on this site is to ditch the Tap water. No one knows what is all in it, yea ppm is helpful, but water is the vehicle that you feed your plants with, the more pure that vehicle, the better the absorption process, the better use of your nutes/water/medium you grow in etc. Everything gets better with good water. Large spikes in pH like that in tap water usually are alarming. I'd assume some sort of bacterium might be growing in your water source. Rememember, we can drink water of much lesser quality than plants can and survive.
 

Bayou bud

Active Member
are there ever any precipitates at the bottom of the tap water after you let it sit out? Heretic hero is spot on on the Distilled water. Spend $10-15 to get a large 5gal office water jug, fill that up at grocery store, or conveinence store/gas station for a quarter a gallon. 0ppm. You will have to use CaliMagic or the like to replace the micro nutrients though.
 

red0021

Active Member
I'd assume some sort of bacterium might be growing in your water source.
That sounds like a possible culprit, but I never see any algae/growth in the water, not that it's not there but I can't see it. I live in an area with really good water (so I've heard). Maybe there's something in the pipes, idk. I'll get some distilled water and amend it with some cal/mag, to see if I notice any/much difference in their growth. My plants don't seem to be bothered by the water, but, it just seems like a red flag is all.
 

Bayou bud

Active Member
When it comes to the build up of anaerobic bacterium, by the time you can see the build up in your water of it, its already at a highly toxic dose for your plants.
 

Wetdog

Well-Known Member
I have good tap water also and use it straight from the tap with no ill effects.

I don't pH anything either. Running 420% organic in my own mix and worm bins and everyone is doing fine with straight tap water.

Prove it to yourself with a side by side. At least you won't waste as much $$$$ on the bottled water.

Wet
 

ChucklesD

Well-Known Member
pH changing in tap water after sitting over night isn't too uncommon, although it usually isn't such a large change. I always suggest to leave the tap water sitting out for 24 hrs. If you are on city water it could be some of the stuff they put in it evaporating or settling at the bottom. If you are on well water there is a good chance it could be algae, bacteria, or who knows what. When I had well water I had whole house type charcoal filters.
 

red0021

Active Member
I have good tap water also and use it straight from the tap with no ill effects.

I don't pH anything either. Running 420% organic in my own mix and worm bins and everyone is doing fine with straight tap water.

Prove it to yourself with a side by side. At least you won't waste as much $$$$ on the bottled water.

Wet
Thanks, I wish there weren't so many variables in growing. I used to use straight tap water, but I started having really bad leaf curling (claw). I kept everything the same except letting the water sit out and the clawing stopped. Too many variables in this growing game, lol. They're doing fine though, so, idk. I may just do a triple side by side on my new cuttings, see what ends up working best for me.
 

Bayou bud

Active Member
Keep an eye on the temperature of the water you put into your plants as well. Too high of a temp will allow for low levels of D.O and high instances of anaerobic bacterium. Also, the whole setting the water out for a day, stagnant water is the ultimate home for bad bacteria, mildew, fungus, pests etc. Just throwing that out there.
 

red0021

Active Member
Also, the whole setting the water out for a day, stagnant water is the ultimate home for bad bacteria, mildew, fungus, pests etc. Just throwing that out there.
yeah I feel ya, makes sense. I don't have much experience myself (still flowering my very 1st plants). I'm, idk, just trying to know as much as I can about what's going on. I have been pretty lucky though I think, so idk, maybe I should just stop worrying and grow.

I'm very much looking forward to being into my, idk, dozenth grow and having a "way" to do things that work for me. Until then I'll probably keep over-worrying about things.
 
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