Do i need to add Calmag to my tap water?

R

rkmcdon

Well-Known Member
I've been using only RO filter, but would like to switch to tap. I'm on rural water and my tap water comes out at around 80ppm and 8.0 pH. I checked the website of my rural water company and the report they had is in the first link. It was old, so i called and received a link to the second report

www.sequoyahwater.org

Water Quality Report | Sequoyah County Water Association

Welcome to the Official Website of SCWA in Sallisaw, OK!
www.sequoyahwater.org www.sequoyahwater.org

No mention of calcium or mag in either, so...

1. Is my water quality sufficient to use tap water?
2. Do i need to add calmag to my tap water?

Thanks!
 
rkmcdon said:
No mention of calcium or mag in either, so...
Click to expand...
that's a weird report. doesn't say chlorine vs chloramine either.

if you really want to get a good analysis, find a company that does water analysis. i buy the analysis, they send me vials, fill them up, send them back and you get a complete report
 
You could probably benefit from adding some yes. But it depends on how much is in your nutrients really. Your plants will tell you.
 
If you are growing in coco, absolutely, tap/ RO/distilled, doesn’t matter. Soil, it wouldn’t hurt, but not necessary. You’ll usually be able to tell when you need it, the plant will show the deficiency.
 
I should have included that I’m growing in an amended soil-less mix (peat, ewc, Frass, perlite, etc)
I feed once a week with age old but I’m in the process of improving my soil mix and will be weaning off the liquid nutrients and going to soil, water, teas and top dressing

@rkymtnman I hadn’t thought about purchasing my own water analysis. Would you mind giving me a ballpark on the pricing?
 
rkmcdon said:
I should have included that I’m growing in an amended soil-less mix (peat, ewc, Frass, perlite, etc)
I feed once a week with age old but I’m in the process of improving my soil mix and will be weaning off the liquid nutrients and going to soil, water, teas and top dressing

@rkymtnman I hadn’t thought about purchasing my own water analysis. Would you mind giving me a ballpark on the pricing?
Click to expand...

A pool store will do it too, but good luck on any of them being open right now.
 
I found this for $49.95 and it looks promising. It says chlorides, but i don't know if that means if it will distinguish chlorine from chloramine. It does specifically list calcium and magnesium

www.uswatersystems.com

Professional Lab Tests

www.uswatersystems.com www.uswatersystems.com
 
rkmcdon said:
I should have included that I’m growing in an amended soil-less mix (peat, ewc, Frass, perlite, etc)
I feed once a week with age old but I’m in the process of improving my soil mix and will be weaning off the liquid nutrients and going to soil, water, teas and top dressing

@rkymtnman I hadn’t thought about purchasing my own water analysis. Would you mind giving me a ballpark on the pricing?
Click to expand...
check out Stevens Ecology
 
Alright, i decided to go the cheaper route and ordered the $45 test from us water systems. I think it will give me everything i need. I called the water company again today and was at least able to find out that our water supply only has chlorine, no chloramine, so at least i dont have to deal with that. My water spends 24-48 hours in an open holding tank and then 24-48 hours in an open 55 gallon drum with air stones before the soil sees it, so the chlorine shouldnt be an issue
 
depends.... one hand u might be fine on the other u may need it... strain dependent honestly, some like more than others. personally i would add it.
 
Water report came in and I’ve attached it below.
Calcium is 11.8ppm and Mag is 1.32ppm

I guess my two main questions are:
1. How much Ca and Mag do I need in my water to be able to safely stop using Cal-mag?
2. Does everything else look ok on this water report?
 

Attachments

rkmcdon said:
Water report came in and I’ve attached it below.
Calcium is 11.8ppm and Mag is 1.32ppm

I guess my two main questions are:
1. How much Ca and Mag do I need in my water to be able to safely stop using Cal-mag?
2. Does everything else look ok on this water report?
Click to expand...
A pool test kit can tell you a few things. I have this one for my hot tub, and I've used it to check the Ca content of my well water, and the pH. I could check for chlorine too, but I already know I don't have any in my well water.

Amazon.com : Taylor K2005 Swimming Pool Chlorine Bromine Alkalinity Hardness pH DP Test Kit : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Taylor K2005 Swimming Pool Chlorine Bromine Alkalinity Hardness pH DP Test Kit : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com
 
Cal in water limes the soil not acts as a fertilizer, some lime will break down to absorbable forms but this is not enough in most potted soils to adjust fertilizer calcium down although in hardwater it might. So theres really very little logic to supplementing your waters cal with more absorbable forms like calnitrate and if your fertilizer list calcium in a good ratio already no need to add extra anyway.

But the bottles ive had and many here say between 100-200ppm if you must follow that route.
 
2Hearts said:
Cal in water limes the soil not acts as a fertilizer, some lime will break down to absorbable forms but this is not enough in most potted soils to adjust fertilizer calcium down although in hardwater it might. So theres really very little logic to supplementing your waters cal with more absorbable forms like calnitrate and if your fertilizer list calcium in a good ratio already no need to add extra anyway.

But the bottles ive had and many here say between 100-200ppm if you must follow that route.
Click to expand...
IMG_4107.PNG
Seriously though, you are right that water full of Ca can slowly raise the pH. It was just difficult reading your post.
 
Is South Park not a racist program now blacks matter? Whats the procedure with memes from racist sources?
 
I’m very confused by these answers. I currently use an ro filter and supplement with calmag. I’d like to drop the ro filter and was hoping my water would have enough calcium and magnesium that I wouldn’t need to continue with the supplementation

Sorry for being dense, but while I understand that calcium may elevate the ph, I’m not sure how it pertains to what I’m asking?
 
80 PPM is way too low to go without Calcium, even in soil, let alone coco.

Add Cal-Mag. The only reason you wouldn't, is if your water is 200-250 PPM or above, and that's still questionable. However, given you're growing in coco, it's doubly important to use it.
 
spek9 said:
80 PPM is way too low to go without Calcium, even in soil, let alone coco.

Add Cal-Mag. The only reason you wouldn't, is if your water is 200-250 PPM or above, and that's still questionable. However, given you're growing in coco, it's doubly important to use it.
Click to expand...

Thank you. One small correction. I’m not growing in coco. My mix is:
Promix MP
EWC
Perlite
Rice hulls
Insect frass
Bio-live
Azomite
Basalt
Oyster shell
Gypsum
Neem
Bat guano
 
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