Does tap water kill plants?

2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
Soil is one of the biggest ph buffers available so i dont get why i would need to bother and my waters between 7.5 to 8.4 and see nothing but good things. Perlite has no buffering and i could see why a plant grown in that would need ph'ing...

Explain what a 200ppm water is composed of bar the obvious hydrogen and oxygen. Please explain this 200ppm in more detail so i can have the full picture? Is it all msgnesium or calcium or all copper or what???
 
I'mSimplyStoned

I'mSimplyStoned

Active Member
Yes; it is a buffer, however there is something to keep in mind. It wont add up like that for EVERYONE. My tap comes out at 7.3. If I put that in my soil my runoff is pushing 7 or higher. If I PH to 6.8 ish, it drops down to that ideal root zone we all strive for. My soil mix is FF OF/HF 30% perlite. YES; its a buffer but that doesnt mean you can dump in any water and its gonna bring it down or up to where it needs to be. NOT for everyone man.

theres no telling, and thats the point. When you have water with THAT high of a concentration, well say were talking about 400PPM water here out the tap. We CAN't tell what its composed of. And thats the issue. My soil runs hot as is. I get calcium /mg deficiencies if I do not add some camg. Now, my plants are in week 4 of flower (doing nice by the way, thanks for asking) If i add the 250PPMs calmg I add to my water then I'm pushing 400+ppms. My plants have used most of the nutrients in my soil as ive began seeing other deficiencies. potassium and phosphorous. So I add nutes and before you know it im pushing 1000 PPM's, due to the nutrients the soil STILL has, and the addition of the synthetic nutes to replace the ones my plant has consumed becomes too much. For most inexperienced growers, our plants may never see that level of concentrations. I'm trying to think practical. We have to take into account that not everybody has ideal conditions.
 
2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
I'mSimplyStoned said:
Yes; it is a buffer, however there is something to keep in mind. It wont add up like that for EVERYONE. My tap comes out at 7.3. If I put that in my soil my runoff is pushing 7 or higher. If I PH to 6.8 ish, it drops down to that ideal root zone we all strive for. My soil mix is FF OF/HF 30% perlite. YES; its a buffer but that doesnt mean you can dump in any water and its gonna bring it down or up to where it needs to be. NOT for everyone man.

theres no telling, and thats the point. When you have water with THAT high of a concentration, well say were talking about 400PPM water here out the tap. We CAN't tell what its composed of. And thats the issue. My soil runs hot as is. I get calcium /mg deficiencies if I do not add some camg. Now, my plants are in week 4 of flower (doing nice by the way, thanks for asking) If i add the 250PPMs calmg I add to my water then I'm pushing 400+ppms. My plants have used most of the nutrients in my soil as ive began seeing other deficiencies. potassium and phosphorous. So I add nutes and before you know it im pushing 1000 PPM's, due to the nutrients the soil STILL has, and the addition of the synthetic nutes to replace the ones my plant has consumed becomes too much. For most inexperienced growers, our plants may never see that level of concentrations. I'm trying to think practical. We have to take into account that not everybody has ideal conditions.
Click to expand...

Im sorry to say that i see no accuracy in soil runoff tests more usefull to give indication of too much ferts or nutrient levels not ph. Soil ph will naturally fluctuate, thats part buffering...

Exactly just how accidic or alkaline do you think tap water gets that soil cant buffer back up to its natural zone, should i be worried about tap water that burns me?

Your data seems shaky at best, were on opposite sides of the coin. Where is tap water over 400ppm because i think your talking about levels that water companies would deem unsafe.
 
2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
A water company is generally tasked with collecting water over a pre defined catchment area. This water consist of farm runoff and nitrites, dissolved solids and minute particles as it erodes bedrock and some pollution pulled out of the rain possibly even reclaimed water from sewage treatment.

This water is then filtered, treated, filtered and treated again with high grade equipment that would make your brita filter shit its pants. Then under high pressure through sealed piping transported to your tap.

Should i be worried that they did such a bad job with all that specialized gear and all of the worlds vast knowledge?

Isnt there world health organisations and state funded bodies governing the maximun and minimun amount of safe levels of 'stuff' in our water so that its fit for human animal and plant consumption or are you seriously asking me to believe what your saying and that is tap water may fall outside acceptable levels of marijuana growth.

Given all that ive said and the fact that mary jane is planted round previously exploded nuclear powerstations and toxic land to suck up some of the bad 'stuff' i find it near impossible to apply your logic.
 
I'mSimplyStoned

I'mSimplyStoned

Active Member
2Hearts said:
Im sorry to say that i see no accuracy in soil runoff tests more usefull to give indication of too much ferts or nutrient levels not ph. Soil ph will naturally fluctuate, thats part buffering...

Exactly just how accidic or alkaline do you think tap water gets that soil cant buffer back up to its natural zone, should i be worried about tap water that burns me?

Your data seems shaky at best, were on opposite sides of the coin. Where is tap water over 400ppm because i think your talking about levels that water companies would deem unsafe.
Click to expand...

Well water.
 
Jussblaz3420

Jussblaz3420

Well-Known Member
Never had a problem with tap, altough i have well water, city water is another story, with all the additives n what not, they could be harmful to your plant. Also the additives could build up in the soil n cause issues. Ive found my tap water to be benefecial. Never had to use any supplements such as calmag or zinc or sulpher. It really depends on where ur located.
 
Mike Roach

Mike Roach

Well-Known Member
You can use tap water and your plants will most likely survive unless you drown them. This being said if you filtrate tap water with a reverse osmosis system it will remove any chemical that could stress your plant, kill the micro-life around the root-mass or interfere with some fertilizing program.
 
2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
How is well water state approved tap water and can you share a link to the city water sulpplier where they add harmfull levels of additives cause i can googgle up many cities water data analysis sheets and i cant find anything untoward?
 
2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
I seen a lot of growers driving 50km through the night for a bottle of superthrive, spend countless wads of cash for that must have fert from the jungles of peru etc but when it comes to googling your state waters analysis sheet hmmmmm!

Im hoping the pdf shows the breakdown of my water quality and should be the main thing you check before you tout that water paranoia.
I can bring one of these up for anywhere in the uk with ease.... Can you post yours?

Seriously click my pdf, its goverened by the EU so all of Europe follows the standards they set, maybe your country is a bit behind or backwards in its water departments abilities, my bad and sorry i didnt realise you live in a poor water country...
 

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2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
So lets get to the facts of water hardness and especially for the uk regions.

Most of whats in our water is not making it excessively hard. Now say i live in an area of quite hard water like london or yorkshire! I may ask why this is and whats the culprit????

Ok its because the bedrock of your area is high in Caco3 or calcium carbonate.... Could be a clue in those white cliffs of dover or limestone pavements in malham ;-)

So water hardnes is more the elevated levels of a certain calcium and accompanied by some magnisium.

Hmm is it that simple that hard water fert companies understand this and the resultant products simply have decreased levels of such nutrients.

Dose this save me a few hundred on ph meters, ph up n down, ro machines and countless sleepless nights of worry...

This could be the reason why growers in hard water areas pick up that bottle of calmag a lot less times than growers in soft water areas.

Last time i checked you could chuch quite a lot of calmag at a soil and not cause ill effects (cec buffer).
 
AimAim

AimAim

Well-Known Member
I live in the lower Midwest USA and have never had a problem with tapwater. I drink it, water everything with it, seems stupid to worry about it, or even think about it, It's WATER. But maybe I am just lucky and water in other parts of the world does kill marijuana.
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
2Hearts said:
Soil is one of the biggest ph buffers available so i dont get why i would need to bother and my waters between 7.5 to 8.4 and see nothing but good things. Perlite has no buffering and i could see why a plant grown in that would need ph'ing...

Explain what a 200ppm water is composed of bar the obvious hydrogen and oxygen. Please explain this 200ppm in more detail so i can have the full picture? Is it all msgnesium or calcium or all copper or what???
Click to expand...

About the 200ppm.

Most UK water companies water consists of
Chlorine/chloramine
Flouride
Calcium
Nitrates
Phosphates(to hinder corrosion)
Magnesium
And a few other micros.

That's what makes up the ppm's in most tap water.

I've been using tap water with an EC of 0.2 for over 5 years.



J
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
If you're using synthetic nutrients most any source of water is fine.

If you're relying on microbes to make nutrients bio available then high concentrations of chlorine/chloramines would be undesirable.
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
2Hearts said:
I seen a lot of growers driving 50km through the night for a bottle of superthrive, spend countless wads of cash for that must have fert from the jungles of peru etc but when it comes to googling your state waters analysis sheet hmmmmm!

Im hoping the pdf shows the breakdown of my water quality and should be the main thing you check before you tout that water paranoia.
I can bring one of these up for anywhere in the uk with ease.... Can you post yours?

Seriously click my pdf, its goverened by the EU so all of Europe follows the standards they set, maybe your country is a bit behind or backwards in its water departments abilities, my bad and sorry i didnt realise you live in a poor water country...
Click to expand...

Just realised you posted the analysis.

Another taffy! Woohoo!

North or South Wales my good man?

Wyti'n iawn?



J
 
2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
jondamon said:
Just realised you posted the analysis.

Another taffy! Woohoo!

North or South Wales my good man?

Wyti'n iawn?



J
Click to expand...
Ill say no more than the north but miss the south.

jondamon said:
About the 200ppm.

Most UK water companies water consists of
Chlorine/chloramine
Flouride
Calcium
Nitrates
Phosphates(to hinder corrosion)
Magnesium
And a few other micros.

That's what makes up the ppm's in most tap water.

I've been using tap water with an EC of 0.2 for over 5 years.



J
Click to expand...
Well said the main concentration should be the calmag and my water has very low levels of fluride and chlorine too but not high enough to make a problem let alone noticable.

Lots of growers are growing just fine in many different places reguardless of the tap water but some would disagree its possible. I show how easy it is to get the water analysis for your area and save on the bs.
 
2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
The microherd of organic soil probably needs quite a lot more chlorine than water can provide plus an organic soil would be the best buffering, resistant diverse soil on the block so probably has even higher tolerances of certain nutrient levels. I would worry even less about water in an organic soil tbh.

st0wandgrow said:
If you're using synthetic nutrients most any source of water is fine.

If you're relying on microbes to make nutrients bio available then high concentrations of chlorine/chloramines would be undesirable.
Click to expand...
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
2Hearts said:
Ill say no more than the north but miss the south.



Well said the main concentration should be the calmag and my water has very low levels of fluride and chlorine too but not high enough to make a problem let alone noticable.

Lots of growers are growing just fine in many different places reguardless of the tap water but some would disagree its possible. I show how easy it is to get the water analysis for your area and save on the bs.
Click to expand...

North here too.



J
 
2Hearts

2Hearts

Well-Known Member
Im not suprised eveveryone grows weed in my area but few are worth smoking. Forced me back to growing as quality is hard to come by.
 
jondamon

jondamon

Well-Known Member
2Hearts said:
Im not suprised eveveryone grows weed in my area but few are worth smoking. Forced me back to growing as quality is hard to come by.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more.

Not only that, I really am not a fan of cheese and around my way its all that's available.



J
 
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