How should I filter my water???

I am filling a large 20 gallon open bucket with water from my sump pump. So it's all direct ground water. I've yet to check the TDS of it but I'm sure it will need filtering before I try and add my Nutes and Adjust the PH. I've looked at reverse osmosis filters but it seems they require a focet to run water through them. Is that always the case with reverse osmosis? Would it be possible to draw the water from the pump well through a filter up into the bucket? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

One way I can think of is to get one of thee pumps. The 264 would probably do it, the 396 might be better.
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/ecoplus-water-pumps-c-422_85.html

Screw this adapter into the top of the pump.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=23855-1815-436005RMC&lpage=none

I cant find the part number, but lowes sells an adapter that goes from 1/2" pvc that will fit the RO unit.
You will need a 1/2" elbow. Then just run 1/2" pvc between the pump and the RO unit and it should work. I am sure I didnt explain this very well, but I hope you get the idea.

wish you would have post that site sooner..gezzz i just order a new pump offline..you could have saved me 8 bucks..damnit..lol i made the order like twenty minutes ago

I use those guys all the time. They have a big inventory with fair prices and shipping is the cheapest I have found. And fast too. I usually order on Monday and have my package by Friday.

TxHomeGrown, thanks so much. Thats exactly what I'd need. I do not have a Reverse Osmosis filter yet, but i'm assuming with the adapter I'll be able to use the pump to push water directly into the filter and outlet the filtered water into my bucket?

Yeah, thats what I was thinking. You would just have to find a fitting to connect to the Reverse Osmosis filter, hook it up to the rest of what you build and plug it in. Keep adding water to the bucket because you dont want to run the pump dry.

The pump will be resting in the same well as my sump pump and there is always water in it year round. This is why I wanted to filter that ground water rather than use the house water. Saves money and wastes less water for everyone. Just needed to find a way to lower the TDS so I can add my own micro nutes and veg or bloom nutes. It sounds like this should work out well. I should purchase it over the next few weeks and I will let you know how things work out. Any suggestions on the best priced or which Reverse Osmosis Filter I should use? They all say 50 up to 300 gallons per day but in reality There is no way I'd need more than the minimum one can produce. So I was thinking just find the least expensive one I can. Do you agree?

I think I remember seeing one that does 11 gallons a day, but it never hurts to leave a little room to grow.

How bad is it to use tap water?

I have always thought that if you can drink it, you can grow with it.

let it sit out for 24 hours to get the chlorine out of it first

Tap water tends to be PH buffered. You may have a hard time lowering the ph from above 7.0. I think it depends on how much Calcium is in your water.

If you are using sump water your ppm's will probably be pretty high, be user that you use a good prefilter on what ever system you use. Your filter life may be shorter then if you used tap water into it.