Water Question.

Ok, so since I've started my grow I have been collecting as much rain water as I possibly mannage (something like 20 gallons in reserve). Now the question is this. I tested the PH of the rain water today, just to compare it to what my tap water is, so I can see how much of a difference there would be.

The rain water can out just below neutral [6.8], the tap water on the other hand was really basic [8.2] not a surprise since I live in an old house and assume I have at least slightly hard water.

Any how.. I was wondering what the most natural, easy, cheap, ways you guys take care of your water. Do you use water softeners, bottled water, use a filter?

On that note thought I suppose I could just as easily collect/melt snow fall.... we get lots of that.

I use an RO system and it usually puts out 6.0 PH while my tap is around 7.5. You can buy RO systems for your drinking water with different outputs (gal. per day) for around 180 bucks and up. I've never used rain water or snow melt so I couldn't help you there. Good luck!

The rain water is near perfect PH. Keep collecting and using rain water. I use rain when ever I can, as I hate having to use store bought. I refuse to use my tap water simply because it smells and I won't even drink it.

I just use plain tap water. I do have a pretty robust Ro system,but we use that for drinking water only. I don't even let the Tap Water sit out overnight, directly to the plants. I run Hydro system. PH balance to 5.8, add nutes. My water is fairly hard, comes out of the tap at 450 PPM.

Serapis said:

The rain water is near perfect PH. Keep collecting and using rain water. I use rain when ever I can, as I hate having to use store bought. I refuse to use my tap water simply because it smells and I won't even drink it.

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Yeah, I figured it's got to pick up a whole bunch of minerals as well as some nitrates in it too... from my perspective it's probably about as balanced as I could get my water in terms of micro nutes. How you ever tried collecting/melting snow?

NoDrama said:

I just use plain tap water. I do have a pretty robust Ro system,but we use that for drinking water only. I don't even let the Tap Water sit out overnight, directly to the plants. I run Hydro system. PH balance to 5.8, add nutes. My water is fairly hard, comes out of the tap at 450 PPM.

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I'm in soil, so with high PPM I can only see that contributing to high salt levels.... hmmm, we'll have to see, perhaps some reverse osmosis.