Personally I have noticed no difference between using tap water and using the water from my fridge that is filtered. I have used a PH pen and a PPM pen. No difference whatsoever. However, after I use my nutes (megacrop) it always drops the PH down to around 6.4 so I don't really have to measure it. I never measure the PPM when I feed either. I just used half tsp and its been working so I go with it