Reverse Osmosis

[Madman960]

Hello everyone. I ordered a RO system today. Will be here Wednesday. 75 gallons per day. Fits under the kitchen sink with holding tank and separate faucet. 5 stage. My tap water is 7.1 and 140 ppm.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of RO systems? My 1st grow is going to be bubbleponics. I just need thermometers for each bucket to complete my setup. I probably don't need one per bucket, but I don't want to have to take them out and go bucket to bucket.

Sill debating on getting a PAR meter or not.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Happy growing.

Madman

[Madman960]

My RO system will be delivered and installed tomorrow. Still not sure of the pros and cons for growing. I understand them for humans but not plants. Particularly marijuana. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Or is this one of those taboo subjects cause it's more a matter of preference?

Happy growing.

Madman

[Cannabliss]

R.O. water is highly suggested for growing weed because of its very low PPM (salt) levels. It gives you a better, lower "palette" to work with when mixing your nutrients. When I use R.O. water and measure its PPM, they’re around 8-9 PPM. That’s a very good number to start adding your nutrients. My tap water comes to 175 PPM, too high. It’s highly suggested to try to start your water’s PPM under 100. Reason for that is, let’s say a small seedling or cutting calls for a PPM of around 200, but you already have around 300 worth of PPM in your (not R.O.) water. If you go ahead and add the 300 PPM, you’ll be giving your young plant 500 worth of PPM, not the 200 you originally wanted. Not a good idea. The lower the PPM in your starting water, the more accurate you can be with your nutrient measurements. As far as the cons go for using R.O. water; I’m not sure I can think of any. Hope that helps.

[Madman960]

Thanks Cannabliss. It was very helpful. I thought the low ppms is why people used distilled water. My water is 145 ppm and ph 7.1. Thanks for the help.

Madman

[Cannabliss]

Anytime my friend.

[Madman960]

Installed my RO system yesterday. Instructions say to fill the tank and empty 3 times before use. It takes a really long time to fill the tank. Emptied once so far. PPMs were able to 23 when I emptied the tank. PH still at 7.1. Took maybe an hour to install.

Happy growing.

Madman

[Cannabliss]

I'm not too sure the pH of the R.O. will change from 7.1. My R.O. water is usually around 7.3 or so. I don't worry about that. After I add all my nutes, the pH usually goes down to around 6.5 without even using pH Down. Some people's pH does up after adding their nutes, so I'm not certain. See what your pH is after adding all your nutes.

[GanjaGed]

Use of Silica products will usually up PH.

[oldjarhead100]

hey madman I think the only down side to RO sytems is they waste more water than they put in tank. so if you use it only for watering plants then not only will it last longer but won.t cost so much in water waste

[D.A.A.S.69]

Morning Madman, it's good for growing, but I also heard Mr.Kind of KindSoil say it was really a waste of water. Good Luck MM.
PS. But in your case with the new system, it can't be to much of a waste.