Tds

[Muley]

I've got a few successful DWC grows done over the last couple of years, I'm finally past the frantic "how much, how fast" stage and am growing one plant at a time and taking it easy. Having a drawer full of last years shrink wrapped product helps. Thanks GWE

2 questions: I finally have a TDS meter, never bothered before. How important is that reading? We have terrible tap water here, this area is mineral rich with a ton of mining done in the past, and my TDS from the tap is 458. I've been doing half and half with RO water. All juiced up with GH trio (1/2 tsp/gal, week 4 still), and Aqua shield + Cal mag ( 1 tsp/gal each) it's up to 770. The plant is kicking ass, bushy and healthy. I did a modified manifold cut, more on that later with some pics, it's on 12/12 and growing like, well, like a weed. Is the TDS something I should worry about? I'm going to check it with 100% RO and see what I get for a reading, then maybe no Cal Mag next water change

Next question: I switched to 12/12 last week, 9 pm to 9 am so the tent is heated over night, but this is a stealth situation so I'd rather have them on during the day now the weather is cooling so I could leave the tent open some during the day. Can I bump the timer forward one click a day till I get where I want to be or will that confuse the poor thing? I could leave it as is but we may have company in January and that would mean lights, ballast, humidifier and kicker fans would come on right at bed time. I'd rather not move out of that room as by then I'll have hanging buds.

Maybe I should tell them not to come.

[insomniaczzz]

Oh this is a tricky one. Do you have any odor in rest of house? I used lemon scented wax melts and in living room and kitchen. Completely covered up any smell. When you need to change your light cycle hours, I believe one hour a day is the recommend method, though I personally think 2 hours at a time would not hurt them.

If you are really worried about them finding out may be best to cancel, unless they are the kind of people that would be totally clueless. This is always a tough call.

[insomniaczzz]

As for the first part of question, I'm inexperienced with a TDS meter, though it sounds like you plants have been and continue to thrive. Don't fix what isn't broken.

[desertdan]

My well water is so hard I have to chew it to swallow it. The plants don't seem to mind as long as I flush with rain water when I can.

[Royal Nugs]

My TDS at the tap is around 350. I let them sit overnight, uncovered in milk jugs and it drops into the low 300's. I've been using it for 2.5 grows with no ill effects. Sometimes I think we lose perspective... it's a weed after all. It wouldn't have survived for millions of years if it was picky about its water... maybe it isn't ideal but if it don't like my water, I pick another strain. So far everyone's happy.

A wise man told me if you want to flip your light schedule in the middle of flower, just let them sit in the dark until your desired time comes. Just make sure it's a minimum of 12 hours. So if you're at 9p-9a and want to go to 9a-9p, just let them sit in the dark for 24 and off ya go... You can also click back an hour everyday as long as you remember. Cannabis consumers are not known for their reliability in the memory department....

It's not my place to suggest but I'm gonna anyway.... have you considered telling your company that you're a cannabis grower/consumer?

I took the plunge a few months ago when my mom stayed at my house. I told her a week beforehand. She laughed and started telling me how they used to grow it when she was a kid. She's from South Korea, and hemp was very commonplace. She opened up and told me about the first time she got high and how she ate all the food she was supposed to make for dinner.... she had me crying, I was laughing so hard.

Despite the stoner stigma, cannabis consumers are and can be productive members of society.

Legalize it, normalize it.

[Tika]

RIGHT! SO RIGHT! I have experienced by beloved relatives from Humboldt County thinking I was going to burn my house down..til they saw...and they are coming today even at such a ripe tent. I am very proud of my efforts and yes finally legal...but the effort is worthy of admiration at least. Many people have opinions of "indoor grow"...sloppy, tacky, fire hazard etc.
I am a more than mature adult, am a professional, my adult kids really don't care as long as I don't text images ) still paranoid.
The best hydro shop peeps were raised by growers and their parents could be my children.
Like my dogs..you don't like them? You don't like my plants ..? I don't like you and you know where the donut is.
The cannabis space is changing and I encourage all to take place with pride, vanity, all the sins
Lastly years ago I informed my mother that I was participating in a Smith &Wesson international competition..thinking she might stroke out...having never discussed firearms with her. She was so proud and related it to cultured people gathered for (appropriate!) hunting events. I wear both venues happily and proudly.
Here is to getting out of the closet..kiss in public!

[Tika]

Really makes me miss my mom..right wing, white gloves, and shockingly supportive
Embracing your mom..she grows good kid!

[LuckyAcres]

awesome story royal. i came out of the green closet to my then 16yo daughter last year as it became legal here. she chuckled. "yeah i knew it, and honestly you and mama are not so stressed when you smoke so no problem." once it became legal the conversations around town have been very interesting yet...normal! and no, crime hasn't gone up at all. silly prohibition...
sorry i'm no help with the question my tap water is at 6.5, city officials helping local growers?

[Muley]

K thanks for all the input, potential guests are cool with the situation, I just wouldn't want them to try to sleep with all the stuff running, lights out time has only the air pump and small circulation fan running, pretty quiet. When the humidifier, ballast and exhaust fan kick on it's a lot more noise and the tent is right next to the bed.
As far as the TDS goes, I'm going to see what 100% RO water reads with all the nutes in it for today's water change. If it's closer to the recommended I might go with that, it only costs about $1.50 a week. 770 seems like an awful lot of solids if it's avoidable, some of the local mines produced lead and arsenic, etc.

[Royal Nugs]

K thanks for all the input, potential guests are cool with the situation, I just wouldn't want them to try to sleep with all the stuff running, lights out time has only the air pump and small circulation fan running, pretty quiet. When the humidifier, ballast and exhaust fan kick on it's a lot more noise and the tent is right next to the bed.
As far as the TDS goes, I'm going to see what 100% RO water reads with all the nutes in it for today's water change. If it's closer to the recommended I might go with that, it only costs about $1.50 a week. 770 seems like an awful lot of solids if it's avoidable, some of the local mines produced lead and arsenic, etc.

770? I thought it was 450?

[Muley]

I had it at 450 from the tap, with nutes and supplements it's 770, taken at the roots next day. For reference, and i can't see why, RO water is 80ppm, 600 juiced up. doesn't really make sense, but that's what the cheap meter says. I've got 1400 gallons of rain (roof water) stored and I'm not using any for the garden till spring, I'm going to try that next water change, I'll dig back and post the readings then.

[Royal Nugs]

So your actual nutrient PPM is only 220. That's a pretty weak solution. You should always subtract your water's PH from your readings.

[Muley]

RO water - 80 ppm to start, 660ppm with nutes at roots the next day = 580 ppm difference, but I did bump the nutes from 1/2 tsp/gal to 3/4 (just going in to transition)
Tap water - 450 ppm to start, 770 ppm w/ nutes at roots = 320 ppm difference

I don't worry about it too much as I never had a TDS meter before and don't fully understand how it works and what it means, I'd just like to learn. At my next water change I'll try rain water from the tank, post the results.

[Tersky]

IMO lower is better when talking about non nute water just for the simple fact that there is less chance of getting a toxicity. It seems like you can get away with higher PPM, but i want only the best for my girls!! It's like yeah i could eat McDonalds every day if i wanted to, but over time im going to feel like sh*t. I would be worried with the tap water you described.