Pond water!?...

[fozzy]

So I have this friend that is thinking about using pond water for his grow. It looks like the pond water carries a 6.7 ph. He will be using FF OF. He also will be using organic nutes.

What do you guy's think?

Is this good, bad, or ok?

Lets hear your input of personal experience and /or opinion on this matter!

Thanks in advance! (That is not his pond! lol it is quite nice though)

Update! Below

[St.buds]

I think if there are fish in the pond it would be beneficial but at the same time there is unknown amounts of nutes and unknown amounts of who knows what in the water also might have also of minerals tht plants dnt need

[St.buds]

Alot of minerals****

[9fingerleafs]

A lot like a fuckload. FF soil is pretty hot and you won't need many nutrients till flowering when they need potassium and phosphorus which I don't think natural occurring water carries. It has a great ph but without a ppm meter to check would be best to use clean water. Drinking water

[fozzy]

I know FF is pretty hot. And you don't really know whats in it. Maybe I should test the EC for him to see what that is. I know that wont tell me much but he will know where he is kind of starting from. "kind of" lol

[St.buds]

Honestly Id say go for it you won't know unless you try but my knowledge is pretty limited

[fozzy]

He is going to give it a try. Maybe it will work. He doesn't have a good water source. And doesn't want to spend the money.

[DW2]

fozzy, Tell your friend not to use pond or rain water if He or She is planning a hydro set up, but from what I've read, it should be alright for a soil grow.

[fozzy]

He is in soil thanks!

[Weasel]

I've been using rainwater-only for the last ten years or so and haven't had any issues with it. It's just distilled water, produced by nature, with a hint of carbonic acid picked up from our atmosphere on its way down- bringing it down to a ph of about 5.6.
For something like DWC or even DTW hydro using a reservoir you may want to stay away from the pond water because of increased slime/root rot type organisms present in a pond. I can't see any other reason to avoid it.
If its ph is that close to neutral then there's a good chance the ppm is low as well and that it doesn't contain high mineral levels. Not that this factor really applies at all to the original question of tap water vs pond. Worth checking the ppm or getting a sample tested- but you'd know if the water had toxic mineral levels- by smell, appearance, and the plants growing in and around it.
Keep in mind that almost all people on these forums are urbanites and tend to completely freak out at the thought of any sort of mysterious 'wild' biology invading their grow.

[fozzy]

Thanks Weasel all good info!

[LuckyAcres]

Dont do it. You'll be playing the lottery every time you water them not knowing what's been growing in there. You'll shoot your eye out kid!!!

[fozzy]

Thanks I will tell him!

[dontknownuttin]

You never know when that hiker UP STREAM may visit nature

[fozzy]

This is pretty funny! Never though of that!

[fozzy]

This grow will be inside grow too. I will try to keep you guy's updated!

[Green75]

Inside..no way...outside all day

[fozzy]

Well inside a garage lol if that makes a difference!?

[Green75]

Too many micro organisms built up when grow inside with it...no good...

Pond water sits...has tons of life in it...

Grow on ponds edge and watch out....boom

[South Sierra Dude]

I don't understand using a variable in an indoor set up unless the house is not plumbed.

[fozzy]

I guess he wants to be super natural! Plus tap water here runs 350+ ppm.

[Jibblerjoe]

A friend has a few green houses, he has a big pond he uses for plant water. Like someone said if it's got fish, it's good grow.

[fozzy]

Thanks!

[Canyon Grower]

Hard tap water isnt a biggie for most soil grows. I do it all the time. Hydro, different story. Personally, I would go with tap water unless im pretty sure there is no chance of nasty runoff getting into that pond.

[fozzy]

I will tell him to consider the source of the water in the pond.

[Charlie]

PH it on every use. Make sure there is no chemical, pesticide, herbicide, runoff in pond. Sometimes people spray herbicide in pond to keep aquatic plants from taking over the pond.

[fozzy]

Thanks for the input! I will tell him!

[fozzy]

Just an update. So my friend is using pond water. And so far pretty good results. He has a little problem with on of the plants. It was a PH problem though. He has been using apple cider vinegar to ph down. I wish I could get some pics to show you. Maybe soon!

Thanks for the help!

[St.buds]

Awesome

[Jibblerjoe]

Is growing inside ?

[fozzy]

Yep he is.

[Jibblerjoe]

I use tap water for indoor plants.