hard water issues

[cnw1970]

Getting ready to start my 1st grow, which will be autos in a 4x4. We have very hard water at 198 PPM. With hard water comes alkalinity of course and I know I'll have to PH down. I am just curious if the hard water has any effects on plants like nutrient uptake or root issues?

 

[crucialbunny]

From what I have read,198 is in a safe realm. Over 300 and you may experience lockout from an overabundance of calcium. I would avoid using supplements that contain cal-mag but otherwise I would think you are fine.

 

[3Berries]

I mix mine half and half with rain water. No sense throwing the natural calcium and magnesium away just to have to replace it.

 

[DW2]

Howdy cnw1970, I have been using the local city water of years and it is very hard with calcium and magnesium. The water comes out of the pipe at approximate pH of 7.0 and I just pH it down to 6.0 before adding the nutrients, then usually, pH it back up to 6.0. Even with the hard water, I still have to add CaliMagic to help the plants grow properly. Oh, I almost forgot, I have been using the GH dry nutrients MaxiGrow and MaxiBloom along with some supplements.

 

[OldManGrower]

Just beat it with a hammer until it softens up. Completely organic and cheap.

 

[KLAX]

A bigger hammer is always the solution to all problems men have.