Well water vs RO

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
Sorry in advance if this has been asked/debated. Searched and really didn't find an answer.

I've been using my well water and have had mild success. The ppms are high so I can never really add a decent amount of nutrients to my res. Usually 5ml of micro and 10ml of bloom of GH nutes per 5 gallons is all they can take before issues start surfacing. The buds just seem to be fairly airy. I've been looking into investing in an Apec RO water filter. Would going RO and being able to use more nutes, help produce better and help stabilize everything?

I know my light is less than ideal for my space, 400w HPS in a 5 x 5, and plan to upgrade to 600w once I get my system dialed in.

Thanks for any advice in advance.
 

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
I know my light is less than ideal for my space, 400w HPS in a 5 x 5, and plan to upgrade to 600w once I get my system dialed in.
600 isn't enough for a 5x5. 1000 hps would be much better.

as for the RO, i used to buy it at walmart for a few years before i slowly changed over to my well water. using RO makes things a bit easier b/c it eliminates your water as a potential problem
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
@Mr. Mohaskey I'd use RO.
I'm an old 400 and 600 HPS grower. I had some clones under a 400 just to keep them going. I just finished my flower run and took one of the LED setups for my veg. Plants are night and day happier plus I'm using half the power and there's way less heat.
I'd skip getting a 600 HPS unless it's basically free. Lots of great LEDs for veg out there.
My 2c.
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
Do you use well water? I mean mine is in the 400's PPM wise out of the tap.

I only do 4 sites right now in a rdwc, hence why I was thinking 600w. I have a cooltube that helps keep temps down. Dehumidifier. 8" exhaust fan and filter. Michigan basement is hard to keep temps up with that big of a fan
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
No well water for me; my tap water is 55 PPM. 400 is a high enough PPM to sound like trouble. I ran 6 inch cooltubes but you're right HPS lights are a good source of heat.
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
Am going to switch up my nute lineup this next run. Going with Jacks 321. Heard and read so much about it, want to give it a go. But also with RO water to completely control the res.
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
600 or 1000 watt doesn't matter to me money wise. Think the cooltube can handle either plus my 8" exhaust should be okay.
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
Am going to switch up my nute lineup this next run. Going with Jacks 321. Heard and read so much about it, want to give it a go. But also with RO water to completely control the res.
Just made the switch to Jack's 3-2-1 myself this grow. It worked very well for me.
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
Okay. Got the RO on the way. Recommend direct feed with a float switch or a separate holding tank and use when needed?

Recommendations on 1000w HPS ballast that would work with my cooltube?
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
Sorry in advance if this has been asked/debated. Searched and really didn't find an answer.

I've been using my well water and have had mild success. The ppms are high so I can never really add a decent amount of nutrients to my res. Usually 5ml of micro and 10ml of bloom of GH nutes per 5 gallons is all they can take before issues start surfacing. The buds just seem to be fairly airy. I've been looking into investing in an Apec RO water filter. Would going RO and being able to use more nutes, help produce better and help stabilize everything?

I know my light is less than ideal for my space, 400w HPS in a 5 x 5, and plan to upgrade to 600w once I get my system dialed in.

Thanks for any advice in advance.
sorry if this has been asked but have u used the hard water GH nutes?
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
sorry if this has been asked but have u used the hard water GH nutes?
Yes sir. Should've noted, I used/use GH hardwater micro. Just cant add anything significant to my water before I get nute burn. I mean 5ml/10ml micro/bloom per 5 gals is nothing, and they still give me tip and leaf burn.
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
just make sure you can handle the heat of a DE.
Will definitely keep in mind when deciding. This last run i had to keep everything sealed up to keep as much heat as possible in just to get temps up to 78f. Kind of an odd problem compared to what most people deal with one this forum.
 

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
Will definitely keep in mind when deciding. This last run i had to keep everything sealed up to keep as much heat as possible in just to get temps up to 78f. Kind of an odd problem compared to what most people deal with one this forum.
i'm sure you know but the cool tube won't work for a DE. so you might need to hang your exhaust close to the top of the light to suck out as much heat as possible
 

Mr. Mohaskey

Well-Known Member
i'm sure you know but the cool tube won't work for a DE. so you might need to hang your exhaust close to the top of the light to suck out as much heat as possible
I was pretty sure about that, which is way I was considering just a single end in order to utilize what I currently have. Rather not waste it if I already bought it.
 
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