GreenDragon2k

A simple 3 stage RO filter is all you need. 5 or 6 stages is fine too but its overkill. Ebay has 'em for good deals. I would reccomend hooking it up to a large storage tank so you dont have to wait a long time for your water. Like this one: - Plastic-Mart -

Since the top is sealed, the tank will pressurize itself as it fills and stop filling when it reaches the top of the container... No float valve needed.

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Freakshow68

look on ebay for a counter top RO filter. they sell them there for around 50-75 bucks. I've been using the same one for over 3 years now (new filters every year though). It's a little slow but works very very well

like this one
Portable 4st 100GPD Reverse Osmosis RO Water Filter+3ps - eBay (item 110309084367 end time Jan-05-09 22:31:38 PST)

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You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
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You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
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grower 519

dont use a water softener as that adds salts to your soil and over time can be harmful to the plants.

any possibility of collecting your rain water?? could use the rain water to "cut" the water from the tap

guessing you have a deep well as your water source?

if you can get a large tank you can run the water through a a RO fill up the tank. then for your PH you can adjust it with some nitric acid. you only need a little and mix it in a large tank so you have a bunch prepared in advance.

rwhfun

you could also try ozone or uv purification. Collecting rainwater is a really solid idea, but for since you have pride in your plants, you really have to divert the first few gallons of water from your tank. Basically you dont want the bird shit, smog, dust, and other surface contaminents in your water. A "first flush diverter" will do that job, then send the rest into your tank and into your grow room. If you can set it a few feet above the ground, you should have decent water flow. Drop an ozone bubbler in the tank if you want to sterilize it.
Ozone Pure Water System for 50 to 200 Gallon Tanks (LO-AC300P110V)

Good luck!

Actually might as well send you to where I got my info: Rain Barrels, Rainwater Collection Tanks, Diverters & Harvesting Components

Freakshow68

Ozone and Uv is good for killing bacteria but do nothing for the excess minerals and chlorine in tap water

__________________
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative
and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they
could and should do for themselves. - William J. H. Boetcker

JoeGeek

Thanks for the replies guys.

hbob:

When I got this house, all the plumbing had to be replaced, as it had split from being frozen. And I used to be a property manager, comercial mantaince mechanic, and a whole plethora of other jobs that allow me the confidence and know how to do it myself. I've got to run pipe to my grow room anyway. Besides, as I live deep in the woods and lack any odor control, I don't like having anyone up here. Stay away Culligan man!

Biff's Brain:

I'm sorry, yeah. I have a hydro setup. DWC

GreenDragon2k:

Yeah, I already had the forthought to think of that. I was gonna get a new/clean food grade 55 gallon drum to store water in untill ready for it. And then I remembered Bluecheese's setup, where she has a storage tank like this one. So, I'll at least start with a 55 gallon drum, and if I decide to upgrade again I'll get what Blue has.

Freakshow68 & GreenDragon2k:

I thought that a 6 stage maybe more than what I'd need. However, as I fear any contaminates in my water (I think I remember them saying sum`n about trace amounts of arsenic in my water), and its only $50 or so more than the average price of a 3 stage, I'll stick with the one I found earlier.

grower 519:

I knew the salts would be harmful to the girls, but I thought If I had one it would go between the water supply line and the RO system. Where as the RO system would filter out the salts.
I cant see how to collect rain water with out giving the mosqetoes (absolutly horried where I live, as I'm nearly surrounded by swamps and marsh) yet another place to multiply.
Yep, its a deep well.
Thats why I keep asking if a RO system will improve my pH. As my intention was to have water prepaired for nute mixture in advance of my needs. I was thinking of adjusting with Technaflora's BC Up or Down, as all the other nutes I use are Technaflora products.

rwhfun:

I was thinking about using a water proof UV light in my holding tank, as to prevent any bateria or fungal growth. I dont like using ozone. I've worked for a national water/mold/fire damage restoration/mediagation company. I've seen the damage unatended ozone can cause. More importantly I know myself. I'll get stoned and forget I had it on, then all the plasitcs and rubber materials in my grow room will dryrot and crack premature of its time.

But, some questions still persist:
Will a RO system affect the pH of my water?
What is a de-ionizer?
Do I need a de-ionizer?
Besides removing unwanted things in my water, what are some of the other benifits to RO water?
Are there common problems I should get another piece of equipment to avoid?
Are there manufactures I should avoid, or ones I should look for?

nDanger

I bought one like you pictured from freedrinkingwater.com about 5 years ago and it's worked great. I put new filters in every year about this time, and never think about it again. It costs about 300, makes a gallon an hour with a 4gal res. With a little thinking ahead, I can have 3 five gallon buckets filled with fresh water, for the weekly change, in 1 day. The filters cost about 45 annually.
And the ice tea is great. Also, hook it to your icemaker for truly mahvelous ice!

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Big"O"

I purchased mine from Aqua Safe on Ebay so please purched another. I have it hooked up to my ice maker and yes do it is excellent good luck

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Big"O"

GreenDragon2k

Only problem with the drum is it doesn't have a lid, so it wont pressurize itself... Meaning you'll need a float valve to stop the flow once it reaches the top (not really a big deal, they're like 15 bucks) But you also wont have a pressurized tank either. Meaning you'll either have to pump it out, or elevate it and use gravity/siphon... Also not a huge problem but possibly an inconvenience.

The additional 3 stages on a 6 stage filter don't do things you really need, and frequently they actually add minerals back into the water in order to improve taste for drinking. A 6 stage filter is better for drinking water but makes no difference for plants. Definetly get at least a 3 stage though, as the first two stages are sediment filters and will extend the life of your RO membrane significantly.


Yes definitely. Not only will it affect the pH but it will drastically reduce your waters Alkalinity meaning there is no buffer for the pH, so it will hardly take any pH adjuster to move it multiple points.

In other words you'll find yourself using 1/10th the amount of pH adjuster liquid to achieve the same results as you were before.

.
purity
Water Purification Methods Deionization

A deionizer stage is totally unnecessary and I'd only get one if you were planning on drinking this water too.


Well I can name a disadvantage to RO, actually I already kinda have... Is the fact that there is hardly any buffer in the water means your pH can be a little bit more whacky in hydroponics and fluxuate a bit more. Lots of people add silica, cal-mag plus or magi-cal to RO water in order to increase its buffering capacity a little. Some people even mix their tap water with RO 50/50 so they still got some buffering capacity left. Your system type, nutrient type, and reservoir size usually determine the attack plan as far as that goes. Oh but wait... Your in soil not hydro eh? Then you wont even need to worry about this.

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JoeGeek

Mad props, GreenDragon2k! Those were the kind of answers I was looking for. Thanks.

btw, I have a hydro setup. DWC