I knew there were rainwater smart people out there. Thank you for sharing friend.
Rain water and tap water discussion
- Thread starter blondie
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revegeta666
Well-known member
Hey @Creeperpark , I just measured my rain waters pH, it is very high (8.9)
A couple plants are giving early signs of magnesium deficiency.
I transplanted them a week ago. Do you think the soil life is still developing, and this is why it may not be able to make magnesium available for the plant yet?
I am not sure if I should use a few drops of lemon juice to bring the pH down, or would this be hurting the bacteria etc.
A couple plants are giving early signs of magnesium deficiency.
I transplanted them a week ago. Do you think the soil life is still developing, and this is why it may not be able to make magnesium available for the plant yet?
I am not sure if I should use a few drops of lemon juice to bring the pH down, or would this be hurting the bacteria etc.
troutman
Seed Whore
No rainwater is pure like distilled water. It will contain whatever air pollution is in the area.
I've suspected for a while now that natural sources of water without the fluoride, chlorine,
chloramine, etc. results in healthier plants. Those 3 substances I just mentioned are added to
tap water to kill bacteria,etc. which I think has a negative effect. My guerrilla grown plants
with swamp water always smell nicer than my indoor tap water fed plants.
Stop using bleach with plants.
I've suspected for a while now that natural sources of water without the fluoride, chlorine,
chloramine, etc. results in healthier plants. Those 3 substances I just mentioned are added to
tap water to kill bacteria,etc. which I think has a negative effect. My guerrilla grown plants
with swamp water always smell nicer than my indoor tap water fed plants.
Stop using bleach with plants.
A lot of stuff lives on and within our plants. Some beneficial, some damaging. Even damage causes plant responses we might like though. Even if the plant would rather of not experienced it.
Sometimes a crop likes chlorine, as it holds back things like fusarium. In some areas, it makes crops viable, that otherwise wouldn't be.
Rain can't be pure. It was to carry something down. Things like spores, dirt, sprays. The only bonus I have seen, is it's akin to using h202, as it's so aerated
Sometimes a crop likes chlorine, as it holds back things like fusarium. In some areas, it makes crops viable, that otherwise wouldn't be.
Rain can't be pure. It was to carry something down. Things like spores, dirt, sprays. The only bonus I have seen, is it's akin to using h202, as it's so aerated
Three Berries
Active member
They say water is the most powerful solvent know and almost immediately as soon as it forms it becomes contaminated. Pure liquid water will leach silicon out of glass.
I started two GDP seeds last week. Both sprouted the same day, came up above the soil on the same day but one was stubborn about taking off her hat and is now two days stunted and half the height.
So the stunted one is in the sun when the lights are off. I'm going to get them the same size and then do a rain/well water grow on them to see just how well they do comparatively.
I started two GDP seeds last week. Both sprouted the same day, came up above the soil on the same day but one was stubborn about taking off her hat and is now two days stunted and half the height.
So the stunted one is in the sun when the lights are off. I'm going to get them the same size and then do a rain/well water grow on them to see just how well they do comparatively.
pH meters don't work in pure rainwater.
You will get a false reading using a pocket pH meter in any water that has less than 129 ppm. You have to have a least 129 ppm in the water in order to get enough conductivity for an accurate pH reading. Don't put anything in the rainwater unless it's a little cal mag or you will have problems. Rainwater pH comes down at around 5.5 to 5.8 pH
Last edited:
revegeta666
Well-known member
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By the way I just noticed that the pH seemed to drop from 8.9 to 7.2 after having been in a bottle for 8-10 hours. I assume these readings are not trustworthy either then.
I knew you would have an answer haha thank you. ppm of this water is around 40.You will get a false reading using a pocket pH meter in any water that has less than 129 ppm. You have to have a least 129 ppm in the water in order to get enough conductivity for an accurate pH reading. Don't put anything in the rainwater unless it's a little cal mag or you will have problems.
By the way I just noticed that the pH seemed to drop from 8.9 to 7.2 after having been in a bottle for 8-10 hours. I assume these readings are not trustworthy either then.
Correct. Anything below 130 ppm will be a false reading with a pocket pen. Using a liquid reagent pH testing kit will work with low ppm.
Three Berries
Active member
1st Nov, 2013
Chad T Jafvert
Purdue University
It all depends how you define "high purity water" In the absence of air contamination, the ion concentrations should all be below 10-6 M, and the pH will be between 6 and 8, and their should be no reason to know it exactly, because once it comes in contact with anything (metal surfaces) the pH will change as it becomes contaminated. For pure water open to the atmosphere, there is enough carbonate in the water that an accurate pH measurement can be made with a pH electrode, but you need a good one. For this purpose the key is to use an combination electrode (or reference electrode) that has a more porous frit. The typical glass frit (electrolyte junction between the outer filling solution and the aqueous sample) has a flow rate of 8 microliters per hour. Good pH probes (and it really is the reference probe), like Thermo-Orion's Ross electrodes (about $400 USD), have glass fiber junctions that have flow rates of 120 microliters per hour. Hence the total electochemical cell has better electrical properties, and a stable reading is achieved quickly. These combination pH probes have double junction reference probes. I think, even for systems with very low ion concentrations, getting one of these probes is the best way to go. Because flow of the outer filling solution into our sample occurs (and the rate mentioned above, it is best to use a large sample size, and discard the sample once the reading has been made, since it now has some contamination from the filling solution.
That felt like a flashback.
If you remove the lab equipment branding, that $400 is a lot lower. I have not heard the term double junction for a while, but many of our better meters are, and even cheap one's often have a reference electrode.
I have never found any reference to this, but I don't test RO water after doing so killed two meters before I realised the common denominator. They became very unstable. Faster reading changes and wouldn't settle. This was a couple of older 'tried and tested' meters and was instant. It seems like just me.. but two meters. I'm not doing that again.
With my older head on, perhaps it was washing them out that finished them off. They were meant to use a storage solution, and were not sold as pure water pH meters. A distinction seen on lab meters
Edit:
If you remove the lab equipment branding, that $400 is a lot lower. I have not heard the term double junction for a while, but many of our better meters are, and even cheap one's often have a reference electrode.
I have never found any reference to this, but I don't test RO water after doing so killed two meters before I realised the common denominator. They became very unstable. Faster reading changes and wouldn't settle. This was a couple of older 'tried and tested' meters and was instant. It seems like just me.. but two meters. I'm not doing that again.
With my older head on, perhaps it was washing them out that finished them off. They were meant to use a storage solution, and were not sold as pure water pH meters. A distinction seen on lab meters
Edit:
- It is beneficial to measure pH in the smallest sample volume possible. Direct pH measurement in large volume samples, such as drums or tanks and other samples with flowing or moving water, produces results that tend to fluctuate and will require excessive stabilization time.
- Addition of a tiny amount of KCl will increase ionic strength to the sample and improve response time. However, only high purity KCl should be used as trace contaminants, as low-grade KCl can artificially alter the pH.
Three Berries
Active member
I have an Apera PH20.
From their website.
DO NOT soak or store any pH probes in purified water like distilled water, deionized water, or reverse osmosis water since it could cause damage to the pH electrode and the tester could give erratic readings. Rinsing the probes in purified water is a good practice. Just don't store them in purified water. If you accidentally store the probe in purified water, try storing the probe in 3M KCL storage solution for 48 hours and see if the tester can perform in a normal state.
support.aperainst.com
From their website.
DO NOT soak or store any pH probes in purified water like distilled water, deionized water, or reverse osmosis water since it could cause damage to the pH electrode and the tester could give erratic readings. Rinsing the probes in purified water is a good practice. Just don't store them in purified water. If you accidentally store the probe in purified water, try storing the probe in 3M KCL storage solution for 48 hours and see if the tester can perform in a normal state.
Should I always keep my pH electrode soaked in storage solution?
The only Apera pH electrodes that must be always stored in storage solutions and can be damaged if stored dry are the ones that use Polymer electrolytes, such as our electrodes for PH60S, PH60S-Z, LabSen 763 and LabSen 753. These electrodes are ...
support.aperainst.com
That's what they make pH storage solution for TB Never skimp on buying pH storage solution to use with your meters.I have an Apera PH20.
From their website.
DO NOT soak or store any pH probes in purified water like distilled water, deionized water, or reverse osmosis water since it could cause damage to the pH electrode and the tester could give erratic readings. Rinsing the probes in purified water is a good practice. Just don't store them in purified water. If you accidentally store the probe in purified water, try storing the probe in 3M KCL storage solution for 48 hours and see if the tester can perform in a normal state.
Should I always keep my pH electrode soaked in storage solution?
The only Apera pH electrodes that must be always stored in storage solutions and can be damaged if stored dry are the ones that use Polymer electrolytes, such as our electrodes for PH60S, PH60S-Z, LabSen 763 and LabSen 753. These electrodes are ...
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OG_NoMan
Not Veteran
I have had my Hanna ph/ec combo pen @ 6 years, it cost me @ $100. I soak it overnight in RO water to clean it and recalibrate with their quick calibration solution. I do this usually weekly but definitely every couple weeks while growing inside. In summer time it can go a month without cleanin or calibrating as I don't really use it for organic outdoor. When I was recently picking up more calibration solution the guy tried to sell me their cleaning solution to go with it. I told him how I use RO water and he said the same thing you guys are saying how it will break the pen. After 6 years my pen still reads perfectly as I test it against the liquid ph drops every once in a while and I know the ec of my solution in veg and flower based on which nutrients I am using. Just posting with my experience good luck all
good luck all
Those Hanna are built like tanks when it comes to lasting. I just don't like the bottoms on them because they're hard to get off. I still have one I owned one for years. I always used pH solution. I heard you could store them in tap water but I don't even do that but will if I have to.I have had my Hanna ph/ec combo pen @ 6 years, it cost me @ $100. I soak it overnight in RO water to clean it and recalibrate with their quick calibration solution. I do this usually weekly but definitely every couple weeks while growing inside. In summer time it can go a month without cleanin or calibrating as I don't really use it for organic outdoor. When I was recently picking up more calibration solution the guy tried to sell me their cleaning solution to go with it. I told him how I use RO water and he said the same thing you guys are saying how it will break the pen. After 6 years my pen still reads perfectly as I test it against the liquid ph drops every once in a while and I know the ec of my solution in veg and flower based on which nutrients I am using. Just posting with my experience
Three Berries
Active member
So trying to break my CaCl2 addiction I've gone to well water for the veggies and rain water for the flower girls. Every gallon gets mosquito bits and every third gallon I use some humic/fulvic. The veg plants pH runoff is 6.3 and they are looking great. The flowering ones are swelling up. The oldest and one most abused has yellowing a but the other smaller one is looking great.
They don't use a lot of water but the last run off was 6.5 or so. I'm having reservations about the last defoliating.
I think my next grow from start will be well water with nutes once in a while and rain for the flowering ones. Different soil I'm going with too.
Had a tragedy in the last two sprouts as one flopped over dead. Too much sun in the windowsill I guess. Got another already under napkin swollen but it throws it all out of whack by ten days. Just like the last run.
They don't use a lot of water but the last run off was 6.5 or so. I'm having reservations about the last defoliating.
I think my next grow from start will be well water with nutes once in a while and rain for the flowering ones. Different soil I'm going with too.
Had a tragedy in the last two sprouts as one flopped over dead. Too much sun in the windowsill I guess. Got another already under napkin swollen but it throws it all out of whack by ten days. Just like the last run.
unnamedmike
Well-known member
I keep my (cheap) ph pen in storage solution (kcl), and calibrate every month as precaution, but not necesary.
crimsonecho
Active member
i’m using the distilled water produced by my dehums and dont see any ill effects. used the ph drops a couple of times and the ph is between 6.5-7 as far as i can tell. there may be a tiny amount of copper in there probably but i dont think it’ll hurt anything and it didnt in the last year i’ve started using it.
It rained hard the other night here and I’m topped off. Overflowed one tub. This rain hit my small newly planted garden though. Next day growth was noticeable. Almost everything began to take off. I throw my old soil in there and let the worms and such deal with it. Wonder if I might need to experiment with watering hard and essentially flushing like I see in the garden.
Three Berries
Active member
I use filtered rain water to mix with antifreeze for my car this week. Filled up twelve gallons jugs yesterday with a nice golden hue from the flowering locust trees.
I was thinking this is same as my water. The golden hue goes away after it’s rained a while.
