Rain Water 8ph, Big Deal?

[LAMBS-BREAD]

Hey Organic Stoners...

I started this thread in a other board, I was't too worried bout ph with organic but when i tested (i should't lol) my rain water and seeing it at 8ph a lil WOW pop to my mind.

So i was looking for all kind of ways to lower the ph organicly, but was't happy with the techniques such as lemon juice etc...

Then a member came mention that rain water is very low in TDS "Total Dissolved Solids". Its true my rain water is nearly 0 ppm.

Here is what he mentioned:

"Actually, the TDS in rainwater is so low that you don't need to pH it. When the TDS of your water/solution is low, it will very easily take on the pH of the substances it comes into contact with.

Peace-

MoHo"

I'd like to know what u organic mentor think about this?

 

[big ballin 88]

This is one benefit of using rainwater low TDS. Unless its acid rain you shouldn't have to worry about the water picking up minerals, unless of course they may come in contact with something thatt may contaminate in order to be caught/stored(such as a roof or being stored in metal bins or pipes.)

One good thing about organics is that the microherd and soil and such that is used help buffer the pH. I think your best bet for lowering pH is citric acid if you can find some. Personally since i get my water from the tap i get the aquarium buffers that dechlorinate the water before i use it and set pH.

I too want to why the low TDS would warrant a quicker capacity for change. I believe if i remember correctly that there are less buffers in the water?

 

[LAMBS-BREAD]

Thanks for ur reply Big Ballin.

I will probably start to collect rain water using my roof. I plan to clean to roof well befor. I don't know if my rain is too acid or not, i live in country like, few hundreds meters from the ocean.

My tap water ain't clean! the test is awfull sometimes, i tested the ppms are around 500 and the ph is between 7 and 8...

When i used to grow with nutrients, ph meter and ph down/up, i had hard adjusting the ph with the nutrients already in the water. Don't know if this is accurate...

 

[budsmen]

Id be more inclined to agree with the tds theory, but test that I have read have shown that rain water is almost pure with less than 5mg/l to up to 50mg/l of TDS....I also agree that the rain water would take on the ph of the substrate , unless the ph of the rain water is extremely acidic (Acid Rain) This exceptions can be found in precipitation near tall smoke stacks..The low total dissolved salts and mineral levels found in rainwater permit even very small amounts of baking soda (one tablespoon per 100 gallons) to adjust the pH to near neutral. This is the very best water for plants. Meanwhile, the use of such soft water avoids mineral deposits and corrosion damage to water-using equipment.

 

[VerdantGreen]

hey lambs it's very rare for rain water to be alkali - the only time it happens is if there is chalk/limestone dust in the atmosphere. i should check your pH meter or look at how you are collecting/storing it. rainwater is usually acidic around 6 as it dissolves co2 from the atmpsphere froming carbonic acid.

i use citric acid to lower the pH in my tapwater. - its an organic acid, very cheep on ebay, and it has some quite nice qualities such as helping chelate minerals etc. when you say your tapwater isnt clean do you just mean it has high tds? if so this can be good as it is usually calcium+magnesium which the plant can use

V.

 

[LAMBS-BREAD]

hey lambs it's very rare for rain water to be alkali - the only time it happens is if there is chalk/limestone dust in the atmosphere. i should check your pH meter or look at how you are collecting/storing it. rainwater is usually acidic around 6 as it dissolves co2 from the atmpsphere froming carbonic acid.

i use citric acid to lower the pH in my tapwater. - its an organic acid, very cheep on ebay, and it has some quite nice qualities such as helping chelate minerals etc. when you say your tapwater isnt clean do you just mean it has high tds? if so this can be good as it is usually calcium+magnesium which the plant can use

V.

Hey V Thanks for the reply.

I will make a other ph test soon again using a diferent meter. Citric acid sounds good.

By isn't clean i meant the taste when i drink it. Behind the chlorine there is a nasty taste, maybe from the pipe

Reason why i wanted to give rain water a try is because i added cal+mag to my soil already. I'm trying a hot soilmix grow for the first time. Since i can't afford a 5/6 steps osmose fliter yet, i thought rain water will be a better choice and its FREE!


Thanks Budsmen I appreciate ur input.

 

[big ballin 88]

Hey V Thanks for the reply.

I will make a other ph test soon again using a diferent meter. Citric acid sounds good.

By isn't clean i meant the taste when i drink it. Behind the chlorine there is a nasty taste, maybe from the pipe

Reason why i wanted to give rain water a try is because i added cal+mag to my soil already. I'm trying a hot soilmix grow for the first time. Since i can't afford a 5/6 steps osmose fliter yet, i thought rain water will be a better choice and its FREE!


Thanks Budsmen I appreciate ur input.

hey i have the same problem with tap water as you. My tap water is very strong with calcium and magnesium which i actually like, call me dumb if you like but i see micro's and never a calcium or mag deficiency . Its nasty taking showers in it though, it has a weird smell to it and leaves all my pipes all crusty. Damn crappy Florida water. My water is just below hard so i dont worry as much. I know this sounds stupid but what does your water look like? any red tints(iron) or is there calcification around your tap(calcium). Usually calcium and magnesium come together when it comes to water TDS from my experience but this may be wrong.

Rain water is a great source for water as others have pointed out just watch the way you store it to keep it that way.I think those 55-gal blue plastic tanks would be perfect for rain collection

Budsmen- you have a good point about being able to sway the pH in the direction you want with just a little baking soda. Its a good idea.

Verdant- i know this is off topic but do you know if theres a way to seperate the co2 from rainwater? Even if its not a lot of co2 i have a tiny clone box that i could try it in since it stays hot(90*) to get my plants ready for outdoors.

 

[LAMBS-BREAD]

Yes BB 88 i planed to add a air pump to the tank to provide oxigene and keep the water clean. My tap water do indeed have colors, but not often more time it occurs during summer times. She can have a lil yellow tint, right now she is more of a clear grey to white probably from the cal.

 

[Dignan]

Glad Verdant or another knowledgeable organics person didn't come on here and make me look like a dufus.

Peace-

Dignan aka MoHo

 

[guest2012y]

Yeah,it's just a matter of where you are and which way the wind is blowing when it rains. There is so much crap in the atmosphere these days. I live in a area close to the Pacific Ocean and can get rain water ranging from 5.7 to 7.0.......most of the time it's around 6.7,but things like catching it off your roof,leaves falling in the collection container,etc. can give different readings than what actually falls from the sky.

I wouldn't feel like a dufus,the only stupid question is the one not asked.

 

[LAMBS-BREAD]

Glad Verdant or another knowledgeable organics person didn't come on here and make me look like a dufus.

Peace-

Dignan aka MoHo

Yeah,it's just a matter of where you are and which way the wind is blowing when it rains. There is so much crap in the atmosphere these days. I live in a area close to the Pacific Ocean and can get rain water ranging from 5.7 to 7.0.......most of the time it's around 6.7,but things like catching it off your roof,leaves falling in the collection container,etc. can give different readings than what actually falls from the sky.

I wouldn't feel like a dufus,the only stupid question is the one not asked.

Exactly Right!!

Thanks Capt!

Indeed V was right i don't know what i smoked when i tested my rain water lol it shows 5,6 now and not 8 (wdf)...

 

[Fat Tone]

What the aerating the water do to help your plants when growing in soil?

 

[jaykush]

What the aerating the water do to help your plants when growing in soil?

im assuming you mean "what DOES the aerating.."

simply put it evaporates the chlorine because chlorine is nasty to micro organisms.

 

[Organi-class]

These brita-style filter are really costly too, for removing the chlorine and chloramines. They only really work well if you change the filter often (more water, more often...)
A great trick is to head to a fish store, buy a big box of activated carbon and a box of zeolite. This is what is inside that lil plastic filter tube that often is priced around 15-20 a piece. Make a tube with screen that will hold the material, and pour water thru... its your own ghetto carbon/zeo filter tube. AND it will save you money, removing the "funk" and its cheap to refill.. as you will see.
Best of luck, and have fun.