I live in an area where the water is very hard, so we bought a water softening system. Will this affect my plants? If so how? And what can I do about it? It's my understanding the filter cleans the water, and the salt cleans the filter. But I'm concerned about the filter, if the filter isn't up to par, for any given reason, will salt remain in the water and cause harm?
[SIZE=8pt]I agree with Ranger Lemonpie,[/SIZE] Softened water is actually more salty water becuz all that a softening filter does is replace hard water(calcium carbonate minerals) with Salty minerals...no joke. That is why you have to buy those bags of saltz...to "soften" your water! Unfortunately, Cannabis can only tolerate 120 ppm of table salt at most... The best water is Distilled, R/O water, and then lastly Filtered Faucet water... But to be honest...there is no such thing as Pure Water; that is why flushing the rezzy every 2 weekz is so necessary. So everytime we top off the rezzy; we are also adding a little bit of salt. And we all know that a little...addz up eventually. Salt toxic build-up usually occurs at 2 weeks for me. I've tried goin as long as the entire bloom stage before...that was a very bad idea indeed. I recommend flushing weekly if you use tap; and also using a larger reservoir makes a really big diffrence! Water softener are good fer other things though...such as getting a spotless car wash or spotless dishes and such. An reverse osmosis home system would have probably been a better choice lemonpie....but...: 1)Home R/O water is NOT Cheaper than Store Bought R/O water per gallon. 2)R/O filterz-will cost you at least $150 per year. But at least it'z far more convenient than lugging Four 5gallons jug from the car Every single Week! I dread lugging water but i don't have much of a choice...Las Vegas Tap Water is Toxic! I think the real debate here is which is the lesser of 2 evilz? Softened Water or Tap Water? Hmmm...i would really like to know. (Edited by ismoke2much at 5:47 am on Jan. 9, 2004)
I've got to disagree with you istm re: the best water. About the only thing distilled water is good for is irons. The naturally-occuring minerals in water is needed by plants (and animals, inc. us) for good health. "Spring" water, whether from real springs or machines or the store, is much better. The absolute best is stream water that things like fish and frogs live in, and rain. For many years I drove to the Angeles National forest (3 hrs. r/t), filled and hauled 12 5-gal. water bottles across rocky terrain to my truck once a week, to supply my 3 20 gal. res. with REAL mountain spring water.
I stand corrected RangerDanger... ...your logic makes perfect sense... Plants have the ability to uptake minerals. So they gotta like spring water, right? But why do we humans think that it'z better fer us(we are not plantz!)? Humans cannot absorb raw minerals in spring water. We must get our minerals from organic sources like vegetablez. Thanx fer enlightenin' me Ranger...as alwayz!!! I'm getting thirsty now....(i've got cottonmouth)... P.S....i think your 20gallon rezzy is the perfect size (i used a 13gal.)! I think i'll use a 20gallon rezzy next time 'round... (Edited by ismoke2much at 5:51 am on Jan. 9, 2004)
Problem solved, I'll use the water that's on the side of my home...tap into that one...no salt there! Thanks Ranger..ismoke
