New Grower Any one using iSpring RO system?

[Sauce]

I should of asked this before ordering it, but I tend to jump on things with out thinking sometimes heh..

I ordered this http://www.amazon.com/iSpring-5-Stage-Reverse-Osmosis-Filter/dp/B003XELTTG/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top


Was wondering if any one is using it? Was wondering what kind of PH and ppm they get?

Thanks.

 

[Muddy]

Although mine is a different brand that looks almost identical. I didn't get a tank for mine though. Since I'm running an 8 site hydro system that holds 50 gallons I'm using a 55 gallon plastic drum for storage. My incoming tap water is usually about a 7.2 pH. Coming out of the RO it's about 6.8 and the ppm is always under 10 and usually less than 5. RO removes all the minerals from the water so a cal/mag supplement should be used to replace them. Get your ppm up to between 100 - 125 before you add your nutes.

 

[Sauce]

So even when they are a seedling, use cal/mag to bring the ppm up first?

 

[Muddy]

So even when they are a seedling, use cal/mag to bring the ppm up first?

Yep. About 2-3 ml per gallon should be enough but check the PPM from the RO first. Also, don't use/test what you first get out of it. Run a good 10-15 gallons of water through it first. I saw when I first installed mine that it took a bit for the ppm to come all the way down.

 

[Sauce]

Thanks i will keep that in mind.

 

[wakkytbakky]

Great info ty

 

[Sauce]

I installed it... It was an awful install. Mainly because they have so many models and sent wrong instructions. Even the one they sent me through email wasnt really for mine either but w.e I think I have it maybe.

Any ways, ppm came out at 8, but ph is like 8.2. Higher then my tap water -.- I am going to keep flushing it see if it goes down heh.

 

[az2000]

Any ways, ppm came out at 8, but ph is like 8.2. Higher then my tap water -.- I am going to keep flushing it see if it goes down heh.

I've read RO water's low PPM makes it difficult to accurately measure ph.[1]

I wouldn't worry about it. Acidic nutrients should pull it down faster than if you added them to higher-PPM tap water. That's what I notice. My RO water only takes a drop or two of ph down to move the PH a long way. But, after I have some nutrients and minerals added, it takes a squirt of ph down to affect the same change.

[1] 5.3 Conventional pH measurements are made in solutions that contain relatively large amounts of acid, base, or dissolved salts. Under these conditions, pH determinations may be made quickly and precisely. Continuous on-line pH measurements in water samples of low conductivity are more difficult (4, 5). These low ionic strength solutions are susceptible to contamination from the atmosphere, sample stream hardware, and the pH electrodes. Variations in the constituent concentration of low conductivity waters cause liquid junction potential shifts (see 3.2.1) resulting in pH measurement errors. Special precautions are required.
-- http://www.astm.org/Standards/D5128.htm