I've been reading up more on water filtration lately. Using tap water has got me this far. But the repeated finding of "use R/O water" wherever I would read and my issues with DWC have me feeling that filtered water would be the best next step I could take.
While I like the idea of R/O filters, I've always hated the wasteful nature of them. Guess it comes from spending my life in a dry state where water conservation is a frequent conversation topic, but sending several gallons down the drain to make one filtered gallon just doesn't sit well with me. I understand it can be a "the ends justify the means" thing, but I wanted an alternative.
Anyhow, after much reading, I started finding some references to something called Berkey water filters. Turns out what they are is a gravity powered filtration system that uses a special carbon filter. The setups from the manufacture are some nice looking chrome tanks, but they run around $200+ for a decent sized unit. I found a couple pictures around the net, though, of folks that had made their own using a set of the replacement filters. I can't say how well they work yet as I've just started using them. I can say that they've removed all the nasty taste from our tap water on the batch I've sampled out of what's been run through so far. From what I was reading they're supposed to work really well, though. Designed to be able to filter ANY available water source in an emergency for clean drinking water type thing. However that's straight from the marketing folks lips, so up to you how much stock you want to put in it.
Sooo......I took one of the 5 gallon buckets that I'd outfitted with drain level tubes for DWC grows that I wasn't using anymore (I'd outgrown the tubes...and they were causing more issues than help). Picked up a generic, latching on style lid from the hardware store along with a 3.5 gallon bucket to use as my feeder. Drilled two 1/2 inch holes through the bottom of the feed bucket lining them up with holes in the lid. The ran the filters through the bottom of the bucket and the lid and tightened the nuts on good and finger tight to hold the lid to the bottom of the bucket. Put the feed bucket on top of the bottom one, poured some water in the top and viola!! What's supposed to be well filtered water. I can use the tube by tilting it downward a little to siphon out water into the half gallon milk jugs I use to mix up my nutes.
Long term, I think it'd be fun to try setting up some autopots with a good super soil mix so that all you need to give 'em is water. Then rig up the filters with a feed bucket on top of the feed reservoir for the autopots. Plant some autoflower seeds and try to have an almost fully automatic grow. :smoking:
While I like the idea of R/O filters, I've always hated the wasteful nature of them. Guess it comes from spending my life in a dry state where water conservation is a frequent conversation topic, but sending several gallons down the drain to make one filtered gallon just doesn't sit well with me. I understand it can be a "the ends justify the means" thing, but I wanted an alternative.
Anyhow, after much reading, I started finding some references to something called Berkey water filters. Turns out what they are is a gravity powered filtration system that uses a special carbon filter. The setups from the manufacture are some nice looking chrome tanks, but they run around $200+ for a decent sized unit. I found a couple pictures around the net, though, of folks that had made their own using a set of the replacement filters. I can't say how well they work yet as I've just started using them. I can say that they've removed all the nasty taste from our tap water on the batch I've sampled out of what's been run through so far. From what I was reading they're supposed to work really well, though. Designed to be able to filter ANY available water source in an emergency for clean drinking water type thing. However that's straight from the marketing folks lips, so up to you how much stock you want to put in it.
Sooo......I took one of the 5 gallon buckets that I'd outfitted with drain level tubes for DWC grows that I wasn't using anymore (I'd outgrown the tubes...and they were causing more issues than help). Picked up a generic, latching on style lid from the hardware store along with a 3.5 gallon bucket to use as my feeder. Drilled two 1/2 inch holes through the bottom of the feed bucket lining them up with holes in the lid. The ran the filters through the bottom of the bucket and the lid and tightened the nuts on good and finger tight to hold the lid to the bottom of the bucket. Put the feed bucket on top of the bottom one, poured some water in the top and viola!! What's supposed to be well filtered water. I can use the tube by tilting it downward a little to siphon out water into the half gallon milk jugs I use to mix up my nutes.
Long term, I think it'd be fun to try setting up some autopots with a good super soil mix so that all you need to give 'em is water. Then rig up the filters with a feed bucket on top of the feed reservoir for the autopots. Plant some autoflower seeds and try to have an almost fully automatic grow. :smoking:
