Another RO question... - Orchid Board

caseydoll · #1 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 02:04 PM

I currently water my small collection of orchids with distilled water. My tap water comes from a well and is extremely hard. I especially have a problem with iron. I get rust everywhere and have to clean it every few days off of the shower walls, toilets etc. With the amount of rust in my water not even a simple water softener (which I don't have) can get rid of it. So my question is, if I get a RO unit will that take the iron completely out of the water? And will I have to worry about the iron eventually ruining the unit? The Culligan guy says that with my water even hot water tanks don't last for long. This may be a dumb question but I don't know much about these things. I was hoping one of you RO experts could help me out.

Becca · #2 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 02:17 PM

Hi Sarah, I don't know the answer to your question, but if you decided to buy a RO system, (I rented and then decided to buy after 3 months) don't buy it from Culligan, you will pay triple the price of what you should. Ray sells the units for a groovy price, so if someone answers yes to your question, you should get one from him!

Ross · #3 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseydoll

I currently water my small collection of orchids with distilled water. My tap water comes from a well and is extremely hard. I especially have a problem with iron. I get rust everywhere and have to clean it every few days off of the shower walls, toilets etc. With the amount of rust in my water not even a simple water softener (which I don't have) can get rid of it. So my question is, if I get a RO unit will that take the iron completely out of the water? And will I have to worry about the iron eventually ruining the unit? The Culligan guy says that with my water even hot water tanks don't last for long. This may be a dumb question but I don't know much about these things. I was hoping one of you RO experts could help me out.

Cadillac city water is also very high in iron (200 ppm). I opted for a water softener, whole house, with a small RO unit under the kitchen sink for drinking water and orchid water. It removes the salt. Yes, a strong RO system would take care of it, but what about showering, laundry, etc.? Why not get both? It would allow you to enjoy soft water through the house and no cleaning rust stains in the toilet

and then contact Ray and see what he recommends for a RO unit for cooking/drinking/orchid water.

orchids3 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-31-2007, 07:20 PM

There is a water softener that uses Potassium Salt.. There may be a little Potassium in the water. Does anyone know about this type of softener and how it does with plants?

Ray · #5 (**permalink**) 01-01-2008, 08:34 AM

I really like Ross' suggestion, and not only will it be overall better for the plumbing, cleaning, etc., as the softener has already done some of the work, the RO system will last longer and be more efficient.

As to the KCl question - I don't know if high chloride levels are an issue (they might be), but high potassium is not.

My well water has a pH of about 5 (+/-0.3), so we have been injecting a potassium carbonate solution into it to neutralize it. It's not good for tropical fish, but plants, 4-legged pets, and people have no issues.

I am considering replacing the injector with a dolomite neutralizer, but recognize that will give me the hard-water problem to remedy...