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The Pol · 01-10-2008, 05:28 PM

SO, what do I do? I moved into a new house, we have semi hard water... my last home had very soft water. What should I add to my water to brew with it? OR, should I spring for bottled water from the store (the bulk one gallon jugs). Money is not really an issue here, but I dont want to get a water softener JUST to brew LOL

**Lil' Sparky** · 01-10-2008, 05:59 PM

Do you have a water report? You can be very precise with what you add if you know what your water makeup is. If not, you can just use some 5.2 pH buffer and RDWHAHB.

**TexLaw** · 01-10-2008, 06:02 PM

A water softener really isn't an answer. Unless you are talking about actual RO (and I doubt you are), the softener will replace the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium ions. You're just trading one problem for another.

TL

david_42 · 01-10-2008, 06:04 PM

Definitely get a water report. My water is almost mineral-free, so I frequently have to add salts in addition to using 5.2.

**Lil' Sparky** · 01-10-2008, 06:05 PM

Hey TexLaw, I know you're in Houston and have the same ultra-alkaline water that I do. What do you do for your water? I've been using 50% RO and adding the 5.2 buffer just to make sure.

**TexLaw** · 01-10-2008, 06:08 PM

I get the RO water out of those kiosk things that are at the grocery store and in parking lots. I add minerals and 5.2 buffer to that.

TL

The Pol · 01-10-2008, 06:08 PM

I will have to get a report, in the meantime I am going to talk to my LHBS and get some 5.2 as well. THX

**Lil' Sparky** · 01-10-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexLaw

I get the RO water out of those kiosk things that are at the grocery store and in parking lots. I add minerals and 5.2 buffer to that.

TL

Yeah, that's not bad for $0.03/gal. Do you mind explaining your mineral additions?

Kaiser · 01-10-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Pol

Money is not really an issue here

Get an R/O water filter system with a 7 gal storage tank. That's what I did when I moved into a new house and had to deal with hard water and arsenic.

I can give you some R/O+salt water recipes that worked very well for me so far, but I have to check my notes

Kai

2pugbrews · 01-10-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaiser

Get an R/O water filter system with a 7 gal storage tank. That's what I did when I moved into a new house and had to deal with hard water and arsenic.

I can give you some R/O+salt water recipes that worked very well for me so far, but I have to check my notes

Kai

I have a R/O system like yours and have been doing extract brewing with that exclusively. I've been adding gypsum when the recipe calls with the assumption that mineral balance is ok because of the extract but don't when it doesn't.
I am in the process of putting together my equipment for AG so I expect the same assumption wouldn't hold.

Therefore I'd be very interested in your R/O+salt water recipe.