tap water in misting systems

[naich]

i have heard that hard water and tap water can leed to pre mature cloggage in these nozzels....so what is everyones tecnieques on turning tap water into distiled water....?

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Tap water, or well water, will clog with minerals in time. You can use lime away to dissolve it. However, when used near a light source (and who doesn't have lights near their chameleon cages???), the tubing of a misting system will develop algae. If you use chlorinated tap water, the algae buildup is slow and almost none at all. If you dechlorinate the water, or use well water, or distilled water, the stuff will grow fast, clogging your nozzles within weeks.

I had to use chlorinated water in my misting system, and I add a tiny bit to my system now that I'm on well water, or else the nozzles clog.

 

[moody232002]

i use reptisafe in my sprayer just to be on the safe side and only in boiled water

 

[DaSlackMan]

I use RO water. Never have had a problem.

 

[Cainschams]

Hello Eric. I was wondering what color tubing you have. I would figure black or the opaque white looking tubing? I install irrigation systems (sprinklers) for a living. We use that same style tubing for running to say flower pots on a deck. Tap into the line that is nearest and hide it as much as possible and hook up an emittor to the end in the pot. Anyway, assuming you have tubing that is not clear, Im not sure why algea would build up in the lines. We dont use the clear aquarium style tubing because of that, only the white and black. Algae needs light. Right?

Tap water, or well water, will clog with minerals in time. You can use lime away to dissolve it. However, when used near a light source (and who doesn't have lights near their chameleon cages???), the tubing of a misting system will develop algae. If you use chlorinated tap water, the algae buildup is slow and almost none at all. If you dechlorinate the water, or use well water, or distilled water, the stuff will grow fast, clogging your nozzles within weeks.

I had to use chlorinated water in my misting system, and I add a tiny bit to my system now that I'm on well water, or else the nozzles clog.

 

[DaSlackMan]

I use the black tubing. No light.. no algae at least in my configuration.

 

[Vince]

I use city water and add reptisafe been running strong now for about 5 months. I thought i had a problem once but turns out it was a bad end on the hose causing it to shoot off. In the mean time, Marty from mistking had told me to soak them in CLR or vinegar over night if i had a clog.

 

[summoner12]

I am planning RO unit wen the cash is available....

For now I have tap water.. and yes it does clog up eventually... but hasn't happened yet. Mostly my issue is on the outside of the nozzle where it builds up, not on the actual orifice causing erratic misting .

 

[Eric Adrignola]

I couldn't find black tubing that was the right diameter - 1/4" inside - that was sturdy enough to hold tight. So I got the heavy duty, NSF, braided tubing. It's clear, but very rigid and really strong.