The ideal water level depends on the bong type, but a general rule of thumb is to fill the base until the downstem is submerged (1-2 inches or 2.5-5 cm) in water. Too much water or too little water affects most, like water splashing up or harsh and unfiltered smoke.
In how much water you put in a bong blog, we’ll discuss:
- The impact of water level in a bong
- Provide a detailed guide to pouring water in different bong types
- Manufacturers suggested the right water level for different bong variations
- How do you measure the water level?
- And many others.
Whether you’re a seasoned smoked or new bong user, this guide acts as a game-changer for you. Let’s get started!
What is the Purpose of the Water in a Bong?
The purpose of bong water filters and cools the smoke, giving cannabis smokers a smoother experience without any harsh hit.
- Filtration: When you burn cannabis, it produces smoke, ash, tar, and other particles. Here, water acts as a filter, captures larger particles, and absorbs ash and others from the smoke.
- Cooling: Water acts as a natural coolant, absorbing heat from the smoke as it passes through the water. The water absorbs a portion of the heat and becomes cool, which is effective for both the throat and lungs.
- Bubbling: When you inhale, the smoke passes through the water and creates bubbles. These bubbles effectively expand the surface area of the smoke and cool the harsh hit.
- Humidification: Water adds moisture to the smoke, which is useful for reducing irritation to the respiratory system.
- Remove odor and bacteria: When you use less water, harbors of bacteria and unpleasant odors develop, impacting the flavor and safety of the smoke.
Ever wondered how much water you need to put in a bong to get an amazing smoking experience? Before that, let’s identify the necessity of maintaining the bong water level.
Does Water Level Matter in a Bong?
Absolutely, the bong water level matters to give bong users a smooth and cooler sensation. The water in the perc bong works like a gatekeeper, transforming harsh, hot smoke into cooler ones. But without maintaining the proper water level, you can hit hard. Why does it happen?
- If you overfill the bong with excessive water, you might experience more sparking water about splashes than enjoying a good hit.
- But when you use too little water, you might not get a balanced filtration and cooling, resulting in a harsher and hotter hit.
- The bong water level affects the drag; overfilled water increases resistance and allows for slower inhale. However, the lower water level decreases and reduces resistance.
- The water level affects the taste and strength of the smoke.
- Maintaining the right water level, you’ll extend its lifespan and keep it clean.
However, the amount of bong water depends on the bong type, percolation style of the bong, personal smoking preferences, smoking material, and bowl size. So, to maintain perc aesthetics and taste the flavors, check out our manufacturer’s instructions that work best.
How Much Water Should You Put in a Percolator Bong?
There is no first and utmost rule of filling water in a percolator bong. In the marketplace, you get different types of bongs and the water level depends on bong shapes, sizes, and designs. So, don’t panic thinking about how much water is in a bong.
Here are 5 common percolator water bong pouring tips:
- Pour water into the mouthpiece or downstem joint.
- The general rule of thumb is to fill the base until the downstem is submerged (1-2 inches) in water. All slits in your downstem must cover in water.
- The rule goes with a matric perc and an inline perc.
- Does your bong have multiple chambers or percolators? You should fill those until the water covers all the slits or holes in the percolator.
- Ensure water gets all the way up into the perks.
How Much Water Do You Put in an Ice Bong?
The amount of ice bong water depends on how many ice cubes you would like to add because ice melts quickly and increases the water level. Here are 2 common tips:
- You can pour water and add a small amount of ice cubes.
- Or, you can pour a little bit of water every so often during your smoking session.
However, if you use an ice catcher bong then you get built-in notches or a chamber along its neck to hold ice cubes above the water line. Also, it prevents melting ice water from falling into the water. So, you don’t need to worry about splashback.
How Much Water to Put in a Double Percolator Bong?
Professional bong users suggest filling it with water until the downstem is submerged (2.5cm). Here are 4 tips that help you do it right:
- Start pouring water into the bottom or larger chamber about 2.5cm for effective filtration and percolation.
- Fill the second or double chamber with enough water to cover the slits or holes. Don’t overflow to prevent splashing into the main chamber or mouthpiece.
- Test the draw after filling both chambers. If you notice excessive resistance means there is too much water.
- Check leaks and spills after filling the water pipe.
How Much Water Do You Put in a Bong With a Fixed Downstem?
A fixed downstem bong water level is about 0.5-1 inch, which ensures smooth filtration without excessive splashback. Here are 4 steps you can follow to fill the water:
- Check where the slits or holes are in a fixed downstem.
- Pour water (about 0.5-1 inch) into the base at first until it covers the slits.
- Inhale through the bong without adding flavors or other materials to the bowl.
- If you hear bubbling and feel smooth airflow, the water in the right level.
How Do You Measure Bong Water Level?
The bong water level depends on sizes, shapes, and designs. Considering these factors we’ve listed a general water level chart for popular and mostly used bongs:
|
Types |
Recommended water level |
| Single chamber bong |
Water should be above the downstem (appx. 0.5-1 inch) |
| Tree percolator bong |
Water should submerge the slits or arms (appx. 0.5-1 inch) |
| Honeycomb percolator |
Fill until water covers the honeycomb holes, but ensure no splashing into the mouthpiece |
| Showerhead percolator |
Pour water slightly above the showerhead’s slits or holes (about 0.5 inch) |
| Inline percolator |
Submerge the slits or grid of the inline (appx. 0.5-1 inch) |
| Matrix percolator |
Pour water until submerged about halfway |
| Turbine percolator |
Water must cover the slits or holes but don’t overflow |
After filling, must inhale gently to test airflow. Also, avoid overfilling because it causes splashback into your mouth and increases drag. To ease the measuring process, we’ve come up with effective tips in the next section!
How Do I Know If Your Bong has Enough Water?
Here are 4 tips you can follow to identify whether your bong has enough water or not:
- First of all, check whether the water covers the bottom of the downstem by about half an inch. If yes, the water level is ideal.
- If you pour water at the proper level, the water should cover all the slits or holes within it.
- Take a dry hit by putting your mouth on the bong mouthpiece and inhale gently. If you can’t get any air or feel resistance, the bong is too full of water.
- If the hit is too easy or you won’t hear any bubbling, there’s too little water in the bong.
However, after getting the idea about the bong water level, you might be curious about how often you should clean your bong. Or, how often should you change the water? Well, to get the exact answer, check out the next section now!
How Often Should You Change Water from Bong?
The bong manufacturers suggest changing the water after every smoking session or at least once a day if you use it frequently. However, other factors influence how frequently you should water from a bong, including:
- Ashing techniques: Do you pull your bowls all the way through into the water? If so, you might notice a faster residue or accumulation of plants.
- Use of ice: Many bong enthusiasts enjoy the cooling sensation whenever they use a bong and prefer to mix ice with the water. However, the melting ice easily mixes with smoke and residue and causes water to become cloudy.
- Water pipe types: The bong water pipe types influence the most. For example, a straight tube with no percs may require fewer water changes compared to bongs with multiple percolators.
Don’t want to change water frequently? Then, certain signs indicate you should change the bong water immediately, such as water appearing brown or discolored, sticking odor from your bong, and unpleasant taste.
What are the Best Bong Water Alternatives?
The best bong water alternative is to use fruit juice. You get different fruit flavors like apple, and orange - or even explore the taste of wild with some cherry! Try to make your fruit juice by yourself and pour it into your bong. However, other 4 popular alternatives are:
- Gatorade: In the US, Gatorade is popular instead of bong water. Whenever you use it, you experience subtle but tasty flavors. Also, it gives you a pleasant outlook.
- Chocolate milk: Want to explore the creaminess at every shot? Try chocolate milk, but it might give you a weaker hit than others.
- Wine: The most hyped bong water alternative is using wine. But be aware of using high-proof spirits like vodka.
- Cranberry juice: Another great option is cranberry juice, which adds amazing fruity notes to your bong smoking.
- Hot/iced tea: Tea is a popular alternative for offering aromatic and rich hits. But beware of using hot tea because the steam can hurt the throat and lungs.
- Infused water: You can add infused water by adding fruit, mint, or herbs for a smoother and more flavorful hit.
- Sparkling water: You can use any type of sparkling water in your bong and enjoy the flavor at every shot.
- Fruit-flavored water: Want to experience a tropical vibe, forest fruits, or others? Add fruit flavoring to your bong water.
Conclusion
You might get the idea about how much water you put in a bong. If so, embrace the chance to personalize your smoking experience by adding fruit flavors, ice, wine, or other materials and enjoy every shot.
