Grocery Store Distilled vs. RO/DI

ferg822 · 12/11/2007, 06:27 PM

Lately i've been using grocery store (giant eagle) distilled water, not RO/DI. I'm thinking about starting a 50g. can i use the distilled water??? Its so cheap and i've had no problems with it. Plus my LFS is 30-40 mins away and it would be a pain to have to restock all of the time.

bertoni · 12/11/2007, 06:32 PM

Most distilled water seems safe enough to use. Personally, I bought an RO-DI system in the end. Distilled water gets expensive over time, and is an annoyance to buy. The 55g likely will lose a lot more water to evaporation than the enclosed systems. I think the AquaPod is enclosed?

dsn112 · 12/11/2007, 06:40 PM

Will definitely evaporate more. I agree that restocking is a pain, but how much easier would it be to walk in your laundry room, twist a valve, and have all the pure water you need?

www.thefilterguys.biz

They will help you out, once you get it, you will wonder why you waited so long.

Dave

NirvanaFan · 12/11/2007, 06:52 PM

How much does the distilled water cost you per gallon?

ferg822 · 12/11/2007, 07:10 PM

its 69 cents

ferg822 · 12/11/2007, 07:12 PM

so with the filter guys RO/DI system how does it work. do you attach it to your sink???

NirvanaFan · 12/11/2007, 07:18 PM

that's probably a good price for distilled, but if you're going to upgrade, you'll definately want to get an RO. $3.50 in water for each 5g water change will get expensive. Not to mention gas and the hassle.

I've got my RO/DI attached to my kitchen sink because I don't have a clothes washing machine.

Deb91 · 12/11/2007, 07:19 PM

You can attach it do you sink faucet or your laundry room.Really you should look up the Filter Guys!They are well worth the money and have all the hookups you need!You will save sooooo much money and time!!

AZDesertRat · 12/11/2007, 07:47 PM

There are 5 or 6 very good RO/DI vendors who are sponsors of this forum. It really does pay to have your very own RO/DI system.

www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
www.spectrapure.com
www.thefilterguys.biz
www.melevsreef.com
www.airwaterice.com
www.purelyh2o.com

Any of them can get you into a good system for less than you will spend on distilled water at the store over a few months period.

iwishtofish · 12/11/2007, 09:03 PM

Be careful with distilled water from the grocery store - a friend of mine tested the brand we use and it contained phosphates.

dachsieholic · 12/11/2007, 09:42 PM

Thanks for the links for RO/DI units!

12/11/2007, 06:27 PM	#1
ferg822 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 173	Grocery Store Distilled vs. RO/DI Lately i've been using grocery store (giant eagle) distilled water, not RO/DI. I'm thinking about starting a 50g. can i use the distilled water??? Its so cheap and i've had no problems with it. Plus my LFS is 30-40 mins away and it would be a pain to have to restock all of the time. __________________ Ferg :p Current Tank Info: Not much but some

12/11/2007, 06:32 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Most distilled water seems safe enough to use. Personally, I bought an RO-DI system in the end. Distilled water gets expensive over time, and is an annoyance to buy. The 55g likely will lose a lot more water to evaporation than the enclosed systems. I think the AquaPod is enclosed? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/11/2007, 06:40 PM	#3
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	Will definitely evaporate more. I agree that restocking is a pain, but how much easier would it be to walk in your laundry room, twist a valve, and have all the pure water you need? www.thefilterguys.biz They will help you out, once you get it, you will wonder why you waited so long. Dave __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

12/11/2007, 07:10 PM	#5
ferg822 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 173	its 69 cents __________________ Ferg :p Current Tank Info: Not much but some

12/11/2007, 07:12 PM	#6
ferg822 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 173	so with the filter guys RO/DI system how does it work. do you attach it to your sink??? __________________ Ferg :p Current Tank Info: Not much but some

12/11/2007, 06:52 PM	#4
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	How much does the distilled water cost you per gallon?

12/11/2007, 07:18 PM	#7
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	that's probably a good price for distilled, but if you're going to upgrade, you'll definately want to get an RO. $3.50 in water for each 5g water change will get expensive. Not to mention gas and the hassle. I've got my RO/DI attached to my kitchen sink because I don't have a clothes washing machine.

12/11/2007, 07:19 PM	#8
Deb91 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scituate,Ma. Posts: 577	You can attach it do you sink faucet or your laundry room.Really you should look up the Filter Guys!They are well worth the money and have all the hookups you need!You will save sooooo much money and time!! __________________ Deb Current Tank Info: None running now.

12/11/2007, 07:47 PM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	There are 5 or 6 very good RO/DI vendors who are sponsors of this forum. It really does pay to have your very own RO/DI system. www.buckeyefieldsupply.com www.spectrapure.com www.thefilterguys.biz www.melevsreef.com www.airwaterice.com www.purelyh2o.com Any of them can get you into a good system for less than you will spend on distilled water at the store over a few months period.

12/11/2007, 09:03 PM	#10
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Be careful with distilled water from the grocery store - a friend of mine tested the brand we use and it contained phosphates.

12/11/2007, 09:42 PM	#11
dachsieholic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 62	RO/DI units Thanks for the links for RO/DI units! __________________ Dachshunds are like potato chips...you can't have just one! Current Tank Info: 150 gallon; AquaC EV180 Protein Skimmer w/Iwaki MD30 RLT pump; (2) 175w MH with PCs; 35 gallon sump; (2) Tunze 6101s; (2) Phosban Reactors; 1/4h Chiller; Aquaripure Denitrator; 3" sandbed, 200 pounds of live rock