Distilled water

Brandon55 · 01/09/2010, 12:12 PM

I generally use RO/DI water in my tank but I was wondering if distilled water every now and then would hurt. I ask because I don't have an RO/DI unit and the fish store I buy it from is 30 miles away and I can't make the trip quite yet. I do have distilled water on hand which is why I'm asking

bkoo29 · 01/09/2010, 12:20 PM

get a tds water meter and find out cuz different water companies will have different reading. I think they are like 30 bucks or so.

Sisterlimonpot · 01/09/2010, 12:22 PM

distilled water is the purest form with 0 TDS. I used it for 2 weeks when my RODI busted a valve and had to wait on a part. it cost a little more but there was no change in the tank. And BTW I bought the generic store brand.

Sk8r · 01/09/2010, 12:23 PM

Better to get it from the grocery store kiosk...which is actually ro water (though use a tds meter to tell if its filter is up to snuff). Distilled water (again, use a tds meter---should read 0). If it doesn't, no telling what's in it---and it could be copper from the boiling and drip-back, or other contaminants. It's cheaper in the long run to get your own ro/di unit: and they will work in apartments. But as a stopgap, get a tds meter and check any water you buy to be sure it reads 0 before you put it in your tank.

KingwoodMarcia · 01/10/2010, 12:03 AM

I would not use, but thats me. To many unknows on it. I do use the RO water from the store. No problems.

rbnice1 · 01/10/2010, 12:22 AM

used it for years.

I got the cheap green cap gallon jugs from walmart. Think they were about 25 cents each. I have a TDS meter and I never got a jug that was over a tds of 1 or 2.

Sisterlimonpot · 01/10/2010, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingwoodMarcia

I would not use, but thats me. To many unknows on it. I do use the RO water from the store. No problems.

TDS in RO water is going to be higher than distilled water.

K.Bodno · 01/10/2010, 12:37 AM

I used 10 cent distilled water from giant eagle when I set up my tank, but for every water change I use RO water.

The guy at my LFS said distilled water is actually too pure, and RO has organic material in it that makes it better. Which all of you probably already knew

rbnice1 · 01/10/2010, 12:42 AM

lol just goes to show you never trust what your LFS tells you unless you verify it yourself.

K.Bodno · 01/10/2010, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbnice1

lol just goes to show you never trust what your LFS tells you unless you verify it yourself.

yep

I kinda just wanna make my own RO water, but havent got to that point yet

XtremeFromHell · 01/10/2010, 02:30 AM

i used to top off with distilled water, and now im starting to top off with ro/di water, and my algae problem seems to have gotten better

Flipper62 · 01/10/2010, 02:35 AM

I used Distilled water for my office BioCube for about a year. I never had a problem.

01/09/2010, 12:12 PM	#1
Brandon55 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14	Distilled water I generally use RO/DI water in my tank but I was wondering if distilled water every now and then would hurt. I ask because I don't have an RO/DI unit and the fish store I buy it from is 30 miles away and I can't make the trip quite yet. I do have distilled water on hand which is why I'm asking

01/09/2010, 12:22 PM	#3
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	distilled water is the purest form with 0 TDS. I used it for 2 weeks when my RODI busted a valve and had to wait on a part. it cost a little more but there was no change in the tank. And BTW I bought the generic store brand. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

01/09/2010, 12:23 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Better to get it from the grocery store kiosk...which is actually ro water (though use a tds meter to tell if its filter is up to snuff). Distilled water (again, use a tds meter---should read 0). If it doesn't, no telling what's in it---and it could be copper from the boiling and drip-back, or other contaminants. It's cheaper in the long run to get your own ro/di unit: and they will work in apartments. But as a stopgap, get a tds meter and check any water you buy to be sure it reads 0 before you put it in your tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/10/2010, 02:35 AM	#12
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	I used Distilled water for my office BioCube for about a year. I never had a problem. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

01/09/2010, 12:20 PM	#2
bkoo29 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Irvine Posts: 670	get a tds water meter and find out cuz different water companies will have different reading. I think they are like 30 bucks or so.

01/10/2010, 12:03 AM	#5
KingwoodMarcia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 214	I would not use, but thats me. To many unknows on it. I do use the RO water from the store. No problems.

01/10/2010, 12:22 AM	#6
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	used it for years. I got the cheap green cap gallon jugs from walmart. Think they were about 25 cents each. I have a TDS meter and I never got a jug that was over a tds of 1 or 2.

01/10/2010, 12:37 AM	#8
K.Bodno Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Highland Heights, Ohio Posts: 131	I used 10 cent distilled water from giant eagle when I set up my tank, but for every water change I use RO water. The guy at my LFS said distilled water is actually too pure, and RO has organic material in it that makes it better. Which all of you probably already knew

01/10/2010, 12:42 AM	#9
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	lol just goes to show you never trust what your LFS tells you unless you verify it yourself.

01/10/2010, 02:30 AM	#11
XtremeFromHell Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Miami, FL (hialeah area) Posts: 735	i used to top off with distilled water, and now im starting to top off with ro/di water, and my algae problem seems to have gotten better