Water

rich19020 · 08/02/2011, 05:45 PM

I know everybody recommends using RO water. Is it possible to use distilled water? I know that distilled water is more expensive but I can get that home delivered from the same company who delivers my 5 gallon drinking water.

heritage · 08/02/2011, 05:53 PM

Yep, distilled is the next best thing to rodi, I would test the tds to be sure.

disc1 · 08/02/2011, 05:55 PM

That's a pretty expensive route to take, but it should work.

rich19020 · 08/02/2011, 05:55 PM

what are tds?

bamf25 · 08/02/2011, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich19020

what are tds?

Total disolved solids

heritage · 08/02/2011, 05:57 PM

Tds= total dissolved solids

rich19020 · 08/02/2011, 05:57 PM

Thanks

heritage · 08/02/2011, 05:59 PM

How much is the distilled water?

rich19020 · 08/02/2011, 06:00 PM

Looking at TDS meters what is the acceptable reading I am looking for? Also any suggestions which meter to get?

disc1 · 08/02/2011, 06:03 PM

The reading you want is 0 ppm. 1's or 2's can be acceptable depending on what it is that is dissolved.

What size of a tank are we talking about? What do you want to keep?

heritage · 08/02/2011, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich19020

Looking at TDS meters what is the acceptable reading I am looking for? Also any suggestions which meter to get?

I think Wal-mart sells meters.

scarface70706 · 08/02/2011, 06:17 PM

nothing wrong with distilled water. my dad used it all the time on my old tank when i moved out. his work has thousands of gallons of it at his plant. also works good in car batt.

rich19020 · 08/02/2011, 06:44 PM

I have a 14 gallon biocube. The cost for 6 gallons is like $9.

heritage · 08/02/2011, 09:26 PM

Yeah, that's pretty expensive you would be better off buying rodi from your lfs.

kzziboy · 08/02/2011, 10:41 PM

I have one of those countertop Home Distillers....Is that okay to use?

heritage · 08/03/2011, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kzziboy

I have one of those countertop Home Distillers....Is that okay to use?

Do you mean like the brita ?

brockboi · 08/03/2011, 07:47 AM

where i live we have quite a few water stores, but I have found that the best quality and prices for water are from home brewing stores (beer and wine makers). Most breweries filter the tap water that comes into the brewery and then run the water through an ro/di unit. Currently I pay 99 cents for 5 gal and the water is always around 0 ppm compared to tap water here which runs around 300 ppm!

kzziboy · 08/03/2011, 08:47 AM

I'm not even sure of the brand...
Here's a picture.

Ron Reefman · 08/03/2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich19020

I have a 14 gallon biocube. The cost for 6 gallons is like $9.

For only 6 gallons a month you can get distilled water from your grocery store (not spring or drinking water, but distilled water). I used it for a couple of years in my old 30g reef without any problems.

heritage · 08/03/2011, 09:08 AM

Yeah, I'm not sure either but depending on the type filtration it most likely has a carbon filter mostly for taste so it would not do what you want it to do.

Chris27 · 08/03/2011, 10:25 AM

Depending on the equipment used to distill the water, it may not be safe for a tank with inverts and corals....if the coils are copper, there is a chance there is enough in there to pose a problem in the long run.

Solution...check the water with a copper kit or run it through some polyfilter to verify, if there's copper, pass on it, if not, you should be good to go.

08/02/2011, 05:45 PM	#1
rich19020 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 389	Water I know everybody recommends using RO water. Is it possible to use distilled water? I know that distilled water is more expensive but I can get that home delivered from the same company who delivers my 5 gallon drinking water.

08/02/2011, 05:55 PM	#3
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	That's a pretty expensive route to take, but it should work. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

08/02/2011, 06:03 PM	#10
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	The reading you want is 0 ppm. 1's or 2's can be acceptable depending on what it is that is dissolved. What size of a tank are we talking about? What do you want to keep? __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

08/02/2011, 10:41 PM	#15
kzziboy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Spearfish, SD Posts: 187	Home Distiller I have one of those countertop Home Distillers....Is that okay to use? __________________ kzziboy Current Tank Info: 75 gallon. 4-48" T5's 2 10k and 2 actinic

08/03/2011, 10:25 AM	#21
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Depending on the equipment used to distill the water, it may not be safe for a tank with inverts and corals....if the coils are copper, there is a chance there is enough in there to pose a problem in the long run. Solution...check the water with a copper kit or run it through some polyfilter to verify, if there's copper, pass on it, if not, you should be good to go. __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

08/02/2011, 05:53 PM	#2
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	Yep, distilled is the next best thing to rodi, I would test the tds to be sure.

08/02/2011, 05:57 PM	#6
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	Tds= total dissolved solids

08/02/2011, 05:59 PM	#8
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	How much is the distilled water?

08/02/2011, 06:00 PM	#9
rich19020 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 389	Looking at TDS meters what is the acceptable reading I am looking for? Also any suggestions which meter to get?

08/02/2011, 06:17 PM	#12
scarface70706 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,364	nothing wrong with distilled water. my dad used it all the time on my old tank when i moved out. his work has thousands of gallons of it at his plant. also works good in car batt.

08/02/2011, 06:44 PM	#13
rich19020 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 389	I have a 14 gallon biocube. The cost for 6 gallons is like $9.

08/02/2011, 09:26 PM	#14
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	Yeah, that's pretty expensive you would be better off buying rodi from your lfs.

08/03/2011, 07:47 AM	#17
brockboi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Posts: 47	where i live we have quite a few water stores, but I have found that the best quality and prices for water are from home brewing stores (beer and wine makers). Most breweries filter the tap water that comes into the brewery and then run the water through an ro/di unit. Currently I pay 99 cents for 5 gal and the water is always around 0 ppm compared to tap water here which runs around 300 ppm!

08/03/2011, 09:08 AM	#20
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	Yeah, I'm not sure either but depending on the type filtration it most likely has a carbon filter mostly for taste so it would not do what you want it to do.

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