Buying DISTILLED water for aquarium?

Ocean In A Box · 04/16/2008, 07:13 PM

Any reefers or chemists out there?
Until I get my RODI water unit, I'm wondering if I can start with buying the gallon jugs of DISTILLED water from grocery store?
Please anyone let me know...

THANK YOU!
Matt

seapug · 04/16/2008, 07:14 PM

it's a good alternative, just expensive.

Aquarist007 · 04/16/2008, 07:22 PM

the breakdown is like this
distilled water has 90 percent of total dissolved substances removed
ro water has 95 per cent
and ro/di has 100 per cent of tds's removed

Aerowen · 04/16/2008, 07:24 PM

ive been buying distilled at about $ 1.75 a gallon until i decide on a R/O unit ( so many choices!!) but it does get expensive even with a nano tank like mine.

viceversabrd · 04/16/2008, 07:29 PM

I don't know bout $1.75 a gallon, wal-mart has distilled water for 67 cents a gallon where I live

KB2202 · 04/16/2008, 07:38 PM

Used distilled for several months until I got an RO/DI unit without any bad results. I got tired of hauling jugs of water from Wal-Mart to my house.

Aquarist007 · 04/16/2008, 07:43 PM

If any doubt purchase a pocket TDS meter--about 20 bucks and you can test it yourself

Ricky1066 · 04/16/2008, 07:57 PM

I buy it at key food for 99cents a gallon I have a ro/di machine but it takes so long to make I just go buy it

Aquarist007 · 04/16/2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ricky1066
I buy it at key food for 99cents a gallon I have a ro/di machine but it takes so long to make I just go buy it

want to sell your ro/di Ricky

D to the P · 04/16/2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ricky1066
I buy it at key food for 99cents a gallon I have a ro/di machine but it takes so long to make I just go buy it

haha, thats why you let it run all day and store it in a big trash can or other container. there is no reason someone would need more than 30 gallons a day unless you have like three one hundred gallon tanks that need water changes all at the same time.

Flipper62 · 04/16/2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
If any doubt purchase a pocket TDS meter--about 20 bucks and you can test it yourself

Ya...Capn's right. You can get a COM-100 from the filter guys for $50.00. But this way you can be sure of the TDS readings. I'm sure you have more invested in the tank then $50.00.

Ricky1066, if you want to sell your RO/DI unit..I'm interested in it. I will even come pick it up so you dont have to ship it.

willper · 04/16/2008, 10:27 PM

I tried to keep up with water changes and top offs by buying the RO machine at my local store. It became a burden. Even with only a 24 gal tank, I knew that I needed a better way to get RO-DI water. Check out Melevsreef.com:

http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html

Bill

Ocean In A Box · 04/16/2008, 11:01 PM

Thanks for all the quick replies! So I gues the answer to this is that YES you can buy cheap DISTILLED water from where=ever and it is perfectly SAFE for the aquarium.

Beyond that, I am already planning an RODI, just don't have it yet and was planning on setting up a tank this weekend.

Thanks again everyone...
Matt

ludnix · 04/16/2008, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ocean In A Box
Thanks for all the quick replies! So I gues the answer to this is that YES you can buy cheap DISTILLED water from where=ever and it is perfectly SAFE for the aquarium.

Beyond that, I am already planning an RODI, just don't have it yet and was planning on setting up a tank this weekend.

Thanks again everyone...
Matt

That's what I did with my 30gallon cube for serveral months until I finally decided to get a RO/DI unit.

Playa-1 · 04/17/2008, 03:23 AM

You can usually get seawater or RO water ready to go at the Local Fish Stores. They usually keep it in bulk and it's usually very reasonable in price.

SSpiro · 04/17/2008, 05:28 AM

I buy my salt water from a LFS, and buy distilled at the grocery store.

RODI en route.. but not here, so I'm working with what I've got.

Distilled is definitely better then tap.

Aquarist007 · 04/17/2008, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SSpiro
I buy my salt water from a LFS, and buy distilled at the grocery store.

RODI en route.. but not here, so I'm working with what I've got.

Distilled is definitely better then tap.

why would you buy salt water----make up your own with the distilled---I would think it would be cheaper in the long run?

Aquarist007 · 04/17/2008, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flipper62
Ya...Capn's right. You can get a COM-100 from the filter guys for $50.00. But this way you can be sure of the TDS readings. I'm sure you have more invested in the tank then $50.00.

Ricky1066, if you want to sell your RO/DI unit..I'm interested in it. I will even come pick it up so you dont have to ship it.

I only paid 25 and its been great

Ricky take flipper up on his offer but have him give you a half decent protein skimmer as trade---and that will fix up your nitrate problems

SSpiro · 04/17/2008, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
why would you buy salt water----make up your own with the distilled---I would think it would be cheaper in the long run?

Probably is.. just how i've always done it, and i'm used to it..

I plan on stopping by Lowes this weekend or next week and getting two trashcans and materials to make a rolling platform for each so I can keep pre-mixed salt and regular fresh water ready to go, once the RODI is installed.

Aquarist007 · 04/17/2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SSpiro
Probably is.. just how i've always done it, and i'm used to it..

I plan on stopping by Lowes this weekend or next week and getting two trashcans and materials to make a rolling platform for each so I can keep pre-mixed salt and regular fresh water ready to go, once the RODI is installed.

good idea--take this example

yesterday I went out for two hours returned to find the koralias sucking in alot of air---went down to the basement---15 gal of salt water all over the floor.
In the pvc breathing tube between the lines going from one refugium to the other a snail had lodged itself in there and backed up the flow
now what are the chances of that happening

luckly I have 20 gal of ro water on stock, but it would have been better to have also had 20 gal of salt prepared too

D to the P · 04/17/2008, 10:09 AM

it seems snails are always trying to sabbotage our systems. one day they'll rise up and knock out a whole panel of glass from our tanks.

Aquarist007 · 04/17/2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by D to the P
it seems snails are always trying to sabbotage our systems. one day they'll rise up and knock out a whole panel of glass from our tanks.

along with the sea urchins-

boy can they knock stuff over --I had them block a koralia #4 --just lolling on it taking their time munching
that's got to have a little pull to it--but they seem un affected by it

fatdaddy · 04/17/2008, 11:35 AM

re: distilled - I used it for several months until I had my RO/DI installed. Really, it's a waste of both time and money. Just bite the bullet and get your water unit installed.

Also, My distilled water had 3ppm of nitrate. Don't assume that distilled water is clean water. Cleaner, maybe.

Aquarist007 · 04/17/2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fatdaddy
re: distilled - I used it for several months until I had my RO/DI installed. Really, it's a waste of both time and money. Just bite the bullet and get your water unit installed.

Also, My distilled water had 3ppm of nitrate. Don't assume that distilled water is clean water. Cleaner, maybe.

LOL while my ro filter was being repaire I got 20 gal of ro water from the LFS--it tested 17

when I mentioned it they said I had dirty pails---LOL and they refused to let me test theirs with my TDS meter

Bremmon · 04/17/2008, 01:30 PM

I buy water for .30 a gallon. It is RO/DI and uses other types of filtration. Nice thing is they don't add anything to the water.

04/16/2008, 07:13 PM	#1
Ocean In A Box Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: S.E. Wisconsin 53189, USA Posts: 433	Buying DISTILLED water for aquarium? Any reefers or chemists out there? Until I get my RODI water unit, I'm wondering if I can start with buying the gallon jugs of DISTILLED water from grocery store? Please anyone let me know... THANK YOU! Matt __________________ Deep Blue Cube'ish Display Tank (72g...24"Lx24"Wx30"H) Skimz Sumpro UP21 Sump Tank (22g) ~~~ Ocean In A Box (mfl74) ~~~

04/16/2008, 07:14 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	it's a good alternative, just expensive. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/16/2008, 07:22 PM	#3
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	the breakdown is like this distilled water has 90 percent of total dissolved substances removed ro water has 95 per cent and ro/di has 100 per cent of tds's removed __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

04/16/2008, 07:29 PM	#5
viceversabrd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hamburg, NY Posts: 296	I don't know bout $1.75 a gallon, wal-mart has distilled water for 67 cents a gallon where I live __________________ 55 gal FOWLR, 260w pc's, 100 lbs. live rock Current Tank Info: FOWLR

04/16/2008, 07:43 PM	#7
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	If any doubt purchase a pocket TDS meter--about 20 bucks and you can test it yourself __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

04/16/2008, 07:24 PM	#4
Aerowen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long island, NY Posts: 497	ive been buying distilled at about $ 1.75 a gallon until i decide on a R/O unit ( so many choices!!) but it does get expensive even with a nano tank like mine.

04/16/2008, 07:38 PM	#6
KB2202 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 57	Used distilled for several months until I got an RO/DI unit without any bad results. I got tired of hauling jugs of water from Wal-Mart to my house.

04/16/2008, 07:57 PM	#8
Ricky1066 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 1,029	I buy it at key food for 99cents a gallon I have a ro/di machine but it takes so long to make I just go buy it __________________ 75gallon,75lbslr 60pdls, clown,yellow tang.3 cardinals.royal gamma,3 chromis,blenny,torpedo,cleanershrimp Current Tank Info: 75 gallon salt water starter

04/16/2008, 10:27 PM	#12
willper Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Auburn Posts: 67	I tried to keep up with water changes and top offs by buying the RO machine at my local store. It became a burden. Even with only a 24 gal tank, I knew that I needed a better way to get RO-DI water. Check out Melevsreef.com: http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html Bill __________________ Current Tank Info: Red Sea XL 425 88 Gallon, 22 gal sump, 2 x Aquaillumination Hydra 26 HD lights, Bubble Magus skimmer, Apex controller, 2 Apex Wav pumps, Apex Cor 20 return pump. Current Tank Info: Red Sea XL 425

04/16/2008, 11:01 PM	#13
Ocean In A Box Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: S.E. Wisconsin 53189, USA Posts: 433	Thanks for all the quick replies! So I gues the answer to this is that YES you can buy cheap DISTILLED water from where=ever and it is perfectly SAFE for the aquarium. Beyond that, I am already planning an RODI, just don't have it yet and was planning on setting up a tank this weekend. Thanks again everyone... Matt __________________ Deep Blue Cube'ish Display Tank (72g...24"Lx24"Wx30"H) Skimz Sumpro UP21 Sump Tank (22g) ~~~ Ocean In A Box (mfl74) ~~~

04/17/2008, 03:23 AM	#15
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	You can usually get seawater or RO water ready to go at the Local Fish Stores. They usually keep it in bulk and it's usually very reasonable in price.

04/17/2008, 05:28 AM	#16
SSpiro Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,942	I buy my salt water from a LFS, and buy distilled at the grocery store. RODI en route.. but not here, so I'm working with what I've got. Distilled is definitely better then tap.

04/17/2008, 10:09 AM	#21
D to the P Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Amishville, USA Posts: 2,047	it seems snails are always trying to sabbotage our systems. one day they'll rise up and knock out a whole panel of glass from our tanks. __________________ Nature V.S. Nurture: Nature Always Wins. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Aquapod reef with LED's, multiple nano's at work.

04/17/2008, 11:35 AM	#23
fatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 1,191	re: distilled - I used it for several months until I had my RO/DI installed. Really, it's a waste of both time and money. Just bite the bullet and get your water unit installed. Also, My distilled water had 3ppm of nitrate. Don't assume that distilled water is clean water. Cleaner, maybe. __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

04/17/2008, 01:30 PM	#25
Bremmon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 131	I buy water for .30 a gallon. It is RO/DI and uses other types of filtration. Nice thing is they don't add anything to the water.