RO/DI vs. Distilled?

skibum9884 · 08/17/2008, 05:08 PM

I made a little mistake tonight, and when mixing my water made the salinity go to 1.035 or so. I am also all out of RO/DI, and since it's 7pm, can't get any more tonight! I'd really like to do my water change, so can I use distilled water instead to dilute down to the proper salinity?

I remember this being discussed before, however the search function doesn't seem to be working (as per usual).

Thanks.

billdogg · 08/17/2008, 05:09 PM

not the greatest idea, but it will work

Slakker · 08/17/2008, 05:18 PM

Eh...shouldn't be a huge deal, but I wouldn't make a habit of it. Distiller water can contain copper.

skibum9884 · 08/17/2008, 05:30 PM

What's the best alternative? I just want to be as safe as possible.

Mark426 · 08/17/2008, 05:33 PM

Copper...not since 1975! Anywho...I have used nothing but distilled for over 2 years and my corals are very happy.
Technically, distilled water is the purest water you can get. Although that grade of distilled is only available at great expense to laboratories, for medical uses, etc.

WLachnit · 08/17/2008, 10:55 PM

Depends on the distilling process (single vs triple distilled, etc), but I would think it should be ok.

Jflip2002 · 08/17/2008, 11:21 PM

Well its better than tap water, where theres the copper + other dissolved solids present. Distilled SHOULD be totally deionized, pure H2O, that is according to the fact that we used distilled water in chemistry back in HS.

widmer · 08/18/2008, 12:43 AM

I wonder if the distilled would have a high copper content though; what else are they going to condense that vapor on?

Also, I'm surrounded by 24 hour grocery stores, which all have some sort of self-serve RO unit.

Mr. Brooks · 08/18/2008, 02:06 AM

I've used both distilled and filtered drinking water from the store with no problems.

limitdown · 08/18/2008, 05:46 AM

Distilled water from the grocery store works. Like Arrowhead brand.

hottuna · 08/18/2008, 05:46 AM

some things like hexametaphosphate have a higher boiling point than water, and thus will transition into the product water...so distilled does not = pure water ....in most cases

somethingphishy · 08/18/2008, 05:55 AM

no problem with distilled...

Mark426 · 08/18/2008, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by widmer
I wonder if the distilled would have a high copper content though; what else are they going to condense that vapor on?

No copper used in years due to the fact that it had high maintenance and replacement costs. Now... ceramic coated stainless steel. I have seen it myself at an Orzaka plant.

From their info:
"Some contaminants that have boiling points lower than that of water could carry over, which is why distillers are equipped with a safety feature: a volatile gas vent, a design feature which removes most of these contaminants. For even further protection, each distiller is also equipped with a carbon post-filter to provide you with the highest quality distilled water with a 99.5% or higher removal rate of contaminants."

08/17/2008, 05:08 PM	#1
skibum9884 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,157	RO/DI vs. Distilled? I made a little mistake tonight, and when mixing my water made the salinity go to 1.035 or so. I am also all out of RO/DI, and since it's 7pm, can't get any more tonight! I'd really like to do my water change, so can I use distilled water instead to dilute down to the proper salinity? I remember this being discussed before, however the search function doesn't seem to be working (as per usual). Thanks.

08/17/2008, 05:09 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	not the greatest idea, but it will work __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/17/2008, 05:18 PM	#3
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	Eh...shouldn't be a huge deal, but I wouldn't make a habit of it. Distiller water can contain copper. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

08/17/2008, 05:30 PM	#4
skibum9884 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,157	What's the best alternative? I just want to be as safe as possible. __________________ -David Current Tank: Elos System 70, 17 gal ADA Rimless in Progress

08/17/2008, 05:33 PM	#5
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	Copper...not since 1975! Anywho...I have used nothing but distilled for over 2 years and my corals are very happy. Technically, distilled water is the purest water you can get. Although that grade of distilled is only available at great expense to laboratories, for medical uses, etc. Last edited by Mark426; 08/17/2008 at 05:38 PM.

08/17/2008, 10:55 PM	#6
WLachnit Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,722	Depends on the distilling process (single vs triple distilled, etc), but I would think it should be ok. __________________ (1) 300g mixed reef (Starfire DT) + 100g Sump (2) 100g Softie tank (Starfire DT) My Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263472

08/17/2008, 11:21 PM	#7
Jflip2002 Eagles & Tigers Fan Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,543	Well its better than tap water, where theres the copper + other dissolved solids present. Distilled SHOULD be totally deionized, pure H2O, that is according to the fact that we used distilled water in chemistry back in HS. __________________ I hate cheap powerheads. Current Tank Info: 40g Breeder

08/18/2008, 12:43 AM	#8
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	I wonder if the distilled would have a high copper content though; what else are they going to condense that vapor on? Also, I'm surrounded by 24 hour grocery stores, which all have some sort of self-serve RO unit.

08/18/2008, 02:06 AM	#9
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	I've used both distilled and filtered drinking water from the store with no problems.

08/18/2008, 05:46 AM	#10
limitdown Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 640	Distilled water from the grocery store works. Like Arrowhead brand. __________________ All I want for Christmas is to stay employed... Current Tank Info: 200g display + 50g sump FO

08/18/2008, 05:46 AM	#11
hottuna Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,248	some things like hexametaphosphate have a higher boiling point than water, and thus will transition into the product water...so distilled does not = pure water ....in most cases __________________ HotTuna

08/18/2008, 05:55 AM	#12
somethingphishy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fleetwood, pa Posts: 852	no problem with distilled... __________________ "Set the gearshift for the high gear Of your soul, you've got to run like An antelope out of control!" Current Tank Info: 50g/20l sump