Rainwater as pure as RO/DI water?

Azazael13 · 08/23/2008, 01:25 PM

So since we are in the middle of a tropical storm, and since I could use some more water to mix I was wondering if rainwater was pure (or as pure as RO/DI water)?

I don't have a TDS meter to test myself with, so I was wondering what the general thought was.

Think it would be ok to put my 5 gallon buckets out to get some nice fresh water to mix up?

Pro's/Con's?

Sk8r · 08/23/2008, 01:28 PM

Probably not after it's run off your roof and the nearby trees. I'd hold out for a TDs meter.

kfisc · 08/23/2008, 01:29 PM

No- it could (and often does) have all kinds of undesirable stuff. You could test it and still miss a number of chemicals dangerous to our tanks.

Gary Majchrzak · 08/23/2008, 01:31 PM

this question comes up a lot.
assuming you're not collecting runoff but straight from the sky into a bucket (rainwater) it's still full of many more pollutants than RO water.

Azazael13 · 08/23/2008, 01:36 PM

yeah it was going to be from the sky, no way I would trust it coming off the roof

crvz · 08/23/2008, 01:41 PM

there are plenty of pollutants in rain water that would keep me from using it. you're better off with something known out of the RO setup.

08/23/2008, 01:25 PM	#1
Azazael13 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tallahassee Florida Posts: 499	Rainwater as pure as RO/DI water? So since we are in the middle of a tropical storm, and since I could use some more water to mix I was wondering if rainwater was pure (or as pure as RO/DI water)? I don't have a TDS meter to test myself with, so I was wondering what the general thought was. Think it would be ok to put my 5 gallon buckets out to get some nice fresh water to mix up? Pro's/Con's? __________________ Percula Clownfish Current Tank Info: 2 foot cube (Salt) and 35G Hex (Fresh)

08/23/2008, 01:28 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Probably not after it's run off your roof and the nearby trees. I'd hold out for a TDs meter. __________________ 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%.

08/23/2008, 01:31 PM	#4
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	this question comes up a lot. assuming you're not collecting runoff but straight from the sky into a bucket (rainwater) it's still full of many more pollutants than RO water. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

08/23/2008, 01:36 PM	#5
Azazael13 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tallahassee Florida Posts: 499	yeah it was going to be from the sky, no way I would trust it coming off the roof __________________ Percula Clownfish Current Tank Info: 2 foot cube (Salt) and 35G Hex (Fresh)

08/23/2008, 01:41 PM	#6
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	there are plenty of pollutants in rain water that would keep me from using it. you're better off with something known out of the RO setup. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/23/2008, 01:29 PM	#3
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	No- it could (and often does) have all kinds of undesirable stuff. You could test it and still miss a number of chemicals dangerous to our tanks.