Distilled water

[Nanoreefjoe]

Can I use distilled water as top off? Can I use distilled water as my base solution and then add salt to it and put it in my tank?

[masterbuilder]

Yes. I have used Walmart distilled for years.

[nismo_sky32]

Same here. Been using kroger and walmart distilled since I started

[CJJon]

I've tested the machine water at Wal-Mart. 0 TDS. I suggest you test yours to make sure.

[cromag27]

Distilled water does remove the contaminents that are removed via ro/di, but it also removes the beneficial ingredients used to sustain the chemical composition of aquarium water. regardless of what other people have done - do not use distilled water. Distilled does not mean it has been filtered at all.

[DurocShark]

Be wary of the machines in front of the grocery stores too. I tested the one we used for drinking water several times. Varied from 10ppm to 300ppm. We don't use them anymore.

 

Get an RO/DI filter. If you can't afford a full sized one, the RO Buddie is fine. More expensive in the long run, but cheaper cost of entry and physically smaller..

[GMay]

Distilled water does not removed the contaminents that are removed via ro/di. regardless of what other people have done - do not use distilled water. Distilled does not mean it has been filtered at all.

Not sure where you got the idea that RODI is better than distilled water. Distillation is a widely used method for purification of any number of liquids other than water. We use to use it to prepare water for highly precise scientific experiments and tissue culture cell growth. These are far more sensitive to trace contaminants than your aquarium. Distilled is fine for this purpose. The only caveat to this is if the distillation unit uses copper or zince, then it can be a real problem..

[cromag27]

Not sure where you got the idea that RODI is better than distilled water. Distillation is a widely used method for purification of any number of liquids other than water. We use to use it to prepare water for highly precise scientific experiments and tissue culture cell growth. These are far more sensitive to trace contaminants than your aquarium. Distilled is fine for this purpose. The only caveat to this is if the distillation unit uses copper or zince, then it can be a real problem..

 

Distilled water is way too pure to use for our purposes.

Actually..... I made an error in my post. Distilled water does have contaminents removed, but it also too pure to sustain the chemical composition aquarium water needs. hence being too pure.

[SchnauzerFace]

I have used distiller for years and I haven't found it too pure to be a problem. Many, many other reefers have done the same. In fact, this is the first time I've ever heard anyone say anything cautionary about distilled.

 

Distilled and rodi are two different processes to get you to the same place.

[cromag27]

Lol.... no you do not get to the same place. people also treat crypto with garlic. you can try to argue with science, but you will not win.

[Cencalfishguy56]

http://www.distilleddeionizedwater.com/deionized-water-vs-distilled-water/

 

 

Here you guys go! Haha

[cromag27]

"actually, organic substances, which have similar boiling point than that of water can slip in the distilled water."

 

Guess what happens when these organic substances die?

Hhmmmm....another thing not mentioned in the article is that some distillation equipment is made from copper. copper levels as low as 30ppb can be harmful to coral. so simply saying ANY 0tds water is fine, is actually incorrect.

[khriistian]

I use water from my house, my parents installed a filter and that is what I use. I know is not a softener but an actual filter, but I don't really know the process. My 2 tanks have been running for a year and I have had no problems with algaes, actually when I stopped using RO/DI water from my local fish stores my sand started to look even more clean than it was before.

Then again, you should not go for other people experiences with water, you should get the best water possible you can get.

[cromag27]

Sorry to say, but a lot of lfs don't change their filters when they should.

[Bill Nye]

"actually, organic substances, which have similar boiling point than that of water can slip in the distilled water."

 

Guess what happens when these organic substances die?

 

Organic substances are not alive. They are substances which contain carbon although there are some compounds such as CO2 which contain carbon and are inorganic. They can decay but in most modern applications filtration is used to avoid such problems. I used distilled water for 2 years on an 8 gallon nano with no problems.

[cromag27]

How do you know your distilled water went through any filtration? you don't. rodi units are not that expensive for what you get out of them, there's no logical reason to risk it. do you think stores are selling lab grade distilled water? they're not.

[Mojado]

Distilled water does remove the contaminents that are removed via ro/di, but it also removes the beneficial ingredients used to sustain the chemical composition of aquarium water.

Umm, what??

[cromag27]

Distillation can remove beneficial nutrients. but rodi can also, so maybe that's not the strongest arguement. besides, we add nutrients and elements back into the water via salt mix. the main concern has always been copper. 'people' say most distilleries have converted to stainless steel, but how can you tell where your distilled water comes from? and what if the stainless steel isn't of high quality? Now the level of copper most likely won't effect fish, but some data sheets from water suppliers have shown high enough levels to kill inverts. per RHF. again, too many variables to risk it. I would recommend ro water over distilled.

[smeagol108]

walmart distilled for a while now. no issues.

[Mojado]

Distillation can remove beneficial nutrients. but rodi can also, so maybe that's not the strongest arguement. besides, we add nutrients and elements back into the water via salt mix. the main concern has always been copper. 'people' say most distilleries have converted to stainless steel, but how can you tell where your distilled water comes from? and what if the stainless steel isn't of high quality? Now the level of copper most likely won't effect fish, but some data sheets from water suppliers have shown high enough levels to kill inverts. per RHF. again, too many variables to risk it. I would recommend ro water over distilled.

I was talking about your "removes the beneficial ingredients used to sustain the chemical composition of aquarium water. "

 

Chemical composition of aquarium water. Can you expound please? To be honest, this sounds like you just threw some words out there without really knowing what you meant to say exactly.

[cromag27]

Do you know the composition of reef water that helps sustain life? maybe start there.

[PDR]

Albeit entertaining, I think it's time to let it go...lol

[louy99]

The horse is dead, distilled water is fine to use

[SchnauzerFace]

My distilled water started stripping out useful elements, and it turned my H2O into H1.5O.

[Mojado]

Do you know the composition of reef water that helps sustain life? maybe start there.

Why don't you just further explain what you're talking about.