Can I nuke my RO water?

[keri]

I only have an 8 gallon so I'm not doing huge water changes and I'm using RO water that sits at about 70 degrees....can I nuke a little bit of it to bring the temp up to 80 before I add it? Will nuking it do anything bad to the water? Stupid question?

 

[al mc]

If you do it in a glass or ceramic container I can't beleive it would be a problem. I would be interested in the reason if someone disagrees.

 

[1journeyman]

Wow, no idea. I wouldn't think it would do anything harmful, provided it is done in a sterile container.

 

[keri]

I, too, await the reason I can't. It seems too easy, and easy is rarely good in the long term lol

 

[geoj]

Actually it would help the Redox Potential, Just as UV will.

 

[sepulatian]

I have microwaved water before. It does no harm, at least I should say that it did no harm for my fish. It was an emergency situation.

 

[scsinet]

I do this all the time when mixing salt water. I'll mix up 25 gallons of water and heat a few on the stove and mix it in to bring up the temperature. I've never seen ill effects.

 

[m0nk]

The main thing that using a microwave will do is lessen the amount of dissolved oxygen, which, if you're aerating the water at all like using a powerhead to mix salt, that shouldn't be too bad. There was some educational TV show that did a study using water that was boiled vs water that was microwaved and used both to water plants. Over time all the plants that were watered with the microwaved stuff died.

 

[earlybird]

When my air silencer tube for my skimmer gets too much salt in it and appears to possibly clog, I heat up a cup of RO water and insert the tube so that it sucks the hot water down and dissolves the salt. Hope that makes sense. Anyway, yes you can heat RO.

 

[djcanis]

If you are microwaving just the water, I would think it would be fine, I wouldn't heat all of it, perhaps half, if there is any additive in the water I would not avoid the microwave at all costs. Too much microwave can start to cause changes in some of the chemical compounds in salt and what not.

 

[donald]

If it's just RO I wouldn't think that there would be anything wrong. I would how ever, be very carefull microwaveing RO/DI water. RO/DI water can boil without you seeing bubbles and can expolde upon the introduction of a contaminant such as a spoon or salt or other water. This is because regular water has the impurities in it and this is what makes the boiling water produce the bubbles. RO/DI water does not have these impurfections. They proved it on mythbusters.

 

[keri]

Thanks for the advice all! I was just going to really heat maybe a cup of R/O and add the salt afterwards....I have to admit I haven't used a powerhead, just stirrred the bejebus out of it but next time I'm in town I'll pick one up.

 

[srfisher17]

If its safe to nuke milk for babies, it sure has to be ok for fish. It's not like you're bringing it to a rolling boil, that could mess with the chemistry. (Maybe.)

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by srfisher17
If its safe to nuke milk for babies, it sure has to be ok for fish. It's not like you're bringing it to a rolling boil, that could mess with the chemistry. (Maybe.)
It is not safe to microwave baby milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mc

 

[buckster71]

Originally Posted by grumpygils
It is not safe to microwave baby milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mc

Nonsense. Did it for both my kids. The problem is overheating it and using non-microwave safe containers. It doesn't affect the milk.

 

[grumpygils]

I had always heard that. Certainly one of the main problems with microwaving baby milk is the potential for accidently burning the child. I assume not too many are that stupid, but I am sure it has happened. I may google the subject. Probably not though as I will never have to go through that again! Clip Clip!
Mc

 

[buckster71]

Actually, Microwaving can also be used to sterilize the water. There was a report a while ago about sterilizing a sponge. Of course alot of people burned down their micros because they didn't report you had to make the sponge sopping wet before you put it in.
Probably would do the same for bacteria in your RO as well and sterilize it. Ro will only take out solids, but not bacteria.

 

[jamiegrl]

random FYI (i work in the NICU- neonatal intensive care unit) Microwaving milk is fine but the temp should be checked before administration to the child. Microwavable containers should also be used (no plastic!!!) and the milk should not boil... just be warmed. The best way to heat the milk tho is put it in hot water for a few mins.
So as for the water microwaving is def fine as long it's in a good container.

 

[keri]

See, now if I ever reproduce I'll know!
"Saltwaterfish.com: not just for salt water fish anymore!"

 

[djcanis]

"Microwaving baby formulas converted certain trans-amino acids into their synthetic cis-isomers. Synthetic isomers, whether cis-amino acids or trans-fatty acids, are not biologically active.
Further, one of the amino acids, L-proline, was converted to its d-isomer, which is known to be neurotoxic (poisonous to the nervous system) and nephrotoxic (poisonous to the kidneys). It's bad enough that many babies are not nursed, but now they are given fake milk (baby formula) made even more toxic via microwaving."
Dr. Lita Lee, University of Hawaii