Distilled water VS. RO-DI water

[nmbsun]

Seeing as how Distilled water and RO-DI water are mineral,nitrate,etc. free. Why should a person buy a RO-DI unit for a small tank set up. Why not just buy Distilled water for a Salt water set up and partial water changes ?

 

[cajamajo]

If I understand it right the distilled water could have trace copper in it if copper pipes were used in the process. If you dont want to purchas a ro/di unit you can buy ro water by the gallon.

 

[xrobbx03]

Since i dont have any LFS stores around that sell RO DI water by the gallon, I bought distilled water from a few different stores and different brands. Tested all the water and found one that was free of everything and just use that water for my weekly water changes. As long as you make sure that the distilled water has nothing harmful in it to hurt your tank then i dont see any reason why you cant buy it for water changes on a small tank. I mean in the long run buying a RO DI unit would be cheaper, but i find it easier to just stop off and grab a few gallons on my way home from work when i need it.

 

[chadman]

you don't have to go to a fish store in order to get rodi water buddy...in fact there are prolly very few fish stores that sell rodi...i knwo none in my area do...check grocery stores and such...i have two five gallon jugs that i take once a week to fill up...it costs 3 bucks total for ten gallons...

 

[xrobbx03]

Originally Posted by chadman
you don't have to go to a fish store in order to get rodi water...in fact there are prolly very few fish stores that sell rodi...i knwo none in my area do...check grocery stores and such...i have two five gallon jugs that i take once a week to fill up...it costs 3 bucks total for ten gallons...
yeah well sorry i didnt know that since none of my grocery stores have places to fill jugs like that and i would know since i work part time at one. I do have those fill up stations and those in my area proved to be worse then the distilled.

 

[vanos]

Go with distilled water for topping off your tank due to evaporation. I buy mine for .89/gallon at wholefoods market.
For water changes every 2 weeks I buy ro/di salt water for $1/gallon at the lfs and sometimes I buy the ***** water.

 

[chadman]

its okay bud....don't be a smartass

 

[xrobbx03]

Right, cause your post didnt sound smart at all either.

 

[xrobbx03]

I tried that ***** water before and the SG on it was really high.

 

[acrylic51]

What size tank are we talking about maintaining? Regardless when you look at the price people aren't seeing the whole picture.....What does distilled water cost per gallon? Figure in your time to get it, gas for the car, the wear on your back, and uhm.......let's just say you have an emergency that you need to do major water changes like yesterday, and the stores closed or just out of water???? An RO/DI unit will pay for itself many times over.....When you look at the sticker you get shell shocked, but like I always say why trust your water quality to someone else.....just heartache eventually......

 

[cajamajo]

My walmart has ro water 69 cents gal.

 

[ophiura]

I just picked up an RO/DI over the weekend. For me the real hassle was the effort to go get the water. I just didn't feel like it half the time, so that meant I didn't do enough water changes. Or sometimes I would add too much salt, mess it up, not have enough fresh to correct it, etc, etc.
Not having the hassle is well worth the cost, IMO

 

[cajamajo]

I also purchased one over the weekend. They are not at bad prices on the big aution site.

 

[acrylic51]

Originally Posted by cajamajo
My walmart has ro water 69 cents gal.
Can you vouch continuously that the water is quality that you'd get from your own RO/DI unit? Nah.......How do you know they perform the maintenance on these machines like they are suppose to? Do you take your TDS meter with you when you get water?

 

[brotox]

I was buying ro water from the machine at my walmart, but looked at the last service date and it had been well over 6 months since it had been checked. Now I just buy the distilled jugs, since my wife would kill me if I bought an ro unit.

 

[acrylic51]

Originally Posted by Brotox
I was buying ro water from the machine at my walmart, but looked at the last service date and it had been well over 6 months since it had been checked. Now I just buy the distilled jugs, since my wife would kill me if I bought an ro unit.
Build your own........Never bring reciepts home with you!!!!!!!!

You could build a nice unit for fairly cheap....

 

[supermanvx]

Originally Posted by acrylic51
Build your own........Never bring reciepts home with you!!!!!!!!

You could build a nice unit for fairly cheap....
how do you build one?

 

[acrylic51]

I had posted a build sheet in another thread probably last week and just pasted it here for you.....it's super easy, and you could do it blind folded.....you can assemble it at the kitchen table in under a 1/2 hour with all the parts in front of you.......
Parts list as requested by some of you guys.....
(1) Membrane RO-DWTW3 018127 Dow Filmtech 75gpd
(1) Flow Restrictor RO-FLFLOW525 75gpd
(3) 10" Filter Housings ROFL4000CB34 (black top)
CP120114C-W (white top)
(1) Pressure Gauge RO-CAP575-16270
(1) Pressure Vessel Housing with auto shut off RO-UT094-D
(1) Mounting Bracket (black steel) RO-CPFM60
(6) 1/4" John Guest Fittings (quick connect) RO-JGC1480822W
(1) Carbon Filter 9.75" RO-MA322501259
(1) Sediment Filter 10" RO-CP15518243 (5 micron)
(1) DI Filter 10" RO-CPP5-10-1042
You can get these parts @ CustomAquatics I get them all the time there. For the dual TDS meter that I recommend you can get that by contacting AirWaterIce.

 

[supermanvx]

Originally Posted by acrylic51
I had posted a build sheet in another thread probably last week and just pasted it here for you.....it's super easy, and you could do it blind folded.....you can assemble it at the kitchen table in under a 1/2 hour with all the parts in front of you.......
Parts list as requested by some of you guys.....
(1) Membrane RO-DWTW3 018127 Dow Filmtech 75gpd
(1) Flow Restrictor RO-FLFLOW525 75gpd
(3) 10" Filter Housings ROFL4000CB34 (black top)
CP120114C-W (white top)
(1) Pressure Gauge RO-CAP575-16270
(1) Pressure Vessel Housing with auto shut off RO-UT094-D
(1) Mounting Bracket (black steel) RO-CPFM60
(6) 1/4" John Guest Fittings (quick connect) RO-JGC1480822W
(1) Carbon Filter 9.75" RO-MA322501259
(1) Sediment Filter 10" RO-CP15518243 (5 micron)
(1) DI Filter 10" RO-CPP5-10-1042
You can get these parts @ CustomAquatics I get them all the time there. For the dual TDS meter that I recommend you can get that by contacting AirWaterIce.

Thanks for pasting that...Just curious, because AirWaterIce has some nice units for good price...how cheap are we talking here, looks like you wouldnt save THAT much

 

[acrylic51]

AirWaterIce makes nice units.....Walter is great to deal with....I think last time I supplied one of these units for a customer I think it was $219.00 delievered to her door.......
I deal with Custom alot and off the top of my head you might be able to build for cheaper....Email me at shwncbb@verizon.net and I'll let you know....