Distilled Water?

[maduncan]

Ok, so i was using water from the grocery store, where you go to the machine and fill up the bucket with water. My LFS told me that was bad because they dont change their filters enough and then tried to sell me a ro unit. I cant really afford to buy an ro unit right now and so I thought I could start buying gallons of distilled water to do water changes with instead?
Is that ok?

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by MaDuncan
http:///forum/post/2514641
Ok, so i was using water from the grocery store, where you go to the machine and fill up the bucket with water. My LFS told me that was bad because they dont change their filters enough and then tried to sell me a ro unit. I cant really afford to buy an ro unit right now and so I thought I could start buying gallons of distilled water to do water changes with instead?
Is that ok?
I'd keep using the water from the machine for 25 cents/gal.
Look at the sticker on the machine. There is a filter change sticker on it with the date of the last service. Where I live they are changed more than often enough.
You can tell who has a reef in their living room by the type of bottle they are filling. I've had some great conversations with other reefers while waiting in line to fill up.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2514670
I'd keep using the water from the machine for 25 cents/gal.
Look at the sticker on the machine. There is a filter change sticker on it with the date of the last service. Where I live they are changed more than often enough.
You can tell who has a reef in their living room by the type of bottle they are filling. I've had some great conversations with other reefers while waiting in line to fill up.
+1 to this! Sure your LFS wants to sell you a RO unit, look at the price tag on it. Check for the filter change sticker like Socal57che suggested.

 

[bang guy]

This is from some research I did:
TDS levels
A - 105
B - 76
C - 12
D - 524
E - 360
F - 298
I posted them in the order of what I thought would be cleanest to dirtiest water. Am I the only one Surprised by the results?
A = Culligan RO/DI from a vending machine
B = Walmart Distilled
C = RO from my filter
D = Dannon Spring Water
E = My Tap Water
F = My Well Water

 

[shogun323]

Wow Guy. Those are crazy results. I'll never buy Dannon Spring Water!!

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2514699
This is from some research I did:
TDS levels
A - 105
B - 76
C - 12
D - 524
E - 360
F - 298
I posted them in the order of what I thought would be cleanest to dirtiest water. Am I the only one Surprised by the results?
A = Culligan RO/DI from a vending machine
B = Walmart Distilled
C = RO from my filter
D = Dannon Spring Water
E = My Tap Water
F = My Well Water
Seriously! That is surprising ~ not so much the bottom three, but the top three really surprise me. Now tell me this, I've seen recently that a lot of people have begun test for TDS (total dissolved solids), and I'm curious as to why?

 

[jaymz]

Really, that is suprising.. I too questioned the RO water i got from the machine at krogers. Not any mroe. But wal-mart distilled being better than your own RO unit is the most suprising.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2514699
This is from some research I did:
TDS levels
A - 105
B - 76
C - 12
D - 524
E - 360
F - 298
I posted them in the order of what I thought would be cleanest to dirtiest water. Am I the only one Surprised by the results?
A = Culligan RO/DI from a vending machine
B = Walmart Distilled
C = RO from my filter
D = Dannon Spring Water
E = My Tap Water
F = My Well Water
Did you test the water yourself?
Why do you think the TDS in the vending machines are so much higher than your own RO unit? I have one, but have not installed it because we are planning a kitchen remodel. I never dreamed there was that big of difference.
The filters in the vending machines out here (you are near LA right? or was that Viper?) are changed constantly. Well, at least the sticker is.
You mentioned a well so I don't think you're near LA.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2514729
and I'm curious as to why?
It measures how "dirty" your water is. Dissolved solids build up over time and can lead to issues like algae blooms. Water changes (hopefully with a lower TDS) will keep them in check.
Salt is a solid. Add it to your tank and it becomes a dissolved solid. Every mineral and solid partical added to your tank increases this number. A skimmer removes dissolved solids by trapping them in the membrane of a bubble. This only works because of the surface tension of saltwater.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2514767
It measures how "dirty" your water is. Dissolved solids build up over time and can lead to issues like algae blooms. Water changes (hopefully with a lower TDS) will keep them in check.
Salt is a solid. Add it to your tank and it becomes a dissolved solid. Every mineral and solid partical added to your tank increases this number. A skimmer removes dissolved solids by trapping them in the membrane of a bubble. This only works because of the surface tension of saltwater.
Ok, guess I should rephrase my question ~ I understand what dissolved solids are. What I don't understand is why you are trying to reach a TDS of Zero. Many substances that are dissolved in water are necessary building blocks for life (ex. sulfur), and are not part of a salt mix. I understand using RO/DI to minimize the effects of diatom/algae blooms, but I think that those people who desire a TDS of zero are going too far. Low concentrations of TDS can and will limit the growth of all aquatic life. It seems to me that those of you who are trying to reach zero TDS are putting a lot of faith in your saltwater mix to supply absolutely everything ~ and based on what I've seen posted on various saltwater mixes, I think your faith is misplaced! Also, skimmers only remove some, not all dissolved solids, they do not remove salt for example, which as you stated, is a dissolved solid. IMPO this is a classic case of chemical companies convincing people to buy and use a product that they really don't need. As we can see from Bang Guy's results, the use of any RO/DI system is a major improvement over regular water (by the way, spring water is simply water taken directly out of the ground, many people have the misconception that because its sold in bottles is somehow purer than what comes out of your tap. Since is absorbs solid from the ground, this is seldom, if ever true)
MaDuncan, I apologize for pulling your thread so far off topic ~ I do hope we helped with your original question.

 

[steve24]

other then the initial filling of my tank, walmarts distilled water (purple cap)
is all i ever use for my now 2 yr old 55 reef with no ill effects. i don`t have a
TDS meter to test and see what the results may be ...

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by steve24
http:///forum/post/2514910
other then the initial filling of my tank, walmarts distilled water (purple cap)
is all i ever use for my now 2 yr old 55 reef with no ill effects. i don`t have a
TDS meter to test and see what the results may be ...
I'm not surprized ~ any distilled water should have a TDS reading of 0, its nothing but water molecules. However, the use of distilled water by humans has been shown to have long term effects on bone density as well as in other areas because of the leaching of calcium and other minerals by distilled water which is highly aggressive due to its lack of dissolved ions. Hence my original statement. The closer you get to 0 TDS, the more effects I would think you are going to see over the long term ~ it often takes years for these effects to show up in people, doesn't mean they are not happening

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2514889
Ok, guess I should rephrase my question ~ I understand what dissolved solids are. What I don't understand is why you are trying to reach a TDS of Zero. Many substances that are dissolved in water are necessary building blocks for life (ex. sulfur), and are not part of a salt mix. I understand using RO/DI to minimize the effects of diatom/algae blooms, but I think that those people who desire a TDS of zero are going too far. Low concentrations of TDS can and will limit the growth of all aquatic life. It seems to me that those of you who are trying to reach zero TDS are putting a lot of faith in your saltwater mix to supply absolutely everything ~ and based on what I've seen posted on various saltwater mixes, I think your faith is misplaced! Also, skimmers only remove some, not all dissolved solids, they do not remove salt for example, which as you stated, is a dissolved solid. IMPO this is a classic case of chemical companies convincing people to buy and use a product that they really don't need. As we can see from Bang Guy's results, the use of any RO/DI system is a major improvement over regular water (by the way, spring water is simply water taken directly out of the ground, many people have the misconception that because its sold in bottles is somehow purer than what comes out of your tap. Since is absorbs solid from the ground, this is seldom, if ever true)
MaDuncan, I apologize for pulling your thread so far off topic ~ I do hope we helped with your original question.

Since lack of TDS in an aquarium is never an issue, I will do what I can to keep them to a minimum. You can do what you want.

 

[metweezer]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2514699
This is from some research I did:
TDS levels
A - 105
B - 76
C - 12
D - 524
E - 360
F - 298
I posted them in the order of what I thought would be cleanest to dirtiest water. Am I the only one Surprised by the results?
A = Culligan RO/DI from a vending machine
B = Walmart Distilled
C = RO from my filter
D = Dannon Spring Water
E = My Tap Water
F = My Well Water
Maybe your TDS meter is off. I have never tested higher than 2 from Walmart Distilled water (purple cap). It is mostly 0. I have gone through about 30 gals. Or maybe my TDS meter is off

I will be purchasing an RO/DI shortly. Probably a Typhoon III.
Steve

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2514729
Now tell me this, I've seen recently that a lot of people have begun test for TDS (total dissolved solids), and I'm curious as to why?
I bought the meter after I purchased my RO unit. It is the perfect instrument to tell when it's the exact time to change out your RO membrane. No guessing mean you don't have to change it early just to be sure.
It has a high & low range so I can use it to give a precise Salinity reading as well.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2514756
Did you test the water yourself?
Why do you think the TDS in the vending machines are so much higher than your own RO unit? I have one, but have not installed it because we are planning a kitchen remodel. I never dreamed there was that big of difference.
The filters in the vending machines out here (you are near LA right? or was that Viper?) are changed constantly. Well, at least the sticker is.
You mentioned a well so I don't think you're near LA.
I did the test myself, twice. I had also just calibrated the meter so I know the results are accurate.
I don't know why the machine would be so far off. My guess would be an old or inadequate filter.
I'm in Western NY, nowhere near LA.

 

[big]

I always thought that distilled water was a NO_NO in any reef systems because of the traces of copper from the tubes in the distillerey units are most the time times made with copper tubing?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2514889
What I don't understand is why you are trying to reach a TDS of Zero. Many substances that are dissolved in water are necessary building blocks for life (ex. sulfur), and are not part of a salt mix.
If your source water has a TDS of zero then you know exactly what is going into your aquarium system. Sulfur IS part of all salt mixes.
Generallt speaking most of the impurities in tap water are terrible. Copper, Silicates, and Phosphates, etc.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by big
http:///forum/post/2515291
I always thought that distilled water was a NO_NO in any reef systems because of the traces of copper from the tubes in the distillerey units are most the time times made with copper tubing?
To be fair, the newer distilleries no longer use copper anywhere in their systems. In the old days they even used copper pots to boil the water.

 

[fats71]

Originally Posted by big
http:///forum/post/2515291
I always thought that distilled water was a NO_NO in any reef systems because of the traces of copper from the tubes in the distillerey units are most the time times made with copper tubing?
I am using the machine at wal-mart and also using water from lowes trade ins.
I am concerned now about the copper... All this stuff is killing me..
I mean 20 years ago people did not have all these high upgrade options how did they do it ?> If we need this and that and this has that and its bad OMG it gets to be a real brain buster trying to filter out my mind after reading all the do's and donts...