Distilled Water

[elcid]

Is distilled water good for water changes?
Thanks

 

[plum70rt]

you mean topoff water dont you?

 

[nacl-h2o]

Distilled water by itself is great for water top off and is also good for water changes, salt dissolves in it quikly and it's as pure as RO/DI.

 

[gregzbobo]

need to be careful with distilled, alot of times it is distilled with copper tubing, and you all know what copper does to a reef tank.

 

[jonthefb]

if you plan on using it, test it. i have heard form several people on this board that theyr distilled water was outrageously high in phosphates, so i would reccommend running a bunch of test on your distilled before actually using it!
good luck
jon

 

[nacl-h2o]

Distillers don't use copper pipes anymore, they havn't for quite some time. You should also use only distilled DRINKING water. I can't vouch for the quality of all distillers and bottlers, but the ones I use have no detectable NH3, NO2, NO3, PO4, SO2 or Cu, and they shouldn't. If alot of PO4 shows up, it's after filtering contamination(sign of a lower quality bottler). I primarily use Wal-Mart brand called Great Value distilled drinking water for 6 years with only good results. I have also tried and tested the brand Winn-Dixie and Food Lion sell in a crunch with good result. Distilled is the best water you can buy for your tank, RO/DI is the best filter to use to make your own, and is the best way to go if you have the money to buy one.

 

[elcid]

Thank you, from now on I will use distilled water, BUT only the brand that NaCl mentioned, that is good that I live close to Wal-mart .

 

[phoenixrising]

I use "Distillata" brand which also tests zero for everything. I can pick it up at a variety store (Marc's) 2 gallons for .99c. Works great!