Is distilled water ok?
- Thread starter catera
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burtonjr
Member
There is much debate to this question, however, some TDS (totally disolved solids) can still be present in distilled water. RO water is best and even better if it is also deionized first. This process will remove all phosphates and silicates present in normal tap water. I recently rented an RO unit from Culligan for $22/mo and now can get as much as 30g/day. Cheaper than buying it off the shelf.
ky
Member
Quick question. How can there be dissolved anything in distilled water? If you have ever taken organic chemistry in college, you remember distilling everything in lab. The reason that you distill is to remove all of the impurities. They boil the water and collect the condensed vapor (steam), which of coarse turns into water when it cools. There is nothing in the steam but H and O. All of the impurities are left behind in the distillate.
ramey70
Member
rohmer
The acid in acid rain comes from when the rain passes through pollutants on its way down in the atmosphere. Another way acid rain can form is if a toxic particle is the base of the creation of a rain drop. By distilling water in a clean environment you don't have to worry about pollutants. However, in large scale distillation many companies use copper coil pipes to condense the steam back into water. I'm not sure how much, if any, of the copper is leached into the water but everyone in this hobby knows what copper can do to a system. Are you willing to take a chance?
The acid in acid rain comes from when the rain passes through pollutants on its way down in the atmosphere. Another way acid rain can form is if a toxic particle is the base of the creation of a rain drop. By distilling water in a clean environment you don't have to worry about pollutants. However, in large scale distillation many companies use copper coil pipes to condense the steam back into water. I'm not sure how much, if any, of the copper is leached into the water but everyone in this hobby knows what copper can do to a system. Are you willing to take a chance?
jodeman
Member
Acid rain is caused by the mixing of sulfur dioxides and/or nitrogen oxides (air pollutants) with the condensate (clouds) in the atmosphere.
Most (but not all) distilled water that I've seen on shelves have been RO and Di purified. Read the label and it will tell. Even if not, it would still be better than using tap water.
Most (but not all) distilled water that I've seen on shelves have been RO and Di purified. Read the label and it will tell. Even if not, it would still be better than using tap water.
javajoe
Member
I would NEVER use distilled water without testing it first. My first water change was with "Mayer Brother's" distilled water that i bought at Walmart. After doing the water change, almost ALL of my coraline alge died, followed by my fish and all snails. Tested the gallon i had left- ammonia reading was off the charts!
Ammonia boils at a lower temperature than water, so if the distilation company does not use a release valve for the ammonia gas, it does get condensed and goes back into the water. Unless you but MEDICAL GRADE distilled water, they are not required by the FDA to actually make sure that ammonia is not present.
It took us 2 months of weekly water changes with RO/DI water to finally get our tank unde control. This could have ALL been avoided if I had simply tested the water first.
I now do a wuick test for ammonia before adding any water. Its a pain, but worth it for me in the long run.
There is my 2 cents....
Ammonia boils at a lower temperature than water, so if the distilation company does not use a release valve for the ammonia gas, it does get condensed and goes back into the water. Unless you but MEDICAL GRADE distilled water, they are not required by the FDA to actually make sure that ammonia is not present.
It took us 2 months of weekly water changes with RO/DI water to finally get our tank unde control. This could have ALL been avoided if I had simply tested the water first.
I now do a wuick test for ammonia before adding any water. Its a pain, but worth it for me in the long run.
There is my 2 cents....
clownfish4life
Member
what kind of water should i use when doing a water change?
ky
Member
I don't think that the ammonia came from the distilled water. The boiling point of ammonia is -33C. That's less then the freezing point of water. I don't know about commercial applications, but in a lab, there is no valve to release the 'ammonia steam', because there simply isn't any. I guess a good way to solve this is to use RO/DI water.
dirtybilge
Member
Go online and go to petsolutions.com you can buy one there buy a Kent or Spectrapure unit there the best! Go for the the RO/DI and yes there waste water at a ratio of 3:1 or even 4:1 but its better than walking with gallons back from the store. About the RO units from culligans, the RO membrain about $100 will die prematurly if it is calibrated at anything less than 3:1 My spectrapure came already adjusted, i just hooked it up to the tap and it started working and tested all 0's Worth there weight in gold!
susiepan
Member
Just to touch on the distilled water thing..I have used Distilled water for about two years now, -My daughter -in-law has used it for about 5 yrs.. I always add my extras everyday like a good mommy,do my testing etc..I have lost nothing due to distilled water...( I think I have more meds and vitamins for my pets than I do my kids) But anyway, it has worked out very well for my tank..
My equip is..
404 Fluval Bio Filtration
Berlin Turbo Skimmer
Whisper 60 Bio Filtration
3Power heads
Heater
And Two 20,000K and two Blue Moon Reef lights on a 55 gal..
My equip is..
404 Fluval Bio Filtration
Berlin Turbo Skimmer
Whisper 60 Bio Filtration
3Power heads
Heater
And Two 20,000K and two Blue Moon Reef lights on a 55 gal..
broomer5
Active Member
I've been visiting and working with engineers, operators and maintenance guys at several major municipal water treatment plants over the last 15 years. What I've witnessed and heard would make many of the die hard tap water users rush out and buy an RO or RO/DI unit asap, or look for alternatives to using tap.
I've seen things that would make you cringe - and you wouldn't believe the EPA violations that are covered up. Believe me - the water we think is pure out of the tap is not always what we think it is. And that is the difficult thing about tap water - you just don't know. Also, from the time it is treated, tested, moved through distribution piping, and then ends up coming out of your faucet - there are many sources of contamination that can occur.
If you are not testing for every compound that could be present - you are assuming, speculating and just having faith in your water company.
So in my opinion - in order of worst to best regarding removal/reduction of contaminents, and giving one some level of control over their water quality for saltwater tanks, and their own personal drinking water.
1) tap water
2) store bought distilled water
3) store bought distilled water with carbon filtration, or other forms of secondary filtration
4) store bought RO water and it's various forms of additional filtration, polishing, etc.
5) home DI unit
6) home RO unit
7) home RO/DI unit
Each step up gives you "some" level of control, assuming you maintain your equipment and continue to test.
I've seen things that would make you cringe - and you wouldn't believe the EPA violations that are covered up. Believe me - the water we think is pure out of the tap is not always what we think it is. And that is the difficult thing about tap water - you just don't know. Also, from the time it is treated, tested, moved through distribution piping, and then ends up coming out of your faucet - there are many sources of contamination that can occur.
If you are not testing for every compound that could be present - you are assuming, speculating and just having faith in your water company.
So in my opinion - in order of worst to best regarding removal/reduction of contaminents, and giving one some level of control over their water quality for saltwater tanks, and their own personal drinking water.
1) tap water
2) store bought distilled water
3) store bought distilled water with carbon filtration, or other forms of secondary filtration
4) store bought RO water and it's various forms of additional filtration, polishing, etc.
5) home DI unit
6) home RO unit
7) home RO/DI unit
Each step up gives you "some" level of control, assuming you maintain your equipment and continue to test.
