Our R/O system has puked - so we ordered a new one and it ill not be installed until next Saturday - we have been using distilled water in its place to do this weeks water change and to keep the fresh water tank topped off - our protein skimmer is having a fit - full of clear water and bubbling and overflowing - help
R/O vs. distilled water
- Thread starter Cmack59
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Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Run some GAC, if possible buy water at a LFS till your RO is up.
Uncle99
10K Club member
Distilled and RODI are not the same.
RODI is more pure as the process removes ALL the ions.
The skimmer is working to remove the left over dissolved solids which are present in distilled.
Will be fine, use only what you need.
RODI is more pure as the process removes ALL the ions.
The skimmer is working to remove the left over dissolved solids which are present in distilled.
Will be fine, use only what you need.
Jeff Jarry reef
Valuable Member
Distilled will get you by for few days. I have used it and no problems. but not a long use I wouldn't recommend
blasterman
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If RO is superior to distilled then explain why entire countries rely on distilled water vs RO?
Somebody also doesnt know what an ion is.
RO is water is what cant be trusted - not distilled. Your fish store or grocery is not bound by law to change filters and all the other maintenance required for RO. That's why RO water, especially from commercial sources tests all over the place. I will happily bet some money on getting RO water from different fish stores and testing it vs distilled.
Distilled water can only be made one way - via heating and condensing. The only contaminants with distilled water are those that have a lower vapor temperature than water, which are things not relevant for reefing.
RO is obviously more practical for a small reef or home owner, but that assumes you keep up the maintenance and change filters- all of them. The LFS or grocery store isnt obligated to do that. Distilled has a minimum base quality level dictated by physics, and while RO water under perfect maintenance can theoretically remove low vapor point chemicals better I dont trust grocery stores and LFS stores.
Somebody also doesnt know what an ion is.
RO is water is what cant be trusted - not distilled. Your fish store or grocery is not bound by law to change filters and all the other maintenance required for RO. That's why RO water, especially from commercial sources tests all over the place. I will happily bet some money on getting RO water from different fish stores and testing it vs distilled.
Distilled water can only be made one way - via heating and condensing. The only contaminants with distilled water are those that have a lower vapor temperature than water, which are things not relevant for reefing.
RO is obviously more practical for a small reef or home owner, but that assumes you keep up the maintenance and change filters- all of them. The LFS or grocery store isnt obligated to do that. Distilled has a minimum base quality level dictated by physics, and while RO water under perfect maintenance can theoretically remove low vapor point chemicals better I dont trust grocery stores and LFS stores.
I have been using distilled for over a year.
No issues.
i will say not all distilledwater is created equal.
one day I had some free time and a bit of a manic episode and picked up one gallon from various stores and brands.
Walmart lost with a TDS of 1-3
rite aid is consistently 0, as is target.
No issues.
i will say not all distilledwater is created equal.
one day I had some free time and a bit of a manic episode and picked up one gallon from various stores and brands.
Walmart lost with a TDS of 1-3
rite aid is consistently 0, as is target.
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
if I could afford it I'd used distilled water., I used to set up tanks with 100% distilled water to start with and then RO in the past.
Photo from Exclusive Corals
Thank you everyone for the feedback - we do change all the filters at the recommended times - our new system is capable of doing 300 gallons a day - it is rated for light commercial use - it has a PP sediment filter, GAC filter, CTO filter, 3 RO membranes, and a post carbon filter - has a built in booster pump - we know this is overkill for our Reefer 350 but we are on well water - all our well water also goes through an UV filter also
RO water is not good at all, it has all it’s minerals still in it. RO/DI water is much better and most reefers use it. Properly distilled water will be the purest.
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www.guardianplumbinganddrain.ca
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For tips about filtration systems, or for help with seasonal or emergency plumbing repairs in Cobourg, ON, call Guardian Plumbing today at (289) 251-1626.
www.guardianplumbinganddrain.ca
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www.uswatersystems.com
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Deionize (DI)filter made to remove total dissolved salts, less of these, less agitation to corals. They can stay open longer so they grow and thriveRO water is not good at all, it has all it’s minerals still in it. RO/DI water is much better and most reefers use it. Properly distilled water will be the purest.
RO vs RO DI
Water Filtration Wars: Reverse Osmosis vs. Deionized Water Filtration
For tips about filtration systems, or for help with seasonal or emergency plumbing repairs in Cobourg, ON, call Guardian Plumbing today at (289) 251-1626.
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Deionization Water vs Distilled Water - Knowing The Difference
Deionized water and Distilled water are both types of extremely pure water, but they are produced in two distinctly different ways. Depending on the source water, distilled water can be more pure than deionized water - but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's better. There are pros an
Uncle99
10K Club member
because what’s ok for human consumption is not necessarily good for our reefs.
RODI for me.
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
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Regardless of the relative merits of RO/DI vs distilled, there should be nothing in either one that would cause skimmer foaming or other skimmer issues, and if it actually does, rather than just being a coincidence, there is a serious problem with the water.
Thank you I will let my husband knowDeionize (DI)filter made to remove total dissolved salts, less of these, less agitation to corals. They can stay open longer so they grow and thrive
TDS reading on a gallon of distilled water I have is 7. RODI should be 0. Distilled is better then RO but the closest you can get to RODI. If by adding Distilled your skimmer was just not ready for the little extra in the water that is normally does not get. You may have to adjust the skimmer till the new RODI shows up.
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
I just installed like a month ago a no-waste ultra filtration very similar to ro filtration. The only difference is first it doesn't waste water to make RO water, and it permits total dissolved solids through, which I don't like but today I just got my DI resin, I installed the resin and the canister filters two of them and ran the water through them and my total dissolved solids are at zero , before they were 300
Randy Holmes-Farley
Reef Chemist
Staff member
Super Moderator
Excellence Award
Expert Contributor
Article Contributor
R2R Research
My Tank Thread
Not sure you are using the term minerals correctly (since you seem to distinguish them from "chemicals" and "impurities", but all "minerals" are substantially removed by a reverse osmosis filter. In fact, everything is removed to some extent.
I'd quibble on the distilled, but your definition of "pollutant" may be different than mine. One concern is the quality of the metal cooling coils used, and how much copper might dissolve into it.
If RO is preferable to distilled water, why do entire countries use distilled water instead of RO?
Someone else has no idea what an ion is.
What can't be trusted is RO water, not distilled water. Your fish store or food store is not obligated by law to change filters and perform other RO maintenance. That's why RO water, particularly from commercial sources, has a wide range of results. I'll gladly wager some money on buying RO water from several fish stores and comparing it to distilled water.
There is only one technique to make distilled water: by heating and condensing it. The only pollutants that can be found in distilled water are those having a lower vapour temperature than water, which are irrelevant to reefing.
RO is clearly more feasible for a small reef or a house owner, but that implies you maintain it and change all of the filters. That is something that the LFS or grocery shop is not required to do. Distilled water has a minimal base quality level determined by physics, and while RO water may potentially remove low vapor point contaminants better under ideal conditions, I don't trust supermarket and LFS stores.
Someone else has no idea what an ion is.
What can't be trusted is RO water, not distilled water. Your fish store or food store is not obligated by law to change filters and perform other RO maintenance. That's why RO water, particularly from commercial sources, has a wide range of results. I'll gladly wager some money on buying RO water from several fish stores and comparing it to distilled water.
There is only one technique to make distilled water: by heating and condensing it. The only pollutants that can be found in distilled water are those having a lower vapour temperature than water, which are irrelevant to reefing.
RO is clearly more feasible for a small reef or a house owner, but that implies you maintain it and change all of the filters. That is something that the LFS or grocery shop is not required to do. Distilled water has a minimal base quality level determined by physics, and while RO water may potentially remove low vapor point contaminants better under ideal conditions, I don't trust supermarket and LFS stores.
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