distilled water vs RO water

Bontrager · 01/20/2017, 09:41 AM

is it the same, more or less? getting reading to set up my new IM 20 gal nuvo.

I have an RO system but I like the convenience of going to my local Giant eagle and buying distilled water at .89 per gallon. I think that distilling removes the minerals but won't the salt mix ( reef crystals) and them back?

Thank you.

jayball · 01/20/2017, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bontrager

is it the same, more or less? getting reading to set up my new IM 20 gal nuvo.

I have an RO system but I like the convenience of going to my local Giant eagle and buying distilled water at .89 per gallon. I think that distilling removes the minerals but won't the salt mix ( reef crystals) and them back?

Thank you.

RO/DI also removes the minerals. You want to start with nothing in the water as the salt mix is calibrated to include everything you need.

I am not sure how much you will be evaporating in a tank like that but you may be able to get away with it. I would not as I evaporate almost a gallon a day in my 90.

hann1bal · 01/20/2017, 10:01 AM

Distilled means to boil to vaporize. After the condensation is collected it is without all the contaminants that didn't boil out.

So basically everything that has a boiling point below water (212F) should be removed but things that boil at that temperature or lower will likely still be present.

TLDR: The guy above me is right - RO/DI is the way to go but I have a friend who had success with distilled water for years.

jgln · 01/20/2017, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bontrager

is it the same, more or less? getting reading to set up my new IM 20 gal nuvo.

I have an RO system but I like the convenience of going to my local Giant eagle and buying distilled water at .89 per gallon. I think that distilling removes the minerals but won't the salt mix ( reef crystals) and them back?

Thank you.

Huh, my reason for getting an RO/DI unit was because of the trouble of going to the store and hauling water home.

rsepiphyte · 01/20/2017, 08:13 PM

I have used distilled for sometime without any problems. It is easier for me to purchase as well.

Ron Reefman · 01/21/2017, 06:07 AM

I used distilled water for a long time with no issues. Now I have a 1000gpd RO/DI system, but I'm willing to let my water run until my TDS readings get into the 20's or 30's before I change the DI. But then there are people who use low TDS tap water with no issues as well. A friend of mine uses aerated well water with a TDS that averaged about 100 TDS and he has nice sps and lps in a 200g tank. If your water doesn't have any heavy metals like copper or lead, and distilled water shouldn't, you'll be fine.

The zero TDS guys around here are a bit over the top about not having anything in the water IMHO.

rlhanks · 01/21/2017, 08:48 AM

My community well here gives us a TDS of 450-500. That sounds bad but that's nothing to worry about compared to the pool chlorine their pumping into it. Sometimes washing my hands it smells like pool water. Filtration here is a must. Whole house Pelican carbon, softener, RO for consumption and DI for reef.

Funding for this hobby is supplied by our friends at Generous Motors

Bontrager · 01/22/2017, 12:24 PM

Thank you guys for your opinions

01/20/2017, 09:41 AM	#1
Bontrager Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 123	distilled water vs RO water is it the same, more or less? getting reading to set up my new IM 20 gal nuvo. I have an RO system but I like the convenience of going to my local Giant eagle and buying distilled water at .89 per gallon. I think that distilling removes the minerals but won't the salt mix ( reef crystals) and them back? Thank you.

01/21/2017, 06:07 AM	#6
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	I used distilled water for a long time with no issues. Now I have a 1000gpd RO/DI system, but I'm willing to let my water run until my TDS readings get into the 20's or 30's before I change the DI. But then there are people who use low TDS tap water with no issues as well. A friend of mine uses aerated well water with a TDS that averaged about 100 TDS and he has nice sps and lps in a 200g tank. If your water doesn't have any heavy metals like copper or lead, and distilled water shouldn't, you'll be fine. The zero TDS guys around here are a bit over the top about not having anything in the water IMHO. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017 Last edited by Ron Reefman; 01/21/2017 at 06:14 AM.

01/21/2017, 08:48 AM	#7
rlhanks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Farmington Hills, MI Posts: 22	My community well here gives us a TDS of 450-500. That sounds bad but that's nothing to worry about compared to the pool chlorine their pumping into it. Sometimes washing my hands it smells like pool water. Filtration here is a must. Whole house Pelican carbon, softener, RO for consumption and DI for reef. Funding for this hobby is supplied by our friends at Generous Motors __________________ Bought my first tank with my paper route money back in 1984. 150 gallon SC starphire Metal frame stand made from welded Unistrut and wrapped in Walnut Most equipment are DIY Current Tank Info: 5'x2'x2', BLDC7, maxspect gyre250, T5HO and LED's, Home made welded steel tubular stand wrapped in wood work.

01/20/2017, 10:01 AM	#3
hann1bal Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 223	Distilled means to boil to vaporize. After the condensation is collected it is without all the contaminants that didn't boil out. So basically everything that has a boiling point below water (212F) should be removed but things that boil at that temperature or lower will likely still be present. TLDR: The guy above me is right - RO/DI is the way to go but I have a friend who had success with distilled water for years.

01/20/2017, 08:13 PM	#5
rsepiphyte Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 60	I have used distilled for sometime without any problems. It is easier for me to purchase as well.

01/22/2017, 12:24 PM	#8
Bontrager Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 123	Thank you guys for your opinions