Tap Water . . .

[BowieReefer84]

Does anyone use distilled water to do water changes? I have been using tap water for some time with no ill effects, but want to switch over to doing things correct. I do not want to get an RO/DI unit because they waste so much water creating water, and I have no skills to hook one up or a place to put it, or a drain to tie into... In the past I have bought spring water jugs, but I don't think that's the best idea either. Basically I want a yes or no confirmation that distilled water is my next best choice. I have hear rumors that it contains copper from the distilleries, but don't think this is true anymore. Are there any good copper test kits out there to find out one way or another?

 

Thanks for any guidance provided, and I'm sorry for being a NOOB. haha

[Origami]

You're talking about the 29 gallon setup, right? In that case, distilled will work fine. Given a 10% water change a week (3 gallons) plus about 2 gallons per week of evaporation (I'm guessing that you lose 1/3 gallon per day if you have an open top), you're only talking about 5 gallons per week.

 

An RO/DI setup at home may be more trouble and expense with such small amounts of water weekly, though your cost recovery horizon would easily fall inside of 1 year's time. You can get RO/DI units that you just hook up to your faucet when you need to run it. There's no need for a permanent installation. While you speak of the waste associated with making RO/DI, don't forget there are still costs for distilled: You've got the energy costs to produce it and transport it, as well as the costs associated with the plastic container. I'm sure that if you were to look at it overall, you'd probably find that RO/DI may be easier on both the wallet and on the environment than distilled. That's my guess anyway.

[BowieReefer84]

You're talking about the 29 gallon setup, right? In that case, distilled will work fine. Given a 10% water change a week (3 gallons) plus about 2 gallons per week of evaporation (I'm guessing that you lose 1/3 gallon per day if you have an open top), you're only talking about 5 gallons per week.

 

An RO/DI setup at home may be more trouble and expense with such small amounts of water weekly, though your cost recovery horizon would easily fall inside of 1 year's time. You can get RO/DI units that you just hook up to your faucet when you need to run it. There's no need for a permanent installation. While you speak of the waste associated with making RO/DI, don't forget there are still costs for distilled: You've got the energy costs to produce it and transport it, as well as the costs associated with the plastic container. I'm sure that if you were to look at it overall, you'd probably find that RO/DI may be easier on both the wallet and on the environment than distilled. That's my guess anyway.

 

Thank you for your input. I am going to contact Air Water Ice to see my options, and make a decision. You are correct in the fact that I go thru about 5 gallons a week b/t evaporation with the open top and water changes.

[zygote2k]

I'd recommend that you use bottled water for such a small tank. You can buy 5 gallons of Deer Park for about $6. I've used this brand for many years with good results.

If you decide to go with an R/O, you can follow my method for leakproof operation.

Hook up r/o to sink, insert drain line into drain, clip good water line to container. Put container in bathtub and wait. If it ever overflows, it'll go down the drain. When done with filling operation, store r/o in closet.

[trockafella]

I got an AWI ro/di kit and the faucet adapter which has a valve to open and close so you can use the sink, it was simple to set up. dont have to hook and unhook it to use the sink.. Do yourself the favor and buy an AWI kit...

 

 

[BowieReefer84]

I'd recommend that you use bottled water for such a small tank. You can buy 5 gallons of Deer Park for about $6. I've used this brand for many years with good results.

If you decide to go with an R/O, you can follow my method for leakproof operation.

Hook up r/o to sink, insert drain line into drain, clip good water line to container. Put container in bathtub and wait. If it ever overflows, it'll go down the drain. When done with filling operation, store r/o in closet.

 

Yea, Target sells gallons of Distilled water for 98cents each . . . when you say bottled are you refering to distilled or spring? I don't want to make any assumptions.

Thanks

[BowieReefer84]

I got an AWI ro/di kit and the faucet adapter which has a valve to open and close so you can use the sink, it was simple to set up. dont have to hook and unhook it to use the sink.. Do yourself the favor and buy an AWI kit...

 

 

which one do you have?

[Kingumar]

iv been using distilled water since iv been in the hobby which is around 2 years. I used to buy the 99c a gallon distilled jugs and have had no problems. I now discovered that Safeway near me has a 6 step ro/di in their store and i take my empty gallons and fill them up for 42 cents a gallon.

 

Iv used an ro unit before, its extremely simple... u just hook it up with your faucet and put the pipe in a tub or container and it will fill it up.

[BowieReefer84]

I now discovered that Safeway near me has a 6 step ro/di in their store and i take my empty gallons and fill them up for 42 cents a gallon.

 

This settles it. Safeway it is. Only $100 a year (260 gallons) for all top off and water changes with my 29 gallon tank. I can def deal with that.

 

THANKS!

[jason the filter freak]

Use straight tap water in 4 different tanks they're all "fine"

[Chad]

If I understand your concern about RO water it is that there is ~3 gallons wasted for every gallon made (worsens as supply pressure goes down).

 

A method that I have heard some folks use with success is three successively smaller inline filters like a 10, 5, 1 or .1 micron filter followed by DI media. The downside of this method is that the 10 and 5 micron filters need to be replaced relatively frequently (depends on usage), but the advantage is good water with no waste water. I read a thread discussing this on the MD forums a few months back... I will see if I can find it and post a link.

[BowieReefer84]

Use straight tap water in 4 different tanks they're all "fine"

 

Are you in the PG county area of Laurel? We must just be special with our Quality PG County Tap Water . . .haha

[jason the filter freak]

2 tanks in howard county part of laurel, 1 tank in columbia. Mind you this is for a 5 gallon change on 50 and 55 gallon tanks, the other is for top offs on a 75 gallon tank... that tank hasn't had a water change in over a year. (See sept TOTM, the other tank is in baltimore it is a 8 gallon or so bio cube like tank that gets a gallon water change using water from laurel (HoCo

[thewire]

Wally world sells distilled water for 78cents and purified water for 83 cents