Distilled Water or Reverse Osmosis Water?

[SFish]

It's simple buy some distilled water from the store and test it with a TDS meter if it reads 0 then you are good to go if not then don't use it. Drinking water has lower standards then our hobby filters so I would check it first. In the long run if you use any real amount of water it's cheaper to buy an RO/DI filter.

 

[Tooboot]

The water coming out of a RO/DI water filter is NOT "distilled" it is "deionized"

Distillation is a thermal process where water is caused to evaporate (steam) via a thermal (heat) process and is collected... Think copper still moonshine process..

Deionized is a chemical process using negative/positively charged resins to exchange the "dirty stuff" and output "clean" water..

not sure who you were addressing this to, but just wanted to clarify that for the most part, large commercial water distillation plants don't use copper pipping, and often use multiple methods of filtering the water before it even gets to the distiller to not ruin their machines. having worked at one of these plants in the past I can assure you of this. the pictures I posted show that it is less then 2 PPM of TDS. and in response to the comment about the ocean's water not being pure; the ocean is a large area with a much different bio diversity than a tank with a closed loop, I believe this is why you want pure water knowing it will get dirty with time, the ocean has evaporation and rain as part of the filtration, tanks do not. although we try to replicate the ocean's environment in our aquariums we have to consider that the processes are much different and we do what we can.

 

[SFish]

 

[Tooboot]

I will get more info on the processes used at my local water distillation store shortly. RO/DI, like all other things requires maintenance, and I guess that is why it is best to have this at home since you can only blame yourself if you are using old cartridges and should know better. you can't tell what the stores use.
the distillation store/manufacturer I mentioned uses a multiple stage process to purify their water, so I guess I question would it not be best to do RO/DI and Distilled (i.e. run the water through multiple filtration/purification methods). I get its not feasible to all to have a distillation type machine in your home, but if the stores/producers would do both, would that not be better than RO/DI and Distilled alone.

 

[mcgyvr]

not sure who you were addressing this to, but just wanted to clarify that for the most part, large commercial water distillation plants don't use copper pipping, and often use multiple methods of filtering the water before it even gets to the distiller to not ruin their machines.

I was just addressing anyone that wasn't aware DI does not stand for distilled.. no one in specific was being "targeted" by my comments..

I'm also aware that copper piping is not used.. Just using the copper still as an example that most people can picture in their head (I hope).. Didn't mean to imply that copper was used in the process and could be an element in the DI water from the store..

 

[neiltus]

FYI...

I have two distillers at work to make water for autoclaves. I still get about 12ppm on them. They do a great job of removing minerals, however, organics, not so much.

It's difficult to find bottled water that is ONLY distilled, most bottled water is distilled, UV, ozone, etc, and some of it RO as well. Read the label and test if you use bottled water.

Water labeled as 'spring' will have various amounts of minerals in it. Read the label.

Wal-mart brand Distilled water comes in about 2 PPM.

 

[Tooboot]

I was just addressing anyone that wasn't aware DI does not stand for distilled.. no one in specific was being "targeted" by my comments..

I'm also aware that copper piping is not used.. Just using the copper still as an example that most people can picture in their head (I hope).. Didn't mean to imply that copper was used in the process and could be an element in the DI water from the store..

Ok, I figured it was an example, but with some of the confusion around distilled water I water to clarify for those that may not have I found on distilled water. All in all we make a good team:lolspin:

 

[Tooboot]

FYI...

I have two distillers at work to make water for autoclaves. I still get about 12ppm on them. They do a great job of removing minerals, however, organics, not so much.

It's difficult to find bottled water that is ONLY distilled, most bottled water is distilled, UV, ozone, etc, and some of it RO as well. Read the label and test if you use bottled water.

Water labeled as 'spring' will have various amounts of minerals in it. Read the label.

Wal-mart brand Distilled water comes in about 2 PPM.

Thanks for supporting my views, it all depends on each producers process. And I fully agree, check the labels and test your water

 

[mcgyvr]

Ok, I figured it was an example, but with some of the confusion around distilled water I water to clarify for those that may not have I found on distilled water. All in all we make a good team:lolspin:

yes thank you for clarifying me on trying to clarify..
Gooooo team :thumbsup:

 

[NeilFox]

I just got an RO/DI system a few days ago. So far I am not too happy with it. It was free so I can't complain but I think I will stop using it. My water here is very good for drinking etc.. In fact the local water is used by several breweries as it comes from the Tumwater aquifer. The problem is that it contains very high silicates. They make a DI resin that removes silicates but I have no idea how long they last. One source says 150 gallons, that is not a lot. I can say with certainty that RO does not remove silicates very well. Has anyone tried the Spectrapure Silicabuster? Is it worth it? I understand that you actually need two DI resins with this?

 

[SFish]

looks like that would be the easiest way to get it out.