distilled water vs RO water

[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.

 

[jayball]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Ron Reefman]

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]

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]

Thank you guys for your opinions