Water .. Can I???

[The_Butler_1999]

I have a water store just down the street from me that sales distilled water for .50cents a gallon. I was thinking this would be grate for the tank untill I can get the money together and buy a good RO/DI unit ..

I think ( THINK ) I remember reading some where cant remember and cant find it .. that distilled water was a no no in a reef ...

I have seen his setup ... bascally boiles the water collects the steam and goes into a huge holding tank .. runs threw a UV tube ... and out to the distrubution area. I cant remember is the pips are copper though .. that would be a bad thing .. but if they are rubber hose or somthing other than copper is this water good for a reef?

Thanks in advance!

 

[danmhippo]

I highly doubt they are rubber hose in the boiler. If there are no copper used in the whole process (you can ask them), then you are safe. Many people use market bought distilled water without problems.

 

[Desolas]

What area are you in? You should be able to find RO water for much cheaper. I buy RO water from the grocer for .25/gallon.

If you can't find it, just ask the company they should be able to tell you everything you need to know if it is safe or not. I would assume they use copper or pvc line.

 

[jeffsdesigns]

But...I'm not sure..but ya might wanna check your RO water for phosphates. That why I use distilled...so I don't have phosphates and silicates.
I do have Water Softener (RO) unit here at home..but leaves phosphates and silicates in here...don't want them in my tank..lol

 

[shalegac]

One of my buddies used Distilled and his tank looks great. But yes if you can find R/O it is cheaper.

 

[danmhippo]

As far as I know, water softener is not RO.

 

[The_Butler_1999]

Put is simply .. you can get all your essential iron and minerals in one glass of water ... if anyone is from Utah .. than I am sure you have heard of Magna water .. ...

Its very hard and full of crap .. so I really need a good RO/DI unit to keep things going ...

that’s the reason that I am looking at the distilled water and possibly buying my own .. distiller. I found a pretty good deal on one .. however don’t really have a good place to store it right now ...

Also .. I am thinking of going to my 90 gallon tank to a 75 .. with built in over flow ( All Glass ) apposed to the 90 with a hang on the back over flow .. so I don’t worry about it over flowing anymore ..


Another quick question .. how many people in here have a dedicated electrical circuit for there tank? .. and how many amps should I allow .. I am trying to figure out if I need to have an electrician come in and run me a dedicated line for the tank .. as I run Metal Halides and all the pumps .. heaters etc. etc.

Thanks all .. I love this BB!!!! .. It has helped me so much! And I am sure that most people here can say the same.

I do have to say though .. I remember when I first found this board a few years ago .. I could post a question and by the time I got up and got me a soda from the fridge I would have 5 people trying to help me out .. seems we are caught up in more politics either that or more people on this BB just don’t want to help out anymore ...

but I would like to thank the few that have answered my questions! .. I am hoping we can all help each other out a little more in the future.. kina like it was in the past ...

 

[danmhippo]

I have mine on 2 separate 20amp circuit. Normally that would be overkill. But I run a 1/2 HP chiller in addition to dual 400W MH. I'd like to be on the safe side.

 

[heavydc2]

I have two seperate circuits set up, both 15 amp, one is didicated, (Oonly by luck), and I have another one that has my computer running on it, but I don't use that one for anything with a heavy draw on it. I might have a bit of overkill, but my philosphy is that overkill never hurts

 

[jeffsdesigns]

Water Softner is Ro..Reverse Osmoises.

Tanks all the impurites outta the water..expenseive..but its the same as Ro.

I know this..cuz I did a study on it a few years back when I went to school. Only problem is..it leaves silicates in the water..but takes out all ammonia, clorine, floride and all the other BS our local water companies put in our so call water to make it safe.

Wanna found out about your city water and how much clorine it has in it?
Take a simple Pool test kit and test it.

You'll probably find that in most City water systems. The clorine level is about 2- 5 times higher than whats recommended for swimming.
Anything over the level recomended for swimming will burn your eyes and dry your skin out bady.

Naw..you say? Test it for yourself..lol
You'll be shocked...

Lmao..In Terre Haute, In where I used to live..it was like 4 times higher.

When I lived in Indy..we tested it and it turned blue green.
I found out..it meant there was petrolium(gas) in the water.

I sh#t you not.

For anyone thats sceptical.
If you have city water..get a simple pool test kit and try your own water.
Plus..find out how quicky we absorb the clorine and chemicals in the water? After you test your water. Then get a glass of it. Fill it just enough to get all the water in your moutn, shoot it back and spit it out immediatly...then test what you had in your mouth for 2 seconds...won't show a thing.

You'll be surprised what your drinking, cooking and bathing in.

This I do Know..Water Softeners are merly expenside Reverse Osmosis systems.

 

[danmhippo]

Water Softner is Ro..Reverse Osmoises.

Tanks all the impurites outta the water..expenseive..but its the same as Ro.

I know this..cuz I did a study on it a few years back when I went to school.

Hmmm, I don't know what grade you got on the study, but RO is NOT water softener. Water softener removes calcium and magnesium salt from the water using a resin exchange bed while everthing else, silicate included plus lots of other stuff, pass through. Water softener is good for removing hardwater damages to home electrical appliances that makes contacts with water, or to remove hard water stains from bathroom or restrooms. Ca and Mg are the primary cause of hard water. The resin exchange beds are regenerated by saturated salt water (brine). That's what the salt bins are for.

RO does not exchange just Ca and Mg ions, but actually leaving them with a host of all other minerals behind through the filters.

 

[Desolas]

Not to mention pool test kits are less accurate than aquarium hobby kits. So what you "think you know" is in the water may be inaccurate.

If you want to know what is in your city water, go down to the local water district and get a water report. Everyone has to keep one on hand, and it shows actual measurements far smaller than any test kit will read.

You'll be surprised what isn't, and is, in the water.

Also, chloramine is added in greater concentrations than chlorine typically; a hobby test kit for chlorine won't distinguish between the two and your readings won't be accurate.