Water Question: RO vs Distilled

[AJB]

Hi everyone. Long time reader, first time posted. I've seen this topic discussed but never get a clear answer.

I'm about to fill my 30 gallon FOWR (for now, reef later in life!) tank. I don't have an RO/DI unit, nor do I wish to purchase one right now. So I was going to get my water from WalMart. They sell both types of water, RO and distilled.

Is one better than the other? I'd prefer to use distilled since I can grab 15 gallon jugs today and another 15 tomorrow. If I go with R/O I'd have to purchase the 5 gallon jug and return to the store 6 times!

But I want to do this the right way, the first time... please give me you're opinions on which would be better or maybe there is no difference?

Thanks so much!

 

[Anonymous]

There is a discussion on this very question going on in the general reefkeeping forum. I prefer R/O water myself and would go that way if I had the option.

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=44884

Hope this helps!

 

[Fatal Morgana]

I am curious... what do you use to hold that 15 gal of distilled water? Why can't you use the same containner (if you bring your own container, that is) for RO :?

 

[ChrisRD]

Since you're talking about a fish-only system, either one should be fine IMO, provided there's nothing unusual going-on (ie. contamination/additives, RO unit not working correctly, etc.)

That said, I prefer to make and test my own RO/DI water so I'm sure of what I'm getting.

 

[SnowManSnow]

<-- uses RO water from Walmart