During a "Top Off", is it okay to use distilled water from local Walmart?

[AJimmy419]

My friend told me about doing a top off. Is it okay if I go to the local supermarket and buy a gallon of Distilled water to do the top off? I have a 34 gallon Red Sea Max, and want to know how often people do top offs? How much water (i know not to use any salt in a top off) do you general add in a "top off"? How do you know when you have to do a top off? Most importantly, am I at risk of killing things in my tank if I use Distilled water to top off my tank? Thanks for all the help everyone's given me so far!!! Unfortunately for you guys, there's still lots more to come. LOL.

 

[TonyHNY]

Distilled water for top off is OK. It is just that in the long run, it will cost you more. In terms of how much water...it all depend on your evaporation rate.... I have an open top (25 gal and 20 gal sump)tank and it evaporates around 1/4 to 1/2 gal of water per day

 

[Lenny718]

Distilled is fine.

 

[JonnyJ]

I used petco water and distilled since November with no problems and great growth. It's fine

 

[AJimmy419]

Distilled water for top off is OK. It is just that in the long run, it will cost you more. In terms of how much water...it all depend on your evaporation rate.... I have an open top (25 gal and 20 gal sump)tank and it evaporates around 1/4 to 1/2 gal of water per day

I have a 34 gallon redseamax w/ a closed top and no sump. Does a closed top mean that less water would evaporate? I guess I can set the water level right where the glass ends to see how much. How often do you top off your water? Thanks for the help everybody.

 

[masterswimmer]

Top off should be done as frequently as possible. If at all possible setting up an ATO (Automated Top Off) is advisable. As water evaporates, it slowly increases the salinity of the remaining water in the tank. Since stability is the most important criteria in a saltwater tank, frequent topoffs to maintain salinity is suggested.

Russ

 

[JonnyIce]

I've been using walmart "drinking" r/o water since the beginning since I can't set up a RODI unit just yet and all has been well. Also use the same water from Target with no issues.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I like Poland Spring distilled water. I also use petco water as well.

 

[ReefBum]

Top off should be done as frequently as possible. If at all possible setting up an ATO (Automated Top Off) is advisable. As water evaporates, it slowly increases the salinity of the remaining water in the tank. Since stability is the most important criteria in a saltwater tank, frequent topoffs to maintain salinity is suggested.

Russ

Agree....It is critical to have stability and auto top off will also take the hassle out of manually adding water. Also keep in mind that evaporation varies depending on the time of year so this is another reason to go the auto route.

 

[AJimmy419]

Hey guys. I just got the Poland Spring Distilled water. It looks like my tank has lost a lot of water. What is too much to add? Looks like the tank could use the maximum amount allowed for a top off? Is a full gallon at once too much? Thoughts? I don't have anything in the tank living besides the rock, and about 3 little coral frags.

 

[JonnyIce]

I use a piece of masking or whatever tape as a top-off line...in my pico where I don't have an ATO its easy to just fill with fresh water to the top-off line.

 

[TonyHNY]

Water will still evaporate somehow. I have my system setup with sensors in the sump that triggers an ATO to top off RO water. If you plan to stay with this hobby, I highly recommend you get a RO system so you wont need to go buy gallons of water from Walmart.

Back when I kept a 29 gal without sump, I would constantly drip water into the tank to maintain a certain level. You dont want any salinity swings so you have to keep replenishing the evaporated water constantly.

I have a 34 gallon redseamax w/ a closed top and no sump. Does a closed top mean that less water would evaporate? I guess I can set the water level right where the glass ends to see how much. How often do you top off your water? Thanks for the help everybody.