Don't trust that the RO/DI you buy is good

[mbliss81]

I just thought I would post this as a little warning for anyone that might be helped by it.

I have been keeping a reef tank for almost 2 years now. I started in Feb 2011 with a 16 gal bow front tank, and 6 months later upgraded to a 38 gallon tank.

I have been using RO/DI water from my local grocery store for the past year, and from my lfs before that. I just bought a TDS meter today, and tested the water I get from the store and it is not 0 ppm, as it should be, but 54 ppm.

I'm sure glad I ordered a 4 stage RO/DI system from BulkReefSupply that will be here Friday.

Just a heads up. Know what you are putting in your tank.

Happy reefing. :Cheers:

 

[emily120289]

A TDS meter is one of those things that are overlooked, but come in handy!

 

[Kelz88]

Are you sure it was ro/di and not just RO? I think drinking water is a little less pure then aquarium water because sometimes it has minerals added for taste.

I was told to go for distilled water if I buy it.

 

[grozier]

What brand was the water? I found always save brand for.69 a gallon.

 

[Ted]

Ro water isnt going to be 0 but it is better then tap. rodi is the best, distilled or ro second best. After that I wouldnt even go there...

 

[mbliss81]

I've always avoided distilled water because most distillers use copper tubes to condense the water vapor, and that comes with the risk of having traces of copper getting into the system. I don't know if this is a real risk or not, but I never wanted to find out.

I was just filling up jugs from the RO water machine at the store. Not absolutely certain it is DI. It has about 1/4 the TDS of my tap water, but I still found it disappointing. I'm almost curious enough to get some water from my LFS and test it too. But my RO/DI unit arrives tomorrow, so I'll finally be able to ensure that nothing unwanted gets into my tank any more.

 

[wontonflip]

In the end, you really don't know what type of water you are getting. Hence when possible, best to make your own so you have more control over it.

 

[jase]

i have a 4 stage RO bench top unit and it tests at 1ppm and my tap water is 85ppm

 

[wahey1969]

What does everyone do with the 'waste' water from an RO unit?

 

[bjohanson1234]

Goes down the drain. Have no efficient means of collecting it for anything else:(

 

[RockStacker]

What does everyone do with the 'waste' water from an RO unit?

In my setup, I collect the wastewater in buckets to water my potted plants.
When the buckets are full I set the wastewater line on the lawn to water the grass.
If the plants/grass don't need watering, the wastewater goes to my swimming pool.

You can use the wastewater for pretty much anything that does not require pristine water.

 

[grozier]

I rinse my drain out. I used to bottle it but that's a pain having to set and watch each bottle fill up.

 

[MitchReef]

Waters a big plant just outside the garage door!!!