Distilled water

[EvilE]

Can water that's been distilled by steam distillation be used for water change?? Thanks

[loosecannon]

yes.

[littleoldme]

As long as copper tubing is not involved yes, if it is find another choice

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10695042#post10695042 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by littleoldme
As long as copper tubing is not involved yes, if it is find another choice I have no idea if copper tubing was involved----it is a plastic bottle of distilled water from the store.........

[littleoldme]

Well you could test the water for copper or ask the store how the water is made

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10696138#post10696138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by littleoldme
Well you could test the water for copper or ask the store how the water is made It's an unopened gallon jug of distilled water from Walmart. They wouldn't know I am sure.....

[Bri Guy]

Ive been using the wally distilled water (purple cap) for a year, all top off and water changes with it. No problems what so ever!

ps another guy in my club uses the same, he works at a LFS and could get there RO/DI water, but doesn't cause it has around 4 TDS, and the distilled has 0!!!!

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10696694#post10696694 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
It's an unopened gallon jug of distilled water from Walmart. They wouldn't know I am sure.....



Most any of the commercially available 1g jugs of distilled water should be just fine. I've used the Walmart distilled water with no issues in the past, and I don't think they use copper pipes in the production of distilled water much anymore these days.

[bertoni]

Distilled water is likely fine, but I've measured some as less than clean. Personally, I got an RO-DI unit.

[EvilE]

Thanks very much everyone!! Better to be safe then sorry right? I feel confident using it!

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10696837#post10696837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bri Guy
Ive been using the wally distilled water (purple cap) for a year, all top off and water changes with it. No problems what so ever!

ps another guy in my club uses the same, he works at a LFS and could get there RO/DI water, but doesn't cause it has around 4 TDS, and the distilled has 0!!!! Yup--that's the one I have, with the purple cap! Thanks!

[Boomer]

Howard it correct :D

[laud]

Does RO systems remove copper if you have copper pipes in the home? Also, does galvanized piping cause trouble? and if so, is there a solution?

Thanks,
Michael

[bertoni]

RO-DI should remove contaminants from the piping. Just keep the filter in shape. :)

[AZDesertRat]

Just because you have copper pipes in your home does not mean you have copper in your tap water. Back in 1991 the EPA passed the Lead and Copper Rule which makes water utilities treat their water so it does not leach lead and/or copper from the pipes. If tap water has a low pH they must bring the pH up and they must maintain what is called a positive Langlier Index which means if anything tap water should slightly scale or build up a coating instead of corroding or leaching metals out of the plumbing.
A good RO/DI will take care of any contaminants present in the water as long as it is maintained properly.

[lazluvtoo]

What is TDS?

[AZDesertRat]

Total Dissolved Solids. Basically its a measurement of everything in water that is electrically conductive. Pure water is non conductive, its all the contaminants that are electrically conductive. The average TDS across the country is about 250, some are higher like here in Phoenix at 750-1200 and others are lower like Atlanta at less than 50. The closer to 0 you are the better which is why a good RO/DI is a wise investment.

[lazluvtoo]

Bri guy's post above stated that his RO/DI still had TDSs but Distilled H20 had none. I do have an RO. Is there a test kit for TDS? I live in Florida...any idea of that state's water quality?

[AZDesertRat]

A handheld TDS meter can be bought for less than $20-25. If an RO/DI is putting out water with a TDS reading its either in need of maintenance or its a poor quality unit. If you are served by a water utility your water quality information is probably online, most publish the info. If not online you can request a copy of the latest water quality report and they must provide it to you by law. TDS may or may not be listed as it is not a regulated contaminant but it will show hardness and other important things.

[laud]

Thanks for those responses. Greatly appreciated!

Michael

[Boomer]

laz

Is there a test kit for TDS?

No there is not :D But there is a means. Under Lab conditions you weigh the sample of water, slowly evaporated all the water and then weigh the solids left behind. If you took 1 kg of NSW @ 35 ppt (1.0264) and removed all the water and weighted all the solids left behind it would be 35,000 ppm TDS

[Boomer]

Is there a test kit for TDS?

Yes there is :lol: The LaMotte TDS-DR, 0-20 ppm , and 0-2,000 ppm ranges. Above 20 ppm the scale changes form 1 ppm increments to 50 ppm increments.