RO/DI vs Distilled!!!!

[ClamFan]

Ok folks, Ive looked all over this forum and some others for the difference in using RO/DI vs Distilled water. I just cant justify buying an RO unit since Im in an apartment, and distilled is cheaper than going to Pollys or ER for water. I have used distilled for top off and and water changes for the last 3 weeks and have had no algae blooms. My tank is fairly new since upgrading from a 10g to a 20g tall. My tank has been set up since March, but then I upgraded to a 20g tall in April. I have a maxi jet closed loop and an aqueon hob power filter. Every week I do 2 1/2 gallon water changes. This tank was started with 10 lbs of dry rock and 2 lbs of live rock, all from Ben (scutterborn). Please tell me the good and/or bad of this. In September, I am planning on moving all of this to my 29g I got from Malofish. So if Im making a big mistake I need to know now. Thanks in advance.

[ducati996]

Just go to the windmill in pollys parking lot at $1 for 5gallons of r/o water u can't beat that

[ClamFan]

Just go to the windmill in pollys parking lot at $1 for 5gallons of r/o water u can't beat that

Ive done that in the past (one outside HEB) and had a really bad cyano outbreak so I don't really trust them but for $1 I might just have to. Have you used it? Tested it for tds?

[ducati996]

I use it all the time no problems what so ever

[footballdude2k3]

the TDS in distilled is usually higher, and that is what you are trying to avoid, but I am not saying that people cannot use it successfully.

[ramsey]

I'd buy a TDS meter and test it. You can get one pretty cheap and it's the only real way to know how pure the windmill water is. In fact, I'd use a TDS meter even I was buying distilled or LFS water anyway. That's just me though, there are numerous people that have successful tanks and use prime and tap water. If you want to use purified water though, an RO/DI unit is much, much cheaper in the long run, even compared to distilled water.

[ClamFan]

I didn't know that! I guess I just assumed it would be 0 because of distillation. But Ive been wrong before.

the TDS in distilled is usually higher, and that is what you are trying to avoid, but I am not saying that people cannot use it successfully.

Ramsey, your right about the long run. At some point I will get an RO unit but it will be a while. Until then I will be trying the windmill in Pollys parking lot. Never really paid attention to it before.

Thanks for the info.

[jason081180]

i also have seen that windmill in front of Polly's and wondered. is it really RO water or just filtered drinking water. it would be nice to get 5 gal for $1

[Gseclipse02]

always check the filter change day on those ... i used walmart and my rock was like a grass field ... i bought an rodi unit afterwards and i wouldnt really trust to many stores .... some stores thought it was ok to sell tap water (basically).... i mean rodi water.... the TDS will show/ prove everything

[Scutterborn]

I'm about to pull my RO/DI unit off line. Gonna go with carbon filtered tap.


-Ben-