Distilled water and Alk level question...

[lunchie]

I was wondering if you can buy distilled water (my local grocer sells it by the gallon)to use in your tank. My RO/DI is not functioning properly and I really need to top off my tank...it would be just for now until I get the RO/DI up and running...

Also, all of my levels are excellent except for Alk it is showing High????? What do I need to to rectify this and could it be because the tank needs to be topped off?

Thanks
Deb

 

[Scooterman]

In an emergency I've used distilled water, it seemed to work for the time. When you say your alk is off by how much are you talking about, in most cases you if your PH, CA are good I wouldn't do much to adjust the Alk, unless it was drastic.

 

[lunchie]

My PH is 8.2 and I don't have a tester for CA. As for Alk my testing kit doesn't give a number is just gives a range from low to high and I am definately showing high on the Alk. How important is it to test for CA...right now I am only testing:
PH 8.2
Salinity 30 which I know is low and I am working on raising it
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Amm 0
Temp 80

Thanks
Deb

 

[Scooterman]

Well in that case just starting out, you have your bases already covered. When your water & salinity is adjusted to the proper level, then you can start testing for alk, ca, mg! I would say your probably want to get those test kits if you want to really keep corals, your goal is to have a balance, & a CA in the range of 420 to 450, I usually come close and try not to nit pick exact numbers just let it fall into a range, what I'll do is post links also with calculators that will help but first get some kits, see what you have and go from there. Depending on your system and what you want to keep, will be your guide, read these you will gain so much then ask away here we will do our best to guide you in the right direction. Also you will find a preference of Saliflert test kits for the hobbyist, they are easy & accurate but don't let me make that decision for you I hate doing that.

http://saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/AlkConv.php?units=DKH&dkh=8

http://www.kademani.com/reefchem.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.andy-hipkiss.co.uk/caalkcalc.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

 

[lunchie]

Scotty,
Thanks so much and I will review all those links. I don't have any plans to really do corals but I still will learn about the additional testing and work it into my routine. Thanks a bunch and I am sure I will have more questions once I read all the links...

Deb

 

[Scooterman]

Well if you don't intend to keep any corals, you can worry about the test you already have, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia & ph for a FO tank but consider this, you can keep certain corals with less CA & light requirements and not have too many issues with keeping everything in balance, like softie and some LPS. Just a thought!

 

[Jiddy]

Dont mean to steal your thread, but was curious on why Distilled water is "great"

 

[wrightme43]

It is ok, I would not go so far as to say great. My understanding is that quite often it is condensed in copper pipe. I will use it in a pinch, if I have no other choice. Its better than tap water. For a fish only tank it would be perfectly acceptable. For my reef I want rodi. Just my opinion. Steve

 

[Jiddy]

Lets say you couldnt use RO/DI water, what should you buy at the store, WalMart has like 5 differant types, Spring/Distilled/Atesian i figure them all

 

[Scooterman]

Distilled but remember this water still has lots of stuff in it that you don't want in your tank but for an emergency it would be better than nothing else. If you do the math, in no time the cost of buying water will be more than owning a RO/DI unit.

 

[Boomer]

I see some bad things here about distilled water and this is not so. It is purer than RO or DI water @ +99 % (99.5-99.9 %) pure and is equal to if not purer than the best RO/DI water. I don't buy the stuff about metals at all, yet I keep hearing this. Minerals, bacteria and other substances are left behind when the steam recondenses into relatively pure water. Distillers remove bacteria, minerals, trace amounts of metals, many organic chemicals and nitrate.

 

[Scooterman]

Well I guess this comes from all of the articles I read about metals & minerals, funny thing we drink this stuff & actually need it.

 

[Boomer]

I know Scoot but I would like someone to show me one such article that shows such metals. It all looks like hearsay to me. I think they get that from old methods done decades ago. Sure is funny how may analytical labs and test kits say/or use distilled water.

 

[Scooterman]

My sister has a distiller, I always wondered about that, wonder how much it would cost to get the thing running again. I remember certain parts needed replacing every so often. When you distill water, isn't like making water into steam then letting it cool someplace else, thus leaving behind everything else, sorta like making whiskey?

 

[Boomer]

Yes, there are about four different proecesses for making in.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD5943.html