Distilled or RODI?

[William Mumford]

I have an rodi that recently broke. So I thought I could rely on a LFS for 0 tds water. Huge no. Best I could find was 40 tds the one I thought would be the best was 140. Then I bought some distilled water from the store for cheaper and it read 0 tds on all. My question is why is distilled not recommended over RODI? Much easier to access and seems more reliable than any LFS from what I have been experiencing.

 

[ZoWhat]

RODI = 0, zippo, TDS (total dissolved solids which is principally calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates)

Distilled Water = lots of TDS still in the water

 

[William Mumford]

Why would it read 0 tds for distilled?

 

[Billdogg]

Although it isn't uncommon for distilled water to read 0 TDS, and so seem like a reasonable alternative, it can be come expensive rather quickly. That is one of the big reasons that making your own ro/di water is usually preferred.

In my case, I would be buying ~60g every two weeks. At $1/g, I can easily purchase a top of the line ro/di system and have it pay for itself in 2 months.

You say your ro/di broke. Could you elaborate? There really isn't anything to "break" IME. Sure, filters wear out, but you can get replacements from one of many online retailers shipped to your door within a couple days. That's still a way less expensive option that buying jugs from the store, and beats the heck out of schlepping all that water around.

 

[Auquanut]

In the long run I would repair/replace the RO/DI unit you have. It's just more convenient, ultimately cheaper, and gives you the peace of mind knowing the quality of water you are adding to the tank. For the short term, purchasing water for top off, etc... until the unit is back on-line, I might have to go with distilled water. LFS RO can range anywhere from pristine to pretty awful.

 

[S.Pepper]

Although it isn't uncommon for distilled water to read 0 TDS, and so seem like a reasonable alternative, it can be come expensive rather quickly. That is one of the big reasons that making your own ro/di water is usually preferred.

In my case, I would be buying ~60g every two weeks. At $1/g, I can easily purchase a top of the line ro/di system and have it pay for itself in 2 months.

You say your ro/di broke. Could you elaborate? There really isn't anything to "break" IME. Sure, filters wear out, but you can get replacements from one of many online retailers shipped to your door within a couple days. That's still a way less expensive option that buying jugs from the store, and beats the heck out of schlepping all that water around.

For a short term deal and if I were in a pinch, I might try some distilled water; however, as stated, it can become rather expensive and unreliable. I don't know your financial situation and nor am i asking, but if you have any choice in the matter, repair or get a new ro/di system as quickly as possible. GL

 

[Retro Reefer]

Depending on the volume of water you need Distilled can sometimes be a lot cheaper option (at least temporarily) I managed a 14 gallon and 4 gallon reef for almost 4 years using only distilled.. I used approximately 5 gallons a month for evaporation and water changes so at .89 cents per gallon, that’s about $54 dollars a year. It would take several years to break even with a RO system and that doesn’t include other hidden cost involved in setting up a RO unit or the replacement of filter cartridges and DI resin.

 

[LegendaryCG]

I have my own distiller and the water tests essentially the same as my Ro/Di setup. The volume of water you can process is much less using Distilled and I believe some setups use copper coils for the condensation element which can be an issue for sensitive inverts. Mine uses stainless steel however and has a carbon final stage so I have zero issues using my distilled water for top off when I have some extra.

So in my opinion, properly distilled water is completely equivalent to a multistage Ro/Di.

 

[Sleepydoc]

I agree with the comments above. Another ‘cost’ to buying distilled water from your LFS vs making your own RODI at home is the hassle factor. IME, the more work it is to do something like water changes, the less you tend to do them.

Another factor is the size of your tank. Are we talking about a 15 gallon nano where you only need a gallon or so a week, of a 180 gallon tank?

Also, what brand is your RO/DI filter and how did it ‘break?’ BRS has virtually every replacement part necessary for their RO/DI systems, so fixing it doesnt’ necessarily mean buying a whole new filter.

 

[Quietman]

It's strictly cost and convenience. Distilled is processed through boiling and capturing steam - no pathogens and very little if any TDS. Purified water is processed through RO, media, filtering etc - (our RODI systems) and has very little if any TDS. I believe the actual levels per industry <2 ppm (no idea if this is regulated standard - doubt it). Anyhow - I don't trust my own RODI without checking TDS so I wouldn't trust purchased without testing either - good call there.

No need to tell you to do the maintenance on your RODI to get up working properly...you'll get there after a few weeks of lugging jugs of water around.

 

[Quietman]

And it's likely the LFS is just giving you RO water, perhaps with end of life filter. DI resin is a cost I imagine they'd forgo to keep price reasonable or just PITA maintenance factor on their part. I do use RO for my wife's plants and FW planted tank as it's usually 10-40 ppm depending. Again, excellent job on checking the TDS before trusting anyone with your tanks health.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I have an rodi that recently broke. So I thought I could rely on a LFS for 0 tds water. Huge no. Best I could find was 40 tds the one I thought would be the best was 140. Then I bought some distilled water from the store for cheaper and it read 0 tds on all. My question is why is distilled not recommended over RODI? Much easier to access and seems more reliable than any LFS from what I have been experiencing.

Cost, one gallon distill .98 cent, rodi from your tap,.05 cents. I buy RO water at vending machine outside store

 

[ZoWhat]

IMO one should not be in the hobby if the cost of a RODI unit is a game changer. This is not a cheap hobby and I dont foresee ANYONE being happy in this hobby scrapping money together.

Just my opinion.... and not to be meant as a putdown.

I would love to race a muscle car on a closed 1/4 mile track... but I know I CANT afford that hobby ....so I dont even try.

I would love to scuba dive all over the world...but I know I CANT afford that hobby either

 

[William Mumford]

I broke it by dropping it, it cracked in 4 spots. I want to wait until I get a little more allowance for a new 7 stage from BRS I wish I had the money now because they are on sale. I am going to use the distilled that I am getting for 89 cents a gallon until I can get the new unit. I was just more asking for someone who doesn't have any access to RODI and they could buy distilled at the grocery store. I am 99% sure because of the way distilled water is made it would have very little TDS.

 

[William Mumford]

IMO one should not be in the hobby if the cost of a RODI unit is a game changer. This is not a cheap hobby and I dont foresee ANYONE being happy in this hobby scrapping money together.

Just my opinion.... and not to be meant as a putdown.

I would love to race a muscle car on a closed 1/4 mile.... but I know I cant afford that hobby so I dont even try.


For sure helps to have everything for success I am not saying never to buy one just saying 0 tds is 0 tds.

 

[Quietman]

Ah man...that sucks. So yes, that'll work. Distilled can work for a long time if you don't mind the manual lugging around. Kudos to you for going with a labor intensive solution to keep your tank going.

I'd recommend getting a couple 5 gallon buckets if you don't have them. Fill one with the gallon jugs, mix the saltwater so it can cure for a day or two before adding and so you have on hand. Or find a place that has a good large source (or maybe reefing buddy that'll do same for some cash to offset) and fill them from there.

Good luck!!! Also, not sure what and where the cracks are, but you can go with less than 7 stages initially and add piece at a time. You may go through mixed resin quicker, but still cheaper and easier.

 

[Reef.]

IMO one should not be in the hobby if the cost of a RODI unit is a game changer. This is not a cheap hobby and I dont foresee ANYONE being happy in this hobby scrapping money together.

Just my opinion.... and not to be meant as a putdown.

I would love to race a muscle car on a closed 1/4 mile track... but I know I CANT afford that hobby ....so I dont even try.

I would love to scuba dive all over the world...but I know I CANT afford that hobby either

I read on here all the time people saving for their next purchase, waiting till payday to buy their next frag..

The OP does not say he can not afford to repair/replace the rodi unit, he was making do with shop bought water and was asking the best option.

My guess is when he can replace it, he will.

Like most things in life we live to our means, the guy that buys the BMW might need to save his pennies when the service is due, does not mean he should of bought a push bike instead.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I broke it by dropping it, it cracked in 4 spots. I want to wait until I get a little more allowance for a new 7 stage from BRS I wish I had the money now because they are on sale. I am going to use the distilled that I am getting for 89 cents a gallon until I can get the new unit. I was just more asking for someone who doesn't have any access to RODI and they could buy distilled at the grocery store. I am 99% sure because of the way distilled water is made it would have very little TDS.

If you can get distill, then do what I do I got 5 gallon water dispenser bottle, went to vending machine and fill at .35 cents a gallon. I do that. Here's my children of the sea. Some of the most difficult corals, took me years till last 5mo. I can raise and they are thriving, babies everywhere

Some examples what's in my tank. No high tech equipment, no skimmer, etc....

 

[LC8Sumi]

RODI = 0, zippo, TDS (total dissolved solids which is principally calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates)

Distilled Water = lots of TDS still in the water

It's actually the other way around. Not to mention that RODI won't pull all the non-charged molecules & those also won't register on the EC (tds) meter. Distillation, if done properly & multiple times on the other hand takes out everything. That said, a good distiller is very expensive & needs a lot of electricity to operate. That's why we use RODI at home, because it's good enough for the hobby & is around 1/20 the price of a proper distiller, and doesn't need 5kW's to operate.

But.. if you buy the water from a common store, neither will be 100% clean, unless you buy pharmasuitable for 10x the price from some special place.

 

[Sleepydoc]

IMO one should not be in the hobby if the cost of a RODI unit is a game changer. This is not a cheap hobby and I dont foresee ANYONE being happy in this hobby scrapping money together.

Just my opinion.... and not to be meant as a putdown.

I would love to race a muscle car on a closed 1/4 mile track... but I know I CANT afford that hobby ....so I dont even try.

I would love to scuba dive all over the world...but I know I CANT afford that hobby either

Posts like this bother me. What you're essentially saying is "[IMO] if you can't afford to do this, you're too poor for the hobby so don't even bother."

Yes, the hobby is expensive, but that doesn't mean you can't reef on a budget either. No one has unlimited resources and people's financial situations can also change. Maybe the OP just got done getting a new return pump. Maybe he lost is job. Maybe he just broke his wrist and has medical bills. Whatever the case, he already already has a reef tank up and running, so the decision isn't whether he should get into the hobby, it's how to best keep his tank healthy.