Water source

[reefertank]

I live in Florida, it rains a lot! So could I use rain water instead of RO/Di?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I live in Florida, it rains a lot! So could I use rain water instead of RO/Di?

I wouldn't. Even though it's rain water you still don't know what's in it. If there is a factory or something near by the water could potentially be contaminated with something. And it usually contains tds which for a reef tank you want 0 tds

 

[Jesterrace]

I live in Florida, it rains a lot! So could I use rain water instead of RO/Di?

Absolutely not. There are so many contaminants in regular rain water these days that I wouldn't even drink it without purification in any part of the world. If you are set against buying an RODI system for the initial setup cost, then check with your LFS and see if you can buy it from them.

 

[mjlash22]

I wouldn't. Even though it's rain water you still don't know what's in it. If there is a factory or something near by the water could potentially be contaminated with something. And it usually contains tds which for a reef tank you want 0 tds

Absolutely not. There are so many contaminants in regular rain water these days that I wouldn't even drink it without purification in any part of the world. If you are set against buying an RODI system for the initial setup cost, then check with your LFS and see if you can buy it from them.

+1 leave it for the plants/grass!

 

[Chuk]

Rain water is very dirty particulate wise. Also depending on how far you live from an emissions source acid rain/ chemical contamination can be a concern. You can certainly run rain water through an RO but I would recommend it straight.

 

[Jesterrace]

Rain water is very dirty particulate wise. Also depending on how far you live from an emissions source acid rain/ chemical contamination can be a concern. You can certainly run rain water through an RO but I would recommend it straight.

Agreed. I have seen rainwater with the tell tale oil slick rainbow color even though the area where it landed is completely devoid of any oil based residue. I would trust tap water before rainwater and that is saying something.