ChicagoDiscus.com     Cafepress Store

Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: distilled water

  1. #1
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    845

    Default distilled water

    Is the distilled water that comes in a bottle and you can buy at the grocery safe for fish?
    Jay

  2. #2
    Administrator brewmaster15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Northford,CT,USA
    Posts
    26,729

    Default Re: distilled water

    Jay its safe for them in that its not poisonous but it doesn't have any minerals or buffering capacity . You dont want to keep your discus in distilled water.. but you can use it to soften your water much like RO water is used... best use there would be mixed with your tap water at some ratio.

    Hth,
    Al
    AquaticSuppliers.com Freeze Dried BlackWorms and other foods your Discus will Love!!!


    >>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS

    Al Sabetta
    Simplydiscus LLC Owner
    Aquaticsuppliers.com


    I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images

  3. #3
    Administrator jeep's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    O.P. KS
    Posts
    6,599
    Real Name
    Brian

    Default Re: distilled water

    It's safe to use when mixing with other water, but don't use it alone. Distilled water contains no minerals, it's very unstable and is not a healthy environment. Plus, it can get very expensive real quick.

  4. #4
    Administrator brewmaster15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Northford,CT,USA
    Posts
    26,729

    Default Re: distilled water

    Great minds think alike
    AquaticSuppliers.com Freeze Dried BlackWorms and other foods your Discus will Love!!!


    >>>>>I am a science guy.. show me the science minus the BS

    Al Sabetta
    Simplydiscus LLC Owner
    Aquaticsuppliers.com


    I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images

  5. #5
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    845

    Default Re: distilled water

    Thanks for the info.
    That is what I was thinking, maybe 30% distilled 70% well water.
    Actually my well water is some what soft,100ppm, but my thinking
    was maybe soften it a little more to jump start breeding when they reach
    breeding age which I think would be around a year old. They are now 8 mts.
    Jay

  6. #6
    Administrator jeep's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    O.P. KS
    Posts
    6,599
    Real Name
    Brian

    Default Re: distilled water

    Quote Originally Posted by brewmaster15 View Post
    Great minds think alike
    We posted at almost the exact same time,lol...

    Brady, if your well water is that soft, I would just go with it. Maybe run it through a sediment and carbon block. I would just monitor your ph levels. Water that soft can crash the ph quickly.

    Depending on how much distilled water you plan on using (I assume you're buying it), a RO system may be less expensive in the long run. And, you can use the waste water for regular fish water, or plants, landscaping, etc...

  7. #7
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    845

    Default Re: distilled water

    I will go with what I have, it is pretty soft.
    What does ph crash mean, ph will go up or go down ? my ph comes from the well at 6.7 and after a few hours of
    recirculating in the brute it will go up to 7.2-7.3. and stay at that level.
    Jay

  8. #8
    Administrator jeep's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    O.P. KS
    Posts
    6,599
    Real Name
    Brian

    Default Re: distilled water

    A ph crash is when it drops to dangerous levels. Standing water won't change much after aging, but when you add a bioload it can. 100 TDS can be stable enough, especially is you stick to a consistent water change schedule, but it depends on your kh for longer term stability.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Cafepress