RODI vs Distilled Water Maker

[Jay Hemdal]

My concern is - what about dissolved organics? Seems to me if the source water has those that have a lower boiling point than water, they will carry over to the distillate as well.

Jay

 

[wil-yuhm]

We are wasting time, this is a crazy person.

I will not argue against that.

 

[wil-yuhm]

My concern is - what about dissolved organics? Seems to me if the source water has those that have a lower boiling point than water, they will carry over to the distillate as well.

Jay

To clarify Jay you mean through the process of evaporation not boiling "over" as in spilling over from one container to another? I suppose your inquiry could be likened to the aroma of coffee dissipating heat into a room. The laws of thermodynamics comes to mind... .
Thanks for taking the discussion seriously.
Both forms of filtration claim zero tds or by testable parameters.
I do not know and make a genuine inquiry.

 

[Malcontent]

I remember measuring Wal-Mart distilled water at 9 TDS some time ago.

 

[wil-yuhm]

I remember measuring Wal-Mart distilled water at 9 TDS some time ago.

I have not measured the TDS of the Winco distilled water.
From what I understand of the laws pertaining to water from a decade ago there are none which regulate the claims of manufactures. For example, spring water could be an artesian well nearby a mountain along side of a road.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

To clarify Jay you mean through the process of evaporation not boiling "over" as in spilling over from one container to another? I suppose your inquiry could be likened to the aroma of coffee dissipating heat into a room. The laws of thermodynamics comes to mind... .
Thanks for taking the discussion seriously.
Both forms of filtration claim zero tds or by testable parameters.
I do not know and make a genuine inquiry.

Correct - just like alcohol distillation, where the alcohol vaporizes before the water does. If you boil water with alcohol in it, both will carry over to the product water. There are other organics that could carry over as well, benzene, etc. Now, if they were present in your source water to any great degree, you shouldn't be drinking it anyway, but RODI with a carbon block takes care of them, so my vote would be to go that route.

Jay

 

[wil-yuhm]

Correct - just like alcohol distillation, where the alcohol vaporizes before the water does. If you boil water with alcohol in it, both will carry over to the product water. There are other organics that could carry over as well, benzene, etc. Now, if they were present in your source water to any great degree, you shouldn't be drinking it anyway, but RODI with a carbon block takes care of them, so my vote would be to go that route.

Jay

Thank you Jay!

 

[Danny G]

For the last couple of months I've been purchasing distilled water at Winco for 1.20 a gallon. The rate of evaporation for my 66 gallon tank comes to about a gallon a day. Found a distilled water maker (750 watts) for 75 dollars capable of producing around 8 gallons a day or 1 gallon in about a hour.
Question, anything wrong with using tap city water through a distilled water maker? The only filtration/maint., are carbon bags.

Thanks in advance!
W.T.

I have used distilled in the past and i was dealing with a major algae bloom about a week later. I now use RODI water only and have never had an issue again. Unless it’s an emergency, I would not use distilled water. I have been thinking about purchasing my own RODI system but don’t have much information on that. I have heard that I can be a much more cost effective option long term.

 

[wil-yuhm]

I have used distilled in the past and i was dealing with a major algae bloom about a week later. I now use RODI water only and have never had an issue again. Unless it’s an emergency, I would not use distilled water. I have been thinking about purchasing my own RODI system but don’t have much information on that. I have heard that I can be a much more cost effective option long term.

I plan to see the order placed through. I'll try the distilled water maker now more so out of curiosity than anything else. I can always use the machine for a backup should I experience the unknowable. When ready to invest a little more I'll have to do the plumbing in the garage by the hot water heater (cold side).

Jay's answer settled my curiosity. Brilliant @Jay Hemdal I've learned there can be much in it and the distilled water maker may not always filter out the undesirables in which that process of vaporization performs.
Just for FYI the distilled water maker does use carbon bags.
Thanks again for your classy staff-like response!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I plan to see the order placed through. I'll try the distilled water maker now more so out of curiosity than anything else. I can always use the machine for a backup should I experience the unknowable. When ready to invest a little more I'll have to do the plumbing in the garage by the hot water heater (cold side).

Jay's answer settled my curiosity. Brilliant @Jay Hemdal I've learned there can be much in it and the distilled water maker may not always filter out the undesirables in which that process of vaporization performs.
Just for FYI the distilled water maker does use carbon bags.
Thanks again for your classy staff-like response!

Forget the plumbing I get it from a garden hose converter then drain into the laundry drain pipe don't do plumbing some people hook it up to a sink fill 2x 5 gallon buckets drain waste into the sink then when done unhook the unit and store it under the sink like any other appliance

 

[rioreef]

What r u going to do for water changes?

 

[wil-yuhm]

What r u going to do for water changes?

Run the distilled water maker long; consume more electricity and waste less water than the RODI guys.
That is, until I join the club. I plan to purchase a hat and jacket embroidered "RODI Guy."

In all seriousness thank you. At this point I was only looking for maint.
Enjoy!

 

[Sdot]

Hey good day all, to the OP..been in your position and had the very same questions you did. I tried this experiment and this is what i found. The copper discussion about distilled water is dead. Ive purchased and used distilled water from most of the popular big box stores in Texas and have not had any issues with copper. I would however ICP test the water. In my findings store bought distilled water has had high levels of zinc and vanadium. I also bought a home distiller (from Amazon) and the results were not good...the impurities from the source water did make it in the distilled water so for that reason i would stick with RODI... but if im honest other that the items stated above... I wouldn't have any issues buying and using distilled water...and i still do from time to time.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Hey good day all, to the OP..been in your position and had the very same questions you did. I tried this experiment and this is what i found. The copper discussion about distilled water is dead. Ive purchased and used distilled water from most of the popular big box stores in Texas and have not had any issues with copper. I would however ICP test the water. In my findings store bought distilled water has had high levels of zinc and vanadium. I also bought a home distiller (from Amazon) and the results were not good...the impurities from the source water did make it in the distilled water so for that reason i would stick with RODI... but if im honest other that the items stated above... I wouldn't have any issues buying and using distilled water...and i still do from time to time.

I appreciate you Sdot sharing your experience,
Beautiful reef by the way.
My tank is only a few months matured Coralline algae has finally made its appearance after a minor set back. I used irrigation water and at that time suspected undesirable run offs (illegal dumping, drains, etc) made their way into the aquifer. Since, distilled water has resulted in lack of algae blooms or diatoms knowing that this has worked for me why change from proven experience? Perhaps, to better

Appreciate you keeping us honest!
Happy reefing

 

[Malcontent]

All the commercial water distillers I looked at used stainless steel.

I always wanted to get a solar still to play with.

 

[Sdot]

I appreciate you Sdot sharing your experience,
Beautiful reef by the way.
My tank is only a few months matured Coralline algae has finally made its appearance after a minor set back. I used irrigation water and at that time suspected undesirable run offs (illegal dumping, drains, etc) made their way into the aquifer. Since, distilled water has resulted in lack of algae blooms or diatoms knowing that this has worked for me why change from proven experience? Perhaps, to better

Appreciate you keeping us honest!
Happy reefing

Thanks bro! If distilled water work for you...then continue. Id ICP test to be sure however. Our tanks are closed systems, so just watch whats going in your tank...but nothing wrong with distilled water. From an ICP test perspective...rodi is "cleaner" but again i have and continue to use both.

 

[naterealbig]

I will not argue against that.

Good thing you can laugh-off some of the commentary. I don't have a fight one way or the other, and distillation doesn't sound like a terrible idea. I'd might have given it a shot a few years back.

When I was on the submarine (USS Tennessee) we used a still (augmenting an evaporator) to produce high purity water for our reactor plant. I imagine you can get pretty clean water with a quality one (might be a challenge to understand if the one you're looking at is "high quality".

Here's my advice : the nice thing about an RODI with quality filters, is that you can be almost certain that it has removed all of the gunk from your water source. I've looked at the water quality report for Orlando, and chlorine, chloromines, heavy metals, fluoride, and a handful of radioactive isotopes are just a few of nasties that I'm trying to get out of my water.

A few bucks one way or the other shouldn't be the focus, but rather the peace of mind. The RODI is a proven method, and there is immeasurable value in knowing that if I run into challenges with my aquarium - source water will not be on the list of things I'm trying to troubleshoot.

Hope this helps.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Good thing you can laugh-off some of the commentary. I don't have a fight one way or the other, and distillation doesn't sound like a terrible idea. I'd might have given it a shot a few years back.

When I was on the submarine (USS Tennessee) we used a still (augmenting an evaporator) to produce high purity water for our reactor plant. I imagine you can get pretty clean water with a quality one (might be a challenge to understand if the one you're looking at is "high quality".

Here's my advice : the nice thing about an RODI with quality filters, is that you can be almost certain that it has removed all of the gunk from your water source. I've looked at the water quality report for Orlando, and chlorine, chloromines, heavy metals, fluoride, and a handful of radioactive isotopes are just a few of nasties that I'm trying to get out of my water.

A few bucks one way or the other shouldn't be the focus, but rather the peace of mind. The RODI is a proven method, and there is immeasurable value in knowing that if I run into challenges with my aquarium - source water will not be on the list of things I'm trying to troubleshoot.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for your service!
In my branch of service we used heated liquid oxygen canisters. The source of compact oxygen not only proved itself useful for pilots but chiefs alike in the morning before coffee. Nothing helps more than breathing pure fresh air in the morning to jump start the day.
What was the point of this?
I'm taking your advice after having enjoyed the wonderful engagement here on reef2reef.
Off to Worship,
Happy reefing naterealbig

 

[naterealbig]

Thank you for the words - the service was my pleasure.

Did you work on a carrier? MS? Airforce? Sorry to derail.

Be chatting.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

You won't be disappointed, but there is a bit of a learning curve with rodi systems too like anything, do your do diligence and all will be good, it's worth the investment if you will be doing this for an extended amount of time you will really see your $$savings in year two and three the first year is the most expensive with equipment costs and learning, but after that it goes down and keeps going down the better you get at doing it, one reason I have 11 stages, that and my florida city water kills dolphins .