Using Drinking Water?

[Natterjak]

This may be a really stupid question, but is it okay to use purified drinking water (the kind you get from those machines at the grocery store) for tank water?

[Bearfan]

First of all, what a pain to lug all the water I would need on a regular basis (2+ [acronym:ac68345e62="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:ac68345e62]/day) from my local market.

Second, those machines are notorious for poor maintenance, I would be suspect. I often wonder what kind of filtration they are getting at thousands of gallons per day when I can't get more than 100 [acronym:ac68345e62="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:ac68345e62] out of my until at full pressure (which I don't have, so I get about 20/day)

Don't skimp on the most basic requirement...water. Buy an [acronym:ac68345e62="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:ac68345e62]/[acronym:ac68345e62="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:ac68345e62].

[Natterjak]

Well at the moment, it's either lug the water from the store or the [acronym:862de1ff15="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:862de1ff15], and the store happens to be closer.

We plan on getting an [acronym:862de1ff15="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:862de1ff15]/[acronym:862de1ff15="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:862de1ff15] unit soon, but until then, we're stuck hauling a couple of 5-gallon jugs around.

[Salttanker]

How do we know that this water is even truly put through the [acronym:5cf2036b1b="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:5cf2036b1b] process and not just some toilet water? I wound't use it. At best, I would use distilled water from a well known manufacturer if I didn't have an [acronym:5cf2036b1b="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:5cf2036b1b] system.

Mike

[Bearfan]

The only thing that would suggest it's not toilet water is that you would have to pump from the toilet to the machine...and no one that is ripping people off like that would go to that much effort...unless it was a two story building and the machine was on the first floor.

I guess overhead pipes coming into the machine would be a bad sign.

[Salttanker]

Could we also factor in copper piping as a possibility? The source is unknown with a vending machine.

Mike

[Bearfan]

Very true.

[Thumper]

If i had a small tank i might just use the [acronym:c50a9505ff="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:c50a9505ff] for water but for a larger tank an [acronym:c50a9505ff="Reverse osmosis"]ro[/acronym:c50a9505ff]/[acronym:c50a9505ff="Deionization"]di[/acronym:c50a9505ff] unit is bassic equipment. [acronym:c50a9505ff="in my opinion"]imo[/acronym:c50a9505ff]

[phishead]

Some "health food" stores have [acronym:1fdfb86400="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:1fdfb86400] machines that allow you to bring your own container and refill. Near me, I know that Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods, Alfalfa's and Wild Oats have them. (that's what I used to use to make beer!) now it's [acronym:1fdfb86400="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:1fdfb86400]. Otherwise, if it is marked "Spring Water or Natural" it mine as well be coming out of your faucet. As a last resort I would use the distilled.

[Salttanker]

Otherwise, if it is marked "Spring Water or Natural" it mine as well be coming out of your faucet.

Spring water is actually all natural from springs underground. However, distilled water would be the best for a marine tank if you don't have an [acronym:60c6ee3a42="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:60c6ee3a42].

Mike