Reverse osmosis RODI users

[administrator]

So a buddy of mine who uses RO water for all of his tanks but yet drinks the horrible tap water out of the sink. Kind of like “Deuce Bigalow”, LOL. His tap water has its own unique taste, smell, and color which is suppose ably “safe” to drink. I try not to drink the water when I go there but I swear when I do have to it drink it, it gives me the hershey squirts.

So I understand why he is using it for the fish, but why not for his own family. He gave me a list of reasons why it was ok but I think he cares more for his fish than his family. I told him this in addition that he was a cheap SOB and boy did he get pissed. LOL.

So I was curious to know how many others use RO/RODI water for their tanks but not for themselves or families and if so why? Thx.

 

[duanes]

DI water contains basically nothing. Much like a vacuum, it wants something or as something cold will suck up heat(I realize this sounds and is simplistic, but it is the basic concept). It is Chem I.
Tap water, usually contains some minerals such as calcium, magnesium etc, does not need anything from you, such as the minerals in your body.
DI water wants/needs, because of this, it can drain your body of minerals, just as Di water can cause your fish to become unable to osmoregulate, leading to stress and death.

 

[tomomothy]

Are we talking fresh or salt water tank? Does this friend add anything to the RODI water before he adds it to the tank?

 

[gronlaura]

I will have to buy my water, as my tap is 1.0ppm ammonia and a ph of 8.4 - 8.99. It comes from city wells and the local Fox River and the water quality varies greatly. My water dept adds mucho chloramine to make it drinkable. I have a pur filter on the faucet and my water tastes good with or without that filter. It's just not appropriate for fish.

 

[duanes]

A pH of 8.4 is perfect for some fish, such as African rift lake cichlids, although if it really has 1ppm ammonia that is not.
But most water companies use a ratio of 1 part ammonia to 4 parts chlorine to produce a chloramine residual of approx 1-2ppm, and a chloramine level of 5ppm exceeds the allowable EPA regulations.

 

[Inglorious]

Ask anyone who lived in south Milwaukee during the mid 90's how they feel about drinking tap water.

 

[duanes]

I did, and started working as a chemist/microbiologist at the Milwaukee water plant just after the crypto outbreak there.
And I do drink tap, and use it for my fish, and do water changes with tap at least every other day.
Do you think in nature fish live in RO? Other than for a few specialized fish that live in pure rain water, RO can be detrimental. Most of our fish have evolved to live in rivers and lakes with varying mineral content.
For salt water fish RO is a good base point for getting a consistent salt mixture, but for most fresh water fish RO is about as effective as sleeping on a mini pyramid in order to ward off the apocalypse.

 

[gronlaura]

I will be adding the appropriate amount of Seachem Replenish to the R/O water I buy from my LFS. I really have no other option - the person at my LFS sells water to several people from Elgin. They now buy water after losing all their fish because of their bad tap water. The LFS itself uses R/O water.