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  #1  
Old 06/27/2007, 10:08 PM
dmdj dmdj is offline
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Can I used commercial water?

Hey guys,

I was wondering if it's safe to use drinking water like Alhambra for a reef tank. Would I still need to add water conditoners?
  #2  
Old 06/27/2007, 10:15 PM
ScubaDiver93 ScubaDiver93 is offline
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what?
  #3  
Old 06/27/2007, 11:13 PM
Salamander Salamander is offline
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Most likely its RO water but I'm not familiar with that product (which is one of several names from the same company).

Purity could also vary greatly. Test for TDS at a minimum.

Looking it up I found that a '99 study showed that:

...1,000 bottles of water were sent to three independent labs, found that between 25 percent and 40 percent is re-packaged municipal tap water.

As a result of the above mentioned study, several companies (including Alahambra) were named in a lawsuit for violating health standards.

Their website lists no information about their process or purity.

Its cheaper and easier in the long run to just get your own RO/DI unit.
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  #4  
Old 06/27/2007, 11:13 PM
pledosophy pledosophy is offline
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It should be free of chlorines and phosphates depending on the type.

I assume you mean for top off water right?

YOu can use it to make water to, just add the appropriate salt etc.
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  #5  
Old 06/27/2007, 11:17 PM
cone9 cone9 is offline
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You'll find the general consensus will be to just use RO/DI water or distilled that you know has not been drawn off copper tubing.

Some people have tap water that works fine, but that's not the norm. I'm sure some bottled water would fall into that same category but you don't know unless you test it all the time.

Of course, you could always run the Alhambra through a RO/DI unit and then you'd be good to go!
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  #6  
Old 06/27/2007, 11:22 PM
Mark426 Mark426 is offline
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I tried some gallon jugs of a national brand drinking water and just for top offs....got an algae outbreak. Went back to distilled and algae is gone. IMHO...dont use it.
  #7  
Old 06/27/2007, 11:34 PM
kuoka kuoka is offline
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Be careful. Remember in Europe they refuse to drink Aquafina because it's tap water. Not worth the risk IMO.
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  #8  
Old 06/27/2007, 11:49 PM
dmdj dmdj is offline
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How do I test for TDS? What would be a safe reading?
  #9  
Old 06/28/2007, 12:09 AM
grav grav is offline
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The "Drink More Water" product is RO/DI water.

I THINK the only way to get it is to have it delivered.
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