RO/DI for drinking?

[Anonymous]

I am interested in mounting my RO/DI unit under my sink to use for drinking water and for my reef topoff. Does anyone use this water for drinking? What are the pros and cons of doing this?

Thanks,

Mitch

 

[Reefguide]

Your RO/Di will require a bit more maintnance but why not... Purified water was surely inveted for us not our reefs...

 

[NMreefer]

You can drink the RO water, but not the DI. Be sure to run a bypass around your DI cartridge for drinking water.

Phillip :wink:

 

[Reefguide]

but not the DI.

Why not?

 

[Marcosreef]

Why not?

Because the DI strips the water of any minerals that passed the RO membrane.

You could, but the water is flavorless and dry tasting with no nutritive value whatsoever.

Just take it before the DI and it's better tasting and saves your DI resin too.

Marco

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
It is common for people to use the lack of mineral (nutrition value) for not using the DI, but the main reason is economics and taste.

Even when using a glass/cup that was washed diligently, when you put the RO/DI water in it, all the effort of DI'ing is gone. So why bother?

Only naive, uninformed people insists on using DI after RO for drinking purpose.

 

[danmhippo]

(Very nice, 7E, for your quick hand in making spelling corrections........)

 

[Chucker]

I've only ever heard of one issue that would cause any concern for one's health when drinking RO/DI water from an aquarium unit. There are no guaranteed safeguards to prevent bacterial growth on a hobbyist unit, since they are not designed for human consumption. Even so, the water would most likely be safe to drink after simply letting the unit run until it has flushed the water left within it from the previous use.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the quick replies.

I certainly could run a bypass around the DI for drinking, but how would I then differentiate between my drinking water and my reef water? I want to hook up the output into a storage tank under the sink. I don't want to wait 20 minutes for the unit to make me a glass of water!

mitch :?:

 

[StirCrazy]

I've only ever heard of one issue that would cause any concern for one's health when drinking RO/DI water from an aquarium unit. There are no guaranteed safeguards to prevent bacterial growth on a hobbyist unit, since they are not designed for human consumption. Even so, the water would most likely be safe to drink after simply letting the unit run until it has flushed the water left within it from the previous use.

Chucker, the only difference between a "hobbyist unit" and a drinking unit is a post carbon filter, they are about 10.00 cdn to buy .. the rest of the unit is interchangable from the sediment filter to the membrain its self. Some home units don't use the post carbon filter either as all it is for is to ensure that you won't get any growth in your pressure tank.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Well I've been drinking my RO/DI water for a year and I'm still alive. I never heard that it was "bad" or "not good" until I read this thread.

Wiat a minute, my eye's are starting to blurj aol hans aa;l starting 'kj a ramp. uoweahf hsahjklhf l;kfsaiei ;erp'45ow re

 

[Reefguide]

 

[Anonymous]

:lol: :lol: rotflmao! :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
I am surprised that anyone who admit they drink DIed water after what I said, Louey, you naive, uninformed (and rich) reefer! :wink:

In most RO/DI setup with output for both drinking water and DI for tank, there is a storage tank that stores the RO. When you want drinking water, the storage tank will push the RO thru a post filter, and into your glass/cup. If you want water for your tank, the storage tank will push the RO thru the DI canister(s) to your tank.

There is no need to wait 20 minutes for a glass of water. See OEM web or reef hardware store (e.g., marinedepot.com, spectrapure.com, etc.) for a pic of "drinking water kit" setup.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, I laid off the DI water consumtion overnight and my eyesight and typing ability appear to be returning to normal!

Gee, I guess I am uninformed and or misinformed. I'll take a closer look at the way my unit is plumbed when I get home tonite. It would appear that I would need two tanks and two taps, one for drinking and one for the Reef. I don't think I could fit two of the 4G tanks under my kitchen sink.

The expenses of this hobby are never ending.

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
I don't know if I made it clear in my post, but there should be only one storage tank for both the tank and the drinking faucet.