Rain water instead of rodi

[GARRIGA]

Oh yeah, I just reread your posts and you were 1 person who said that! I noticed you also mentioning that you assumed rainwater wpuld be similar to distilled water plus all the pollutants but if he invests in a filter system, it should be fine...Im not sure why you would expect rainwater to be similar to distilled water or why you believe that the pollutants you believe to be present would be filtered out as efficiently as tapwater through an RODI filter, but hokey dokey...

Rain water is evaporation same as distilled therefore impurities within the water evaporated would not persist. However, just like distilled water, rain water would be exposed to elements which might pollute such as industrial waste gassed into our atmosphere and some leaching that could occur with distilling machines. Yet both can be purified further with RODI which is currently done with distilled. Point of capturing rain water isn't to bypass filtration such as RODI but utilizing less of it or as a more feasible way of accessing water. For some their rainwater may be serviceable with just sediment, carbon and DI and others might need RO added.

Not sure why you think tap through RODI would be purer than rain water through RODI?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Rain water is evaporation same as distilled therefore impurities within the water evaporated would not persist. However, just like distilled water, rain water would be exposed to elements which might pollute such as industrial waste gassed into our atmosphere and some leaching that could occur with distilling machines. Yet both can be purified further with RODI which is currently done with distilled. Point of capturing rain water isn't to bypass filtration such as RODI but utilizing less of it or as a more feasible way of accessing water. For some their rainwater may be serviceable with just sediment, carbon and DI and others might need RO added.

Not sure why you think tap through RODI would be purer than rain water through RODI?

I didin't say it would be more or less pure...
You really believe that distilled water sold at a store is exposed to pollutants or chemicals to the same extent that most rainwater has been contaminated with pollutants these days?
If using rainwater to extend your RODI filter is something you feel to be worth the time and effort, im sure you'd be fine after running it through a filter. You clearly have a different perspective than I do...the original post in the thread was asking abput possible disadvantages...if you still have to run it through a filter (which most seem to agree should be done), it would seem there isn't really any benefit for the vast majority of people so I'm a little confused as to what the advantages would be for practically everyone.

 

[AKReefing]

Hi folks, I’m looking at starting a new build soon and was looking at some natural and simple approach to the hobby, one of the aspects I have been pondering was to collect rain water (not short of it as I live in the uk) instead of using RoDI. Any thoughts on it? Is there any disadvantages that I may be overlooking some earlier test showed to be zero tds in my area.

As it's collected from roof runoff, you should consider the dust, bird poop and associated bacteria. It's not as pure as you think.

 

[sixty_reefer]

I don't think anyone mentioned that...its true that it woyld prolong the life of your RODI filter...that implies that you would still be using an RODI system. Didn't your original post just mention using rainwater and asking if there might be downsides?

Yes, until I found that my local rainwater has a concentration of > 1.8 ppm phosphate.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Ive used Natural Seawater and rainwater or RODI for over 12 years now and had great success but admit there are a lot of variables to consider so it’s not suitble for everyone.

I’m sensible about collecting and I test a lot! My rainwater has ICP tested better than shop bought. I work a part time minimum wage job so it saves me over £100 a month easily.

My local tap water is dreadful. It’s liquid rock, full of no3 (60-120ppm) and copper, lead metals leach from very old Victorian plumbing, the TDS is 300-500s and I’ve given up using my own RODI unit with additional DI as it will only give me 000 TDS for a hour or two. It’s ridiculously expensive to run.

So I’d say it’s totally possible, but take precautions. I also run ozone and uv on my tank 24/7 and skim heavily.

Photos of my tanks from over the years.

 

[GARRIGA]

I didin't say it would be more or less pure...
You really believe that distilled water sold at a store is exposed to pollutants or chemicals to the same extent that most rainwater has been contaminated with pollutants these days?
If using rainwater to extend your RODI filter is something you feel to be worth the time and effort, im sure you'd be fine after running it through a filter. You clearly have a different perspective than I do...the original post in the thread was asking abput possible disadvantages...if you still have to run it through a filter (which most seem to agree should be done), it would seem there isn't really any benefit for the vast majority of people so I'm a little confused as to what the advantages would be for practically everyone.

Not saying store bought distilled exposed to pollutants but that it’s filtered with RO because there’s likely leaching from equipment used.

As to benefit. As mentioned. Access might be an issue. High TDS might be another.

Not saying this is a solution for everyone. Just some. Such as myself and potentially the OP.

 

[Reefing4L]

Ive used Natural Seawater and rainwater or RODI for over 12 years now and had great success but admit there are a lot of variables to consider so it’s not suitble for everyone.

I’m sensible about collecting and I test a lot! My rainwater has ICP tested better than shop bought. I work a part time minimum wage job so it saves me over £100 a month easily.

My local tap water is dreadful. It’s liquid rock, full of no3 (60-120ppm) and copper, lead metals leach from very old Victorian plumbing, the TDS is 300-500s and I’ve given up using my own RODI unit with additional DI as it will only give me 000 TDS for a hour or two. It’s ridiculously expensive to run.

So I’d say it’s totally possible, but take precautions. I also run ozone and uv on my tank 24/7 and skim heavily.

Photos of my tanks from over the years.

that looks amazing, crazy how we overcomplicate a lot in our reef tanks

 

[1979fishgeek]

that looks amazing, crazy how we overcomplicate a lot in our reef tanks

Thank you, well put I could not agree more.

 

[AKReefing]

Not saying store bought distilled exposed to pollutants but that it’s filtered with RO because there’s likely leaching from equipment used.

As to benefit. As mentioned. Access might be an issue. High TDS might be another.

Not saying this is a solution for everyone. Just some. Such as myself and potentially the OP.

Distilled and RO use different methods. Distilled is condensate from steam. RO is forced through a membrane. Both should be close to 0 TDS.

 

[sixty_reefer]

Where did that number come from?

From a hobby test kit on the water collected in my place.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

OK,. I expect it just means you'd need a better collecting system. It's not likely from the actual rain falling.

 

[sixty_reefer]

OK,. I expect it just means you'd need a better collecting system. It's not likely from the actual rain falling.

That was my initial thought to, I’ve collected the water straight from the end of the roof tile while it was raining, our local tap water is also fairly high in phosphates (>1.8) from local reservoirs in the mountains here in the UK.

 

[GARRIGA]

Distilled and RO use different methods. Distilled is condensate from steam. RO is forced through a membrane. Both should be close to 0 TDS.

I know. Pretty sure we all know

 

[AKReefing]

I know. Pretty sure we all know

Yet you mansplained it?

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

What happens to the corals in the ocean when it rains over the ocean?

When it rains over the ocean, those clouds haven’t travelled across areas of human habitation with all the pollution that entails… neither has it picked up crap from your roof, smoke particles from forest fires etc…

 

[GARRIGA]

Here’s an option for separating debris from water then filtered by gravity fed RODI.

 

[GARRIGA]

When it rains over the ocean, those clouds haven’t travelled across areas of human habitation with all the pollution that entails… neither has it picked up crap from your roof, smoke particles from forest fires etc…

Technically it has. For example, here in south Florida clouds move west to east dumping that collected over farms and cities into our reefs. Makes you wonder how much better off nature is

Rainwater everywhere on Earth unsafe to drink due to forever chemicals - Water Europe

According to new research, rainwater almost everywhere on Earth is considered unsafe to drink, due to the PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals'.

watereurope.eu

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Technically it has. For example, here in south Florida clouds move west to east dumping that collected over farms and cities into our reefs. Makes you wonder how much better off nature is

Rainwater everywhere on Earth unsafe to drink due to forever chemicals - Water Europe

According to new research, rainwater almost everywhere on Earth is considered unsafe to drink, due to the PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals'.

watereurope.eu

You're completely correct in saying that...of course water from landmasses is carried over oceans and falls as rain.

However, the first one to post about rain falling over natural reefs (and I really hope he's the only one) doesn't appear to understand that the ocean is slightly larger than an aquarium. That means ANYTHING is diluted to a far greater extent than it would be in an aquarium. It seems like a very basic concept but maybe it isn't.

 

[GARRIGA]

You're completely correct in saying that...of course water from landmasses is carried over oceans and falls as rain.

However, the first one to post about rain falling over natural reefs (and I really hope he's the only one) doesn't appear to understand that the ocean is slightly larger than an aquarium. That means ANYTHING is diluted to a far greater extent than it would be in an aquarium. It seems like a very basic concept but maybe it isn't.

Solution by dilution is a very valid point.

 

[sixty_reefer]

You're completely correct in saying that...of course water from landmasses is carried over oceans and falls as rain.

However, the first one to post about rain falling over natural reefs (and I really hope he's the only one) doesn't appear to understand that the ocean is slightly larger than an aquarium. That means ANYTHING is diluted to a far greater extent than it would be in an aquarium. It seems like a very basic concept but maybe it isn't.

Not the only one, there is data out there on how heavy rain has caused coral bleaching. Extreme conditions can cause certain areas in the sea to change the water parameters enough to cause stress to coral.