Have you actually used deionized water?

[sparkyvega]

So I've read a few posts on CP on the issue of deionized vs. distilled H2O. Most of the indications are that it is OK to used deionized for seasoning a new humi. My question is twofold: have you used deionized for this purpose and if so, what were your results/experiences? I know it's easy to get distilled at the supermarket, but I'm just curious. -- sparky

 

[jlada]

DI is perfectly fine. I used to fill gallon jugs of the stuff from the chem lab all the time and then use it in humidors.

Truth be told, distilled water isn't pure and is slightly acidic. There are still residual impurities in distilled water, no doubt. Especially the stuff you buy from the store.

DI water, on the other hand, has no ions, but can still have non-solubles or organics in it. Perfect DI water has a perfectly neutral pH of 7.00.

 

[pv1191]

I have a 6 stage RO/DI system I use for my salwater reef systems. The water comming out of it has 0 TDS (total disolved solids), No minerals, 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, and PH levels of 7. I use it to refill my water bottles for the gym, humidifiers, and of course my reef tanks.

 

[mustangbobo]

DO NOT drink ro/di water! It is too pure and will absorb nutrients from your body. And it tastes bad.

 

[Brickhouse]

I used deionized all the time over in Iraq because I could get jugs of it. Works fine.

 

[JHolmes763]

DO NOT drink ro/di water! It is too pure and will absorb nutrients from your body. And it tastes bad.

I've always heard the same thing, but it's debatable. Lots of people drink deionized water, as a few Google searches told me. I wouldn't drink it solely, but that's your choice.

 

[jlada]

DI water is perfectly fine to drink. And DI water has no real "taste". If by "taste" you mean the lack of chlorine and other minerals, then sure, I guess it tastes awful.

:sign:

 

[mustangbobo]

I did not realize there were different opinions on drinking DI water. My experience on this matter comes from my reef aquariums (this hobby is on a break right now), so I am by no means an expert. I like the taste of my RO water, but my RO/DI has a bad taste. I use DI resin to take tds to 0 or 1ppm. I assumed the bad taste was from the resins. Is there another way to DI? A quick google search tells me drinking di water is a raging debate. Anyways, I was just checking in to let you know I am not qualified to debate this issue.