Distilled water

[Olimpia]

My new Mist King recommends I use distilled water for the system, but as a biologist all we use in the lab is distilled water for experiments and all the safety manuals and professors keep telling us that this water is horrible for you because it removes minerals and salts from your body and creates imbalances with your electrolytes. Leads to vomiting and all sorts of other unpleasant experiences. It was in style to drink this a long while back, but it's been proven to raise the acidity levels in your body, which essentially corrode you faster, along with making you really sick in large amounts.

So is this really what I should be misting my chameleons with? Isn't it better to use filtered water or something else?

How long can my nozzles survive if I use water that is a little less clean of particles?

 

[ChamOh]

it is by this logic that many people choose to use regular old water with their animals (if chlorine is high let it sit out obviously). filtered would be even better though. Mistking probably says to use distilled because it won't cause any deposits in the system...although there are people on here who use distilled and reverse osmosis. you will get different opinions, so be prepared not to get an end all answer. i personally use tap water. i personally would never drink distilled water regularly, so why give it to my animals?

 

[lisagr07]

Olimpia,,,
i'm tagging along..
i just posted a similar question about RODI water vs. distilled/RO water in a misting system.. (MistKing for me also)...
not sure which is the way to go.... let's hinge on the health of the chameleon.... what is best???
lisa

 

[Olimpia]

No problem Lisa!

I'm leaning towards no on this one, just from my own experience in my labs. And I'm not getting my advice from people who are paranoid or something (my microbiology professor works with E-coli exclusively and he's told us he's tasted one of his cultures before! Lab cultures are no where near as strong as "wild" E-coli, so no risk of sickness), I trust their opinions. But I've read people say they use DI water on here, I was a little confused.

I think personally, I'm going to go with filtered tap water. And if my nozzles need replacing in a year or so (I don't know how long they last with DI?) then so be it. But I'd like to hear from more people.

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy,

I use tap water. I originally used Brita filtered water but stopped that years ago mostly because I decided that my tap water was ok. I think Olimpia is on the right track about the issues of pulling all of the minerals out of tap water. I was watching one of those "Discovery-type" TV channels a few weeks ago where a giant water treatment plant adds back the minerals right away after distillation to prevent distilled water's corrosive effects on their stainless steel pipes . Years ago I Googled the subject but the real research information seemed to be buried under zillions of flakey advertizing links promoting the sale of distilled water systems for human consumption . Just like they wanted, I gave-up looking for the truth after a while .

 

[summoner12]

I have been using RO for about a year now. I have had no issues. I dust my cham's food with a normal dusting schedule.

This is my system: Misting system...in the works

Did a search and this was on the first page: Link

 

[DGray]

kooky

I think larger animals will not have a problem using distilled or RO water. If they are eating normally, and are in good health, the mineral dilution effects of the pure water are of no concern. Compare rainwater in the tropics to distilled, and then to tap water. Rainwater is far closer to distilled.

I am amazed by the direction of concern on this topic. If you are concerned by the *lack* of minerals and it's possible leaching effects, you could add the tiniest bit of calcium powder to re-mineralize it. To me, this would be preferable to most of the tap water in America that has a variety of chemicals in it, including fluoride, that are of unknown health consequences for animals.

The levels of chemicals that are allowed in U.S. tap water supplies are based on political needs, and not on health guidelines. Nitrogen for one, is allowed at completely ridiculous levels. I think it is kooky to drink ground water suppies in the Midwest.

If you are lucky enough to live in a place with good water, use it. But don't assume everyone is so fortunate.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I am lucky enough to live in a place with great water straight out of the tap, and that's what my chameleons drink (and have for years).

DGray, where did you get the info comparing rain water to distilled water?
I would love to see that study.

-Brad

 

[panthercham]

I am lucky enough to live in a place with great water straight out of the tap, and that's what my chameleons drink (and have for years).

DGray, where did you get the info comparing rain water to distilled water?
I would love to see that study.

-Brad

So would I as distilled water is vastly different to rain water.....

 

[Elizadolots]

hmmm...I suspect the Mist King folks recommended distilled because it is not going to clog the system....when you use anything else, there is the chance/likelihood of buildup that clogs the system.

I sincerely doubt that their recommendation was based on the health of the chameleons. I'm absolutely sure it was based on the health of their machine.

I'd say, just know that you'll probably have to do some clean up procedures on the machine if you choose to ignore their "distilled water only" edict.

Obviously, you'd have to remove the mister from the animals when you do it, but there are an armload of products to remove the gunk that builds up in systems which run tap water. Just look at the coffee aisle in any grocery store. Straight, plain, white vinegar is probably the best option.

 

[DGray]

what's twenty between friends

So would I as distilled water is vastly different to rain water.....

Of course it is.

I can't find any data easily at this hour, but one site list rainwater in Colorado at 8 - 10 ppm for total dissolved solids, and distilled at .05 - 1.0 ppm. Vastly different, yes. Most tap water in this country is 24 - 250 ppm. A twenty to twentyfive fold difference in each direction.

I seem to remember a fact in a class on neotropical ecology about rain in the pacific tropical rain forests being quite pure, so pure in fact that it leached significant minerals out of leaves as it ran over them. Will look for that text book in the morning.

 

[summoner12]

I am lucky enough to live in a place with great water straight out of the tap, and that's what my chameleons drink (and have for years).

DGray, where did you get the info comparing rain water to distilled water?
I would love to see that study.

-Brad

Distilling water is a very similar process to how earth processes it's water.

But when mother nature performs the task generally it isn't as sanitary.

Water Distillation Principles

I believe fairly recently we went over the cleanliness of rain water vs. tap water vs. RO filtered water. I think you were involved in that discussion, Brad.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I believe fairly recently we went over the cleanliness of rain water vs. tap water vs. RO filtered water. I think you were involved in that discussion, Brad.

Probably.
And I still maintain the same position.

-Brad

 

[summoner12]

Probably.
And I still maintain the same position.

-Brad

I think in that discussion it was shown that there are a lot of harmful elements to straight tap water, and you still think that is the best option.

There is some interesting information on the page I linked to in my post earlier on this post.

 

[cosmic charlie]

I have read over the posts about water and I was wondering why more people don't use rain water.

I have a 50 gal barrel that I use to catch rain off the roof for my orchids. I would think rain water would be best for the little guys.

I tested my rain water and the ph was around 6-7 so not that bad.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I think in that discussion it was shown that there are a lot of harmful elements to straight tap water, and you still think that is the best option.

There is some interesting information on the page I linked to in my post earlier on this post.

If memory serves, the only concerning thing with my tap water was fluoride .. and no, I'm not worried about it.

-Brad

 

[Olimpia]

I found this analogy on a website, "The other thing is that water is an excellent solvent. It will dissolve trace amounts of just about anything given the opportunity, like a sponge. Think of your tap water like a sponge full of minerals that cannot take any more. Distilled water is like a dry sponge looking for minerals." Over a long period of time it will lead to mineral deficiencies.

It seems like a needless cycle? We give them water that drains them of minerals and calcium, and then we have to overcompensate with supplementation to make up for the water... it just seems obtuse. We spend our lives trying to make sure that the food we give them is gut loaded properly, and then dusted in other stuff, all to make sure our reptiles live a long and healthy life and then decide to give them water that leaches away our efforts?

I'm going to use filtered water and leave it at that. If I have to replace my nozzles or something more often, then whatever. But given what I know from my experience in my labs, I'd rather stick to filtered water.

 

[summoner12]

Did you read the link I posted?

I think you are making some assumptions here, without much proof to back you up. The amount of minerals 'removed' seems negligible. It even talks about how calcium carbonate (which is the calcium you get in water) is harder to obsorb into the body than calciums from other sources. The dust we use on our chameleons is calcium carbonate. The gunk you find in your water heater? that is calcium carbonate seperating and settling in your water tank.

Like I said, I have been using RO, and nothing else for almost a year, I supplment just like anyone else and I have had zero issues as far as I can tell. I even drink the same RO that the chams get.

Yes, sure, most water filtration sites are really bending the truth and making it sound like tap water is the devil... but it is in some places and people really should take their water source into consideration. Brad is lucky, Denver get's all of it's water from mountain snow run off. Denver has a lot of control of their water and provides good water. That doesn't mean people should recommend tap water is safe, because the person saying 'it's OK' doesn't know for sure, unless they looked into it. It is all a case by case basis. If you need to ask 'what kind of water should I use' You should be researching your local water supply. If you get water from a well, invest in RO for your entire house, or at least the drinking water. RO systems aren't THAT costly.... if you think about how much they can do for your water. It is sure a hell of a lot cheaper than buying bottled water....

 

[Elizadolots]

I have read over the posts about water and I was wondering why more people don't use rain water.

I have a 50 gal barrel that I use to catch rain off the roof for my orchids. I would think rain water would be best for the little guys.

I tested my rain water and the ph was around 6-7 so not that bad.

Because it rarely ever rains? I'm not saying it's a bad option if you get that much rain, but San Diego just doesn't.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Yes, sure, most water filtration sites are really bending the truth and making it sound like tap water is the devil... but it is in some places and people really should take their water source into consideration. Brad is lucky, Denver get's all of it's water from mountain snow run off. Denver has a lot of control of their water and provides good water. That doesn't mean people should recommend tap water is safe,

Agreed, and I have always said (when these water discussions come up) that it depends on where you are located and the quality of the tap water in your area.
There is no question that other cities are not as fortunate as Denver where this is concerned.

-Brad