pH of Alpheus distilled water

[ignatius05]

Hi,

Yesterday, I bought 2 bottles of Alpheus distilled water. Topped up about 15% of my small 3+G tank. Resulted in 2 Sakura Shrimp casualty hours later.

Guessing that the pH of the Alpheus distilled water is the cause, I measured the pH and found that it was on the low side of 6. While my tank water pH is on the high side of 7. Its likely that the sudden swing of pH caused the death of my 2 Sakura shrimp and the rest (5 more) are in 'daze'. Not moving much since yesterday.

So would like to warn beginners not to make the same mistake as I did as well as seek advice on what I could do to help the rest of the stressed out shrimps. Thanks.

[eviltrain]

How did you water change? Drip slowly or just pour in?

Did you manage to get the tds of the distilled water?

Send from my GT-P1000 (Overcome 7 Series v4.0.0)

[ignatius05]

You guessed it. "just pour in" as i ususlly do previously with tap water. But this time was more as i thought distilled water is 'safer'. I guess its just part of the learning process and hopefully other beginner find it useful. No, I didn't check the TDS too. Thanks for reminding me on that.

Any idea how to save the rest if the shrimp? Or just wait out and hope for the best? Thanks!

[reiner09]

any type of water you add in by just pouring is not safe unless you are very sure it is of the same parameter as your tank's water( you will ph shock,tds shock,gh shock your shrimps) .. most if not all of the distilled water in the market is acidic ranging from 5.5-6.5.
By adding distilled water into your tank ( assuming you are using inert substrate, having you tank's water on the high side of 7 ) you will probably lower your tank's ph in the end. Tds wise for distilled water will probably be around 0-10 tds.
The only solution now is to pray that your shrimps can survive this then they will more or less adapt to this new environment. I don't suggest on adjusting your ph any further as it might further shock the shrimps causing them to die even faster..

Next time if you want to do water change with distilled water, with the motive of lowering the tds/gh mix it with tap water and drip it into the tank.

[sateman]

Wow!...didn't know that changing 15% with distilled water can cause death within hours. I am practising same routine. Every week 15 to 20% wc with Life distilled water. Just pour everything in but so far so good leh...

[ZackZhou]

Wow!...didn't know that changing 15% with distilled water can cause death within hours. I am practising same routine. Every week 15 to 20% wc with Life distilled water. Just pour everything in but so far so good leh...

Hmmm.. Distilled water are usually used for water top up, not water change.
If you are doing water change, why not just use treated water or any form of drinking water?

[chansl]

Just to add on .. Dasani distilled water pH is 7.6 !! Just last year, their water ph was 6.4 but i think there were complaint around the world so they increase it .. It is a product of coke ..

[ignatius05]

Hi Sateman, not sure why you don't encounter the same problem as me. Maybe your tank's water pH is lower and water parameter is closer to the distilled water. Or it could be your inhabitants are more tolerant to pH fluctuation. If it works, then good for you.

Hi ZackZhou, I topped up with distilled water not WC as mentioned. You are right, if WC its cheaper to treat tap water rather than use distilled water. I don't do that because the amount I top up is too little so its more convenient and economical.

Hi chansi, thanks for sharing Dasani's distilled water pH. Maybe I should get that.

By the way, just to update that the rest of my shrimps seem to be doing better now. Thanks all for your kind advice and generous sharing. Lesson learnt is to test the water I am going to use (top up or WC) and drip not pour the next time.

Cheers!

[eviltrain]

Another problem is that your small water volume might cause to whatever spike. You have to topup 15% every week?

Send from my GT-P1000 (Overcome 7 Series v4.0.0)

[ignatius05]

Hi eviltrain, I agree. Because of my small tank size, 15% will easily cause the water parameters to swing by a lot to the liking of the shrimps. Actually, I don't usually top up so much, maybe at most 10%. But this time I thought distilled water is much 'safer'. So my itchy hand poured in much more than usual this time.

I don't have any fan blowing at the water, I wonder and also amazed that water evaporate so quickly. Ya, about 15% top up is needed every 5-7days.

[Matt]

Hi ignatius, maybe you would like to check on your water temperature as water evaporates faster in higher temperatures. Just another factor to note.