Water: Distilled vs purified vs everything else

[Kurt]

Distilled water is good for misting because it leaves no mineral deposits on the sides of an enclosure. However, thats all its good for. It should not be used for your frog's main water source. Its just to clean.

I can only guess that purified water is just filtered water. Not 100% sure, its just a guess. Dechlorinated tap water is just fine.

[1beataway]

Distilled water is good for misting because it leaves no mineral deposits on the sides of an enclosure.

Is this true?! Kurt, you might be my new hero!

[Kurt]

Its true. Nothing but distilled goes into my spray bottle.

[1beataway]

Do you have any idea how hard I scrub the sides of my tank each time I clean? And it still looks dirty! This is good to know. Of course, with the WTF's, the glass gets very dirty regardless. But this will help!

Can I call you Achilles?

[kh2odragon]

i have gray tree frogs that make a mess on glass so i use a micro-fiber cleaning pad that is only for cleaning tanks without chemicals and that helps alot some times when tougher dirt i spray it then scrub it.

[leonardH]

There are reports that indicate bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water. Another issue about bottled water is its impact on environment. There has been campaign regarding bottled water ban. Concord, Mass. was the first city in the U.S. that approved the regulation, as the town wants to reduce Dasani bottles in dumps. View the article here: Bottled water ban.

[guilletto]

But if frogs drink from the rain drops, distilled water is not good . Am i Wrong?

Distilled water is good for misting because it leaves no mineral deposits on the sides of an enclosure. However, thats all its good for. It should not be used for your frog's main water source. Its just to clean.

I can only guess that purified water is just filtered water. Not 100% sure, its just a guess. Dechlorinated tap water is just fine.

[paul3col]

I'm using mineral water and he seems ok but spring would be a the ideal choice.

[Mentat]

See some confusion here on thread due to all the commercial names on human's bottled water and de-chlorinators/conditioners so will try to resume. Please be aware that water names might mean different things across nation lines.

Water

Tap - de-clorinate and use for bath water or water section. Chloramines (present treatment at water plants) are more stable and will not leave water by aerating for 48 hours like with plain chlorine!

Boiled Tap - same as tap with little to no oxygen. Still need to de-chlorinate.

Filtered (bottled or home filter) - depends on filter medium (some are carbon based others are mineral based). Similar to tap and should be de-chlorinate the same way. Some minerals might be removed by filtration.

Mineral - water filtered by mineral medium (see filtered).

Distilled - use only for spraying enclosure (leaves no spots on glass). Do not use for frog bath!

Reverse Osmosis (RO) - leave this for saltwater tanks, do not use on frogs bath!

De-ionized water - de-mineralized water, do not use on frogs bath!

Other processes like micro-filtration, ultraviolet oxidation, electrodialysis, etc.; do not use on frogs!

Water Treatments

De-chlorinators remove chlorine and not more. Conditioners can add capability to remove heavy metals and even Nitrates from water. Some conditioners have chemical additives to interact with a fish slime coat. Recommend stay with de-chorinators or conditioners that do not add anything to your frog bath.

I've used Seachem's Prime in the past and now use Seachem's Vitro (saltwater line) "Alpha" because it's more concentrated and cheaper in the long run (also removes Ammonia and detoxifies Nitrites & Nitrate from tap which are present at my location). Any product labeled as safe for frogs is probably good!

There are new products in market labeled as all natural de-chlorinators based in vitamin C . I bought one online (SuperBac All Natural Dechlorinator) and tried it with my fish. The cichlids were very stressed after a normal 25% water change. Did some analysis and the product was removing chlorine, but something was not right and I do not mess around with my pets. Contacted manufacturer by email and described my experience; but the lab technicians never answered. So I dumped the whole 16 ounces down the toilet. After my experience can't recommend those vitamin C based products. Good luck !

[Scottyhorse]

I was wondering if I could use my well water.. PH is 7.6 and my dechlor I use for the fish get's rid of heavy metals. I will be buying an RO unit, so that would be my two options. Which would be best?

[Bolisnide]

I was wondering if I could use my well water.. PH is 7.6 and my dechlor I use for the fish get's rid of heavy metals. I will be buying an RO unit, so that would be my two options. Which would be best?

Hi Scotty,
I also have well water with a slightly higher PH of 7.8.
I have been using this water without any problems for 2 years, but like you said, you do need a dechlor that neutralizes heavy metals. I use a product called stress coat, and also a product called reptisafe by zoomed. The reptisafe lowers the PH slightly, which is why I use it, but it does not neutralize heavy metals like the stress coat....
Also, be aware that there has been discussion in the past about the stress coat, as it is not for frogs specifically. but I know of other members that use the product without problems.

I personally believe that if you're able, you should test your well water and make sure there is no living bacteria in the water, as the water treatments don't rid bacteria. I personally filter my well water with a britta filter before I treat it and then use it, don't know if that helps or not, but that's just what my routine is.

It's my understanding that RO water is lacking the minerals that are needed by the frogs and that it should not be used except for misting.