Hey everyone I was watching HGTV this mornging and saw a thing on harvesting rain water to use in your home and it got me thinking. Has anyone ever heard of or have any thoughts on harvesting rain water and then running it threw a RO/DI unit to then be used in a aquarium?

can t say that i have ever heard of do it, but at the same time ... i would have to be a little hesitant of the pollutants in the water that might not be removed by the RO/DI unit.

I would have the same reservations as Bobby regarding pollution. Not only that, but it takes some considerable pressure to force water through a RO/DI system. You'd need a pump capable of producing 50 psi or more.

I would be worried about 'toasting' your ro media. Meaning, the longevity will be drastically reduced imo.

glad to see you jumping in Mike ... keep it up !!

I have 1500 gallon tank up at the barn that collects rain water from the barn roof for my garden in the summer. (My well water kills plants.) The water is gravity fed down to a couple of hose bibbs at the house. I've used the system for the deck plants and garden for at least 15 years.

I've never tried to run it thru an RO unit although I have thought about it occasionally. The water as is works for my plants and animals, and I've used it from the beginning (last April) in my fresh water planted tanks. I don't use it on the salt tanks, I buy jugs of RO/DI water at the lfs.

If you want to try rain water, make sure your roof doesn't leach toxics. My roof is metal and I've heard that tile roofs work also. Personally, I wouldn't use water off a composition roof and I'd do a lot more investigating before trying water from a shake roof. You'll also need to plan for turning the system off and draining it in winter if it gets below freezing in your area.

thanks for all the responses I figured the pllutants would be a problem I just did not know how much the RO/DI units actually take out.