water evaporation

Hello everyone...I went into my LFS and the owner was telling me that using distilled water is bad for topping off your tank. He told me to take my 5 gallon jug fill it with tap water and use API fish & tap water conditioner.and this would be fine for water evaporation in my tank.
Is doing this ok??? Cause I have been using distilled water for awhile now.

 

well most people would just recommend you to use RO/DI water.
I guess tap water is ok if you have a good source of water.
Im not sure as of distilled water, but i dont see an issue. lets see what the other say

 

Time to find a new LFS. Take that five gallon to the store and get R.O. water.

 

yea or buy your own ro unit. melevsreef has some. really trust this guys stuff. well i do anyway.

 

If you want a succesful tank, no Tap and no Distilled water....use only RO/DI water

 

Well meaning but misinformed LFS employee.Distilled and RO water are both not good to use alone to house fresh water fish(and of course,salt water fish) because of the lack of minerals.Both would be fine for top off (RO/DI being better)since they will take on the properties of the existing saltwater when added.

 

I have always done what the owner told you and have no problem but again ive been to the water treatment plant where i live and there pretty good at removing almost everything. using an RO/DI unit is the best and safest way to go. for the distilled water, i really dont see an issue. don't know if it has low oxygen or not...

 

The LFS was wrong in this case, just selling you a water conditioner.

 

Distilled is fine for top off. If you don't think you are getting the minerals or trace elements just dose some trace elements once a week while you are using the distilled water.

 

Thanks for all the input...Im going to look into buying a R/O Unit.Any brands does anyone suggest??