is rain water good water?

hello, is fresh rain water as pure as ro/di water? and I dont live in LA where its smog heaven..

 

Why don't you just run out to Siesta Key and snatch up some sea water, and some of that world famous sand. lol

 

No, rain water has dissolved minerals, it could have acids and heavy metals as well. Remember, the clouds that drop the rain did not form where they drop their moisture. They have picked up all sorts of things as they drift across the globe. Have you ever seen your car after a rain shower and the suns comes out? Do you notice all of the water spots?

 

would your clouds mainly come over the gulf? wonder how much from the oil refineries and such they would pick up from them. id be a bit leery of that.

 

You could probably use rain water, but you'd have to run it through some type of filtering system - like people do when they use it for their homes.

 

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainwater_tank:

Sounds like it depends on your local conditions and collection method. Possibly running it through an DO/DI unit. Anyone have an idea on what elevated levels of lead and zinc would do to a tank? (I'd just go the RO/DI route if I were you).

One other concern I'd have would be the PH(SO2). You might need to buffer it.

 

thanks everyone..

Using pure water in the aquarium, RO, distilled, deionised, rainwater

thats got some info.. its hit or miss. I just thought I could use it for topoff water since its been downpouring all day..

 

Yeah, that's not a good idea. Ever hear of acid rain?