Aquarium owners have long appreciated the benefits of pure osmosis water. Thanks to its positive properties, it is now also enjoying increasing popularity as drinking water. But what exactly is osmosis water? What is it used for, and how can you make it yourself? We'll answer all of these questions in this article.
What is osmosis water?
Osmosis water is the term used to describe water that is virtually free of salt and contaminants, obtained using the reverse osmosis process. Of course, it should also be called "reverse osmosis water," but colloquially, it's often abbreviated – it always means the same thing: water in its purest form.
How exactly does reverse osmosis work?
Osmosis is a movement process across semipermeable membranes that occurs spontaneously between solutions of unequal concentrations due to the membrane's special properties. The concentration of the solution is determined by its solute content. In organisms, cell walls, for example, form such a membrane: water molecules can move freely in both directions through the cell wall membrane without external influence – but solutes cannot. During osmosis, water molecules migrate from the purer side to the impurer side to equalize the concentrations. This pull is called osmotic pressure.
Reverse osmosis systems utilize the properties of such a membrane to reverse the process: They force saline raw water against the semipermeable membrane at increased pressure, so that virtually salt-free water arrives at the back. The reduction is approximately 80 to 97% for dissolved substances and >99.9% for all other substances.
Learn more about reverse osmosis and our systems (-> Reverse Osmosis)
Reverse osmosis water or distilled water? The difference.
During distillation, water is evaporated, and heavy metals and all other non-volatile dissolved substances are filtered out, as they have a higher boiling point than water. Essentially, it's rainwater!
Both distillation and reverse osmosis filter out almost all contaminants from water, but distilled water still contains small amounts of volatile components if they have a lower boiling point than water. Furthermore, due to the process, there is no longer any dissolved oxygen. Compared to distilled water, the pH of reverse osmosis water is slightly lower because the limescale has been removed, releasing the carbon dioxide previously bound to it. Both types of water are extremely pure, perfectly suitable for human consumption!
So-called "distilled water" from hardware stores, on the other hand, is water that has usually been demineralized using various technical processes. It's not intended for drinking, but is primarily used in technical applications to prevent limescale deposits in appliances and systems.
Possible uses of osmosis water
Osmosis water for drinking
Compared to tap water, osmosis water is characterized by its particularly smooth taste. When you make your morning coffee with it, the aroma can develop more easily and the flavor is better preserved. The same applies to tea and fresh vegetables that you cook in osmosis water.
Because osmosis water is free of all known contaminants, it has a very effective detoxifying effect. While it contains very few minerals, you absorb most of them through solid food, so you don't have to worry about deficiencies.
Osmosis water in the household
Water stains and limescale deposits not only look unsightly, they also cause increased wear and tear on your kitchen appliances. With reverse osmosis water, you can get longer service from your espresso machine and other appliances and clean your entire home spotlessly.
Your plants will also thrive better if you water them with virtually pollutant-free water. Sensitive plants like orchids, in particular, thrive in low-mineralized water. Alternatively, you can also use rainwater.
Osmosis water for the aquarium
There are many good reasons for using reverse osmosis water in aquariums. Regular tap water is too hard for many fish species and causes limescale deposits on the exterior walls of your aquarium. With reverse osmosis water, you have complete control over the water parameters and can adjust them to suit your specific fish species by adding minerals or tap water. A reverse osmosis system for your aquarium creates optimal living conditions, especially for young fish and exotic species.
Post-treatment of osmosis water for the aquarium
1. Harden osmosis water
Since reverse osmosis reduces the hardness of your water to almost zero, you need to harden it using special salts to create optimal conditions for your fish. The advantage of so-called hardening salts is that they don't add any pollutants like copper, nitrate, phosphate, or similar substances to the water. Conversely, you can reduce the hardness of your aquarium water again by adding pure osmosis water.
2. Add salt to osmosis water
Pour the reverse osmosis water into a container and gradually add salt. Stir occasionally and monitor your conductivity meter until the desired salt content is reached.
3. Mix the osmosis water correctly
To calculate the correct ratio when changing the water, we recommend using a water change calculator
Advantages of osmosis water at a glance
- Low-pollutant drinking water from the tap: Mineral water from the supermarket usually has a long transport route and is expensive. Reverse osmosis systems save you money and time in the long run, which you would previously have spent carrying crates.
- Beneficial for the body: Due to its detoxifying effect, osmosis water ensures that your body absorbs vitamins and minerals from food better.
- More flavor: Fresh colors and the natural flavor of foods are better preserved when cooking in reverse osmosis water. Coffee and tea aromas are also fully appreciated.
- Prevents limescale buildup: Operating your kitchen appliances with reverse osmosis water prevents limescale buildup and excessive wear. Windows, kitchen counters, and other surfaces can be cleaned with reverse osmosis water to make unsightly water stains easier to remove or prevent in the first place.
Can I buy osmosis water?
When looking for pure drinking water, consumers often come across two things: distilled water and so-called baby water .
However , "distilled water" from hardware stores is not drinking water, but a chemically produced product for technical purposes. Please do not drink it! So-called baby water, on the other hand, is available in well-stocked supermarkets. It is usually produced using the reverse osmosis process, but is too expensive and time-consuming for long-term everyday use.
Instead, use your own reverse osmosis system to produce pure reverse osmosis water.
Make your own osmosis water
With the help of a reverse osmosis system, you have the option of converting your home's tap water into high-quality osmosis water. These systems aren't particularly large these days, and the under-counter versions fit neatly under the sink, saving space and producing up to 120 liters of osmosis water per day, depending on the unit. Considering an average consumption of 5-20 liters per household, this is more than sufficient.
With our many years of experience, we are happy to advise you on the selection of your osmosis system and offer you first-class service for the installation, replacement or repair of your system.
Your H2O water store.
