which water to mix with

Gooshin · 08-26-2009, 11:34 AM

All of these chemicals are to be mixed with water, and water is used to wash away the chemicals, but does the type of water matter?

Deionized, Distilled, Tap, Filtered?? Does this have any impact?

MRRiley · 08-26-2009, 11:50 AM

Most tap water is filled with chemicals and mineral traces. I always used distilled when possible and filtered tap water at a minimum. Otherwise you may see residue on your film or prints. After washing film a quick dunk in photo-flo will also help eliminate water spots and residue.

Mike

Nesster · 08-26-2009, 12:27 PM

Back in the day, I'd use ordinary tap water with no problems, though that last photo-flo is nicer with filtered water. This was with Philadelphia PA municipal water.

These days, I have triple-filtered chilled water, tap water that's gone through a two stage filter, and regular tap. I use regular tap for the developer/fix/stop (adding chilled as needed to get the developer to correct temp) and distilled tap only at the end, for the photo-flo.

Unless you've got some major water issues, I don't think it's too critical what you use, as long as in the end you get it off the film when it dries.

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-26-2009, 12:39 PM

one of the reasons for using a rince agent (mild soap) is to modify the surface tension so that the dry out residue does not leave spots on the film

**ChrisPlatt** · 08-26-2009, 12:46 PM

Most tap water is fine for the rinse. For everything before distilled is best.

Chris

Ratmagiclady · 08-26-2009, 12:55 PM

Agreed. I tend to use distilled water, mostly in hopes it'll help the chemistry last longer. Not really necessary in a lot of places, but it's pretty easy to keep a bunch of jugs around: what I actually do is use the photo-water to keep rotating my emergency supply of water for any outages or whatever: I buy new stuff and use what's been sitting around a while for the chemistry. Pretty convenient that way.

tybeck · 08-26-2009, 01:14 PM

Keep in mind as well that the mineral content and concentration in municipal water supplies will vary with the region and the source of the water within that region. If you live in NYC, for example, most of your water actually comes from Upstate.

As for treating your water deionized or distilled will give you the most consistent quality. Just filtering water might not do the trick (depends on the filtration method used). I work in chemistry and use a ton of water. The purest water we use is first deionized with a home-wide system (after some salt is added for softening), put through several ion exchanges, UV irradiated, and finally put through a 20 um filter.

I don't do any developing myself but I would imagine that some places will have water that is more conducive for photo development then others.

geauxpez · 08-26-2009, 01:25 PM

I use distilled. No problems with minerals and whatnot and since it sits in gallon jugs in the house, it has fewer air bubbles (than freshly poured tap water) and is already at room temperature.

titrisol · 08-27-2009, 04:53 AM

Tap water is generally fine, if you want boil it and let it cool down... that gets rid of the (bi)Carbonates and dissolved oxygen.
Distilled water is best for long time solutions (Xtol, D76) and is excellent for the last 1 or 2 rinses before hanging the negatives

**rparmar** · 08-27-2009, 05:06 AM

Filtering, at least the domestic kind, is largely a placebo. If you need pure, go with distilled.

BetterSense · 08-28-2009, 12:20 PM

I would recommend using distilled for mixing up stock chemicals because I think it makes them last longer. I also recommend using distilled water for the final rinse. Luckily I can have as much ultrapure water from work as I want.

DAP · 08-28-2009, 08:53 PM

For stock solutions I will generally go with distilled water in the hopes that it will keep longer. I usually use tap water to further dilute down to a working solution (I usually toss my working solutions in short order so, for me, distilled would be overkill). Unless you have some funky/hard tap water it shouldn't really be a problem. Even if you do have hard water you can compensate by adding Calgon or EDTA.

08-26-2009, 11:34 AM	#1
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	which water to mix with All of these chemicals are to be mixed with water, and water is used to wash away the chemicals, but does the type of water matter? Deionized, Distilled, Tap, Filtered?? Does this have any impact?

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08-26-2009, 11:50 AM	#2
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Most tap water is filled with chemicals and mineral traces. I always used distilled when possible and filtered tap water at a minimum. Otherwise you may see residue on your film or prints. After washing film a quick dunk in photo-flo will also help eliminate water spots and residue. Mike

08-26-2009, 12:27 PM	#3
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Back in the day, I'd use ordinary tap water with no problems, though that last photo-flo is nicer with filtered water. This was with Philadelphia PA municipal water. These days, I have triple-filtered chilled water, tap water that's gone through a two stage filter, and regular tap. I use regular tap for the developer/fix/stop (adding chilled as needed to get the developer to correct temp) and distilled tap only at the end, for the photo-flo. Unless you've got some major water issues, I don't think it's too critical what you use, as long as in the end you get it off the film when it dries.

08-26-2009, 12:39 PM	#4
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	one of the reasons for using a rince agent (mild soap) is to modify the surface tension so that the dry out residue does not leave spots on the film

08-26-2009, 12:46 PM	#5
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,692	Most tap water is fine for the rinse. For everything before distilled is best. Chris

08-26-2009, 12:55 PM	#6
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Agreed. I tend to use distilled water, mostly in hopes it'll help the chemistry last longer. Not really necessary in a lot of places, but it's pretty easy to keep a bunch of jugs around: what I actually do is use the photo-water to keep rotating my emergency supply of water for any outages or whatever: I buy new stuff and use what's been sitting around a while for the chemistry. Pretty convenient that way.

08-26-2009, 01:14 PM	#7
tybeck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 452	Keep in mind as well that the mineral content and concentration in municipal water supplies will vary with the region and the source of the water within that region. If you live in NYC, for example, most of your water actually comes from Upstate. As for treating your water deionized or distilled will give you the most consistent quality. Just filtering water might not do the trick (depends on the filtration method used). I work in chemistry and use a ton of water. The purest water we use is first deionized with a home-wide system (after some salt is added for softening), put through several ion exchanges, UV irradiated, and finally put through a 20 um filter. I don't do any developing myself but I would imagine that some places will have water that is more conducive for photo development then others.

08-26-2009, 01:25 PM	#8
geauxpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Atlanta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,196	I use distilled. No problems with minerals and whatnot and since it sits in gallon jugs in the house, it has fewer air bubbles (than freshly poured tap water) and is already at room temperature.

08-27-2009, 04:53 AM	#9
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,851	Tap water is generally fine, if you want boil it and let it cool down... that gets rid of the (bi)Carbonates and dissolved oxygen. Distilled water is best for long time solutions (Xtol, D76) and is excellent for the last 1 or 2 rinses before hanging the negatives

08-27-2009, 05:06 AM	#10
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,817	Filtering, at least the domestic kind, is largely a placebo. If you need pure, go with distilled.

08-28-2009, 12:20 PM	#11
BetterSense Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dallas Posts: 98	I would recommend using distilled for mixing up stock chemicals because I think it makes them last longer. I also recommend using distilled water for the final rinse. Luckily I can have as much ultrapure water from work as I want.

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08-28-2009, 08:53 PM	#12
DAP Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 151	For stock solutions I will generally go with distilled water in the hopes that it will keep longer. I usually use tap water to further dilute down to a working solution (I usually toss my working solutions in short order so, for me, distilled would be overkill). Unless you have some funky/hard tap water it shouldn't really be a problem. Even if you do have hard water you can compensate by adding Calgon or EDTA.