Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Filter System sufficient for RO water?

[20galsw]

Hi,
A Local store has the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Filter System for $30. I was wondering how this would compare to actual RO, or RO/DI system. The description says....
"A single-cartridge filtration system that removes all impurities from tap water, making perfect, deionized aquarium water. Resin in cartridge changes color when it's time to replace cartridge. Comes fully assembled and attaches to any faucet in seconds. Includes 4 oz. bottles of Electro-Right and pH Adjuster, faucet adapter and kink-free tubing."
I'd rather not pay the $3/gallon my LFS charges for RO/DI water if i could make it myself for a $30 investment. Please let me know if this item would be acceptable to replace RO/DI water.
If this will work, the only downside i see is that it only makes 25 to 125 gallons of water before the cartridge needs replacement.
Thanks,
-David-

 

[overanalyzer]

I have not personally looked @ this system but I would check to see if it makes lab. quality water - which is 99% pure .... I doubt one cartridge filter could do the job of a 5 filter RO/DI system.

 

[20galsw]

overanalyzer,
Their web site says nothing about the quality of the water. The FAQ, however, says that it makes pure water but does not remove or kill bacteria or parasites that could contaminate drinking water. Would a 5 stage system remove these?
Know of any 2 or 3 stage RO/DI systems that cost $30?
Thanks,
-David-

 

[michelle13]

I had one and personally I think they are junk. Mine made 10 gals. of water before the cartridge was expired. The last gallon I made stunk so bad that I wanted to throw up! Why don't you go to Wal-Mart or your local grocery store and buy water? Mine sells it for 33 cents a gallon. Anyway I ended up buying a good RO/DI unit on e-bay that works great and I have the convience of doing it at home.

 

[20galsw]

michelle13,
My local Albertsons sells it for 25 cents a gallon, but it is not RO/DI, it's one or the other, can't remember which(Deionized i think). But it is also UV sterilized, carbon filtered, and goes through a few other stages. I guess it's just an inconvenience to carry two 5 gallon jugs in and out of a big grocery store.
I never knew Wal-Mart had filtered water units.
Thanks,
-David-

 

[michelle13]

Ours has the filtered water for sale in the grocery part of the store. It may just be distilled though, so don't quote me on that! I know we used it for several months with no problems.

 

[20galsw]

michelle13,
Was it a water unit, or just plastic bottles? If it was plastic bottles it was probably distilled or spring water.
Anyway, thanks for reminding me about my local grocery store. I may buy it there for a few months till i can get my own unit. 25 cents/gal is sure a lot better to pay than $3. I'll still have to buy $14 bags of salt from time to time though, since i used to buy my RO/DI water premixed, and now will be mixing on my own. But we're not in this hobby to save money, are we?
Thanks,
-David-

 

[leigh]

check your lfs too, mine sells RO/DI water for 35cents a gallon. if i smile real nice he'll even carry the 5 gal jug to the car for me
oops, just re-read your post and saw you say your lfs charges $3/gallon! that's nuts. i'd find a new lfs. who knows what else they're ripping you off on.

 

[20galsw]

leigh,
I've shopped around, most everything else is decently priced, or atleast not overpriced. $40-45 for a Naso Tang for example. Thats what most LFS's around here charge. At first I thought $6.99/lb for their live rock was expensive, but it's Tonga Slab rock, which is probably worth that much. Half the people there give me free water sometimes anyway(especially if i say i want it after they close the register ), since I'm always there. $16 for Selcon, on the other hand is a bit much.
They do have a 150 gallon holding tank for their RO/DI water, and apparently a commercial grade unit that could completely fill that tank in no time. So maybe they feel their water is worth that.
Thanks,
-David-