Combo RO/DI unit question - Ready to buy

[biggredd]

So I have been doing the research and want to purchase a new RO unit today but one door opened up 10 more as far as questions go.
I would like to use the unit for drinking water AND for the fish tank. I read if you want to drink it not to get the DI portion, just RO only. Is that correct?
For drinking purposes would I order a unit with a faucet, drill a hole in my counter, and use it like that? Would I then be able to add a hose to take to my tank?
I'm not looking for an expensive unit. Being that...A lot of affordable units only have 3.5 gallon holding tanks. How would I do a 10% water change on a 125 + sump unless I spend hundreds on a large holding tank?
Is it standard to waste the 4 gallons to get 1 gallon of pure? Can I recycle the waste water back into the main water line so that it recycles the waste water? Or is it just that at that point...waste water? I live in Colorado and water is expensive. This month is only $55 but will be going up probably $10 a month or more over the summer i'm guessing. Trying to find a good way to not let that water go to waste. Some people said they run it to their washing machine. But how do you store the waste water until you want to wash a load?
A bunch of guesses for me at this point.
Just need some answers before I purchase one. I have no model in mind but am ready to buy today if I can get some good answers.
Thanks.

 

[nakadoc]

I recently purchased a home and reef system and it is awesome. It is a six stage RO/DI unit and came with a 3.5 gallon holding tank and spout for drinking water and all other hook ups. It produces 0 TDS water and is rated at 75 GPD with is more than you will use. It cost me just under $200 if your interested PM me superfrags at hotmail dot com.

 

[milomlo]

These all are great questions. I hope to get the answers myself as I am setting up a 100 gallon and I know I will need one to fill my tank. I am very interested in the waste water problem

 

[biggredd]

Thanks. Looking to see how it works before I get a specific brand but I'll hit you up once these are answered for me.

 

[milomlo]

Biggredd - email me at miketracyowens at entouch dot net and I will give you the link to the one I am looking at. Seems nice

 

[biggredd]

Thanks,
Emails sent, but I still am wondering is a 3.5 gallon holding tank going to help you fill your large tank or do you put a little in a bigger holding tank day by day? How many people here are doing a dual system for drinking water and the tank or how many people buy specifically for their fish tank and don't drink from it?

 

[granny]

My Unit Produces 75 Gpd-one Recommended By Many On This Site. We Dump Into A 30 Gallon Rubber Trash Can For Fish Changes And Use The Holding Tank For Our Drinking Water. It Also Has A Bypass Hose For Filling Jugs.
This May Get Edited Out, But The Site, Airwaterice.com Responds Immediately To E-mail Questions And Will Answer Everything On Line For You. I Love Swf.com And Purchase Livestock From Here, But They Do Not Have An Info Line For Questions Which Has Kept Me From Ordering Some Things From Them. Product Support Is Crucial And Most Of Us Need Questions Answered Up Front.

 

[biggredd]

I have heard good things about the Typhoon III. Maybe I'll hit them up about it but any personal experience about how people are using small RO units at home would be beneficial.

 

[92protruck]

I have the dual home/reef (3.2 gal pressure tank, sink faucet etc.). The RO portion goes to the drinking water faucet and now to my ice maker/water dispenser on the fridge. There is a separate DI hose for the tank. This is under my kitchen sink. The 3.2 gal holding tank works fine. I fill a 5 gal bucket with DI water. The tank holds 3.2 so the first 3.2 fills immediately. It takes about 15 min or so to get a total of 5 gal. I empty that 5 gal into a 25 gal rubbermaid tub where I have a powerhead and mix in the salt. I wait a couple hours or whenever I feel like it and make up another 5 gal. etc., etc. I make/keep 15-20 gal of saltwater made up and avail at all times. You don't make it right when you want to do a water change because you should let the salt dissolve and the water aerate over 24 to 48 hours. So no, you can't make 15 gal of DI water instantly but you don't need too. The 3.2 gal tank provides instant water for your daily topoffs from evaporation, drinking and cooking. Some people run the DI water hose to a rubbermaid garbage can with a float valve (automatically keeps it full and shuts off) and keep 20-30 gals of DI water on hand at all times. This works better in the laundry room or garage and may not work for drinking water also. The Typhoon III is better for non-drinking water applications. Confused enough now?

 

[milomlo]

Originally Posted by Biggredd
Thanks,
Emails sent, but I still am wondering is a 3.5 gallon holding tank going to help you fill your large tank or do you put a little in a bigger holding tank day by day? How many people here are doing a dual system for drinking water and the tank or how many people buy specifically for their fish tank and don't drink from it?
Well if I get one I would empty it into a large container to mix the salt for water changes. I still am concerned about all the waste water though. My water bill is already high and it isn't even summer time yet. My water bill now (got it today) is $50

 

[dogstar]

A 4 to 1 rato is normal and most people dont try to save the waist but some do in a seperate container and use it for laundry or watering plants ect. You can not plumb it back into the house plumbing like you think because the back pressure will mess up the filter.
As far as cost goes, it depends on the total amount of water you use and what you are charged for water buy your city or supplier. In most cases it always comes out cheaper than buying it at a store,

 

[badoleross]

I have a Typhoon III and would stronglyrecommend it to anyone looking for an RO/DI unit. I go through RO/DI water like crazy and have never been disappointed with the Typhoon III. I currenty have a 110 Reef and a 220 FOWLR.