RO/DI Questions...

[capnbob]

Howdy,
I'm thinking about getting an RO/DI filter but I have a few questions about them....
First off, looking at pictures of them, I can't figure out how they work. Do you pump water through them? Do they have some sort of source that they siphon from and then drain into another container? Also, I've seen some talking about garden hose adaptors? Do they all require a garden hose? I don't have a hose as I live in an apartment.
Second, do I need a RO/DI unit or just a RO unit? The water in my area's not bad. I'm not sure if I can afford an RO/DI....
Are they also benificial for freshwater tanks?
Also, could someone recommend a good one for a 46 gallon reef tank? I don't have a ton of money to spend, but on the other hand I don't want to waste my money on a junky one. I've looked around the internet but I like getting opinions on here also.
Any recommendations?
Thanks!
-Bobby

 

[bigmac]

Their pretty much plug and play, if you can screw a garden hose to your hose bib then you can setup an RODi unit..If you have a washer an dryer then your set. I have mine in the garage where the washer and dryer are. Most of the waste water goes down the same drain the washer uses and the good water is collected in either my top off drum or water change drum.
Do a search for this unit,Typhoon III.......I use a Spectrapure RODI system but from what I've read and seen this unit is a very good deal...Get the 75 gpd unit not the 100 gpd.
If you type in (air water ice dot com) you should be able to find it there.

 

[ktsdad]

One note to be aware of...
If you live in a "real" city and are on city sewer lines, then putting waste water down the drain is not an issue.
If you live in the sticks, like us, and are on septic tanks, then you don't want your waste water going down the drain. It will fill up your tank faster then you would want!

 

[pbienkiewi]

I went to my hardware store and bought a 2 ended adapter. One for a garden hose. which my Ro system end is adapted for and on the other end it hooks up to my sink. I fill my water in the sink. This way if it over flows it goes into the sink and not on my floor. The waste water hose gets inserted into the sink also. I bought a RO system that 200gal a day. It fills up a 5gal bucket in like 45 - 50 min. Instead of waiting a day for 30 gal. cost me $300. Pinacle + system

 

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by pbienkiewi
I bought a RO system that 200gal a day.

Have you ever checked the TDS on the RO membrane's output? The higher output RO membranes are great but most of them are made for drinking water not reef tanks. The rejection rate is 90% on the 100 gph units, I'd hate to see what a 200 gpd is.
This is why myself and others keep suggestion to buy 75gpd or less units. These lower gpd units have a better rejection rate, closer to 98%, some are even 99%...
They do make some good high GPD units but they either use 2 RO membranes or are for commercial use.

 

[mitzel]

How many gallons of good water do you get compared to how many gallons of rejected water ? I'm planning on a set up in the basement and I'm just curious as we have no drain in that room. So I would have to carry it out to a drain .

 

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by mitzel
How many gallons of good water do you get compared to how many gallons of rejected water ? I'm planning on a set up in the basement and I'm just curious as we have no drain in that room. So I would have to carry it out to a drain .
bad idea unless your into hard work....I'd say 3-4 gals of rejected water for every gal of good water. You might want to setup a large bin and pump the water up and out.