Sorry, I don't know how much pressure is needed for the unit, but I've been meaning to reply to my own message about the quality of airwaterice.
I'm thrilled with my RO/DI unit. I got the dual reef/drinking water system with the 3 gallon holding tank. Before this I had been using the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals DI filter that attaches to the tap.
It's fantastic to be able to quickly fill up a jug of makeup water--or a glass of drinking water--because the holding tank is pressurized so you don't have to leave the valve open while it fills a bucket. I was always forgetting about it then mopping up a mess. Although the tank supposedly holds 3 gallons, the flow slows to a trickle in just under 1 gallon.
I have a standard size sink with cupboard, with a trash disposal, and the unit and holding tank still fit under the sink. Assembly is very easy, the parts are well-designed and fit together tighter than Legos, and the instructions are mostly very clear. I got a little confused and hooked up the wrong tube to the "organic" output (organic is the one that runs waste water to the drain), so I had to call. They answered immediately, were very friendly, and talked through it patiently with me until we figured out what the problem was.
One reason I hadn't filed a report yet was because I have experienced my first outbreak of slime algae and some diatoms that coincided with switching to this new filter. However, the outbreak also coincided with an increase in the level of feeding and some new types of food, and I think that is the more likely culprit. I'm working on clearing up my algae, and if I find I'm still having problems that aren't food-related, I'll post again.
