Will this RO/DI unit work for me?

[Odobenus rosmarus]

I'm looking at getting a 5 stage portable RO/DI unit for my 10 gallon reef. I'm guilty of not doing a water change for a while now, way longer than I should wait to do a water change but this is because I'm currently buying water from the grocery store and around here it runs about $1.15 a gallon of demineralized water... It's getting expensive to buy water from the grocery store but I don't want to spend a fortune on a system for a 10 gallon, it seems a little ridiculous to drop $250-$300 on a system. I found this

 

http://www.aquasafecanada.com/products/5-stage-portable-100-gpd-ro-di-aquarium-water-filtration-system.html

 

I've heard that portable systems don't deliver the 0 TDS that we all look for but will this system do the trick? I'll be doing two 25% water changes a week which is only 5 gallons a week. I don't see the need to invest in an expensive system but i don't want to lug jugs of water on the bus lol.

[seabass]

For about the same price you can get a refurbished SpectraPure unit: http://spectrapure.com/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System It's a better filter, and it will save you money in the long run (as the cost of operation will likely be less). SpectraPure offers 1 micron prefilters (versus 5 micron prefilters). Even the free TDS meter isn't temperature compensated.

[Jellyingabout]

I've heard that portable systems don't deliver the 0 TDS that we all look for but will this system do the trick?

 

they do if you replace the membrane and DI resin as often as you should most people are too lazy to though.

[onefang]

I've had two of these portable units - an aquaticlife ro buddie, and an omnipure countertop setup(I think BRS used to sell these?).

 

They both delivered 0 TDS water, no problems at all. I will say that the prefilters are small and so they tend to load up faster, and they tended to drip a lot of condensation while running, so I would run the units sitting in the sink.

 

I second seabass' recommendation to buy a refurb spectrapure unit. You will not regret it. You aren't saving yourself any money by going with the smaller unit - in fact, your cost per gallon may be more due to the higher cost of pre-filters(sediment/carbon) on the portable units.

[Steve973]

Spectrapure!

[DurocShark]

When you're renting, these small units rock. I have the RO Buddie.

 

First thing to notes is the RO membrane cartridge is universal. You aren't limited there. And at least with the RO Buddie, the DI cart is refillable. I use the color change resin from BRS. The sediment and carbon carts are cheap, and even Petco has the combo of both for $20.

 

I will eventually get a full size unit for under my sink for household use, but my RO Buddie will keep working for my tanks.

[AZDesertRat]

Don't waste good money on a portable type system that will not last as long, does not treat as well, costs more to operate and is harder to find the correct replacements for. Nothing compares to the Spectrapure for about the same $$ but needs no upgrades and since it uses standard size 10" replacements it is much cheaper to own and operate over its lifespan.

The portables aren't really any smaller either. The normal RO/DI attaches everything to a top bracket vertically, the portables sometimes use the same bracket but cobble everything on horizontally so take up the same amount of space. They have no advantages and lots of disadvantages.

[HecticDialectics]

The spectrapure for $20-30 more is a no brainer easy decision.

 

I had a full size ro/di in an apt under my sink no problem.

[Odobenus rosmarus]

I ended up buying an Aqua FX 4 stage full unit a few days ago from someone off Kijiji. I got a great deal for it although I need some tubing because it didn't come with the in or out tubes. I'm also have to look for a hose adapter because unfortunately I can't directly plumb it in. Other than websites, where can I find stuff for RO/DI units? I live in Canada so we don't have as many stores as the states.

[DurocShark]

Home Depot here carries all that stuff. I'm sure any hardware store that sells plumbing supplies will have it. 1/4" tube is common and standard.

[AZDesertRat]

You will not find quality replacement filters or DI cartridges at Home Depot or any retail type store. They carry components and filters for drinking water systems and those are different than reef quality.

Two vendors I know carry RO/DI stuff in Canada and that is AquaSafe Canada and Big Al's Pets. I can't speak to their filter quality though as AquaSafe is more of a drinking water system vendor and I don't know what brands Big Al's carries.

 

Look for a sediment filter rated no larger than 1 micron and an absolute or near absolute rating is much better than nominal rated. For the carbon block I recommend a single 1, 0.6 or 0.5 micron steam extruded carbon block rated at 12,000 to 20,000 gallons. For DI, I have tried them all and am very anal about quality and performance so only Spectrapure MaxCap and SilicaBuster will do for me, there really is a huge difference I found. I have heard there are vendors in Canada who distribute Spectrapure products, you might call or email them for some names, it will be worth your time I guarantee you.

[onefang]

I think DurocShark was talking about 1/4" poly tubing being available at HD - not all the RO stuff. Most hardware stores carry poly hardline tubing for ice maker installation.

[DurocShark]

Yeah, I was. Sorry.

 

I have no comments on replacement gear, but I was under the impression that the RO carts themselves were pretty consistent?

[AZDesertRat]

No, not really. The 10" size is pretty standard but the filtration quality varies greatly. Cheap is just that and about as effective as a screen door in many cases. You see many vendors using 5, 10 or even unspecified nominal micron ranges but you ned to think about the fact you can actually see 40 microns with the unaided human eye so 5 or 10 microns is pretty big. If yo uare passing particulates that size through the sediment filter your carbons pores will be fouled or pluggd in no time, rendering it completely useless for chlorine removal and will soon be replacing the TFC RO membrane as it cannot take any amount of chlorine or it melts.

 

I have found over the years that buying a used RO or RO/DI is rarely the right thing to do unless it is almost free. Consider it as buying the housings and fittings since 99% of the time all cartridges, membranes and DI need replacement and usually at a higher cost than the $125 a new reef quality RO/DI system would cost you.