View Full Version : ro/di at Lowes?
reeftee
01/31/2007, 01:03 PM
I have a gift cert. to lowes. Do they sell the same type of ro/di water
filters as what is talked about for saltwater? if so what is the best one to get? thanks
BillyJoeJimBob
01/31/2007, 01:15 PM
While I have looked at sediment and carbon filters at Lowes, I have never seen any RO or DI pieces aside from the overpriced water kits by GE and a couple others. If you are looking for a good system, stick with some of the sponsors to Reef Central. IMO these 2 sponsors seems to offer the best prices:
http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
http://www.purelyh2o.com
Rungeg
01/31/2007, 01:16 PM
I highly recomend Buckeye Field Supply.
reeftee
01/31/2007, 01:39 PM
wow the reef central community is on fire. you guy are so quick to get back to people it is amazing! What about the one at Melevsreef.com?
for 169.00
Lo0seR
01/31/2007, 01:58 PM
They do to have them, filmtec 36 GPD membranes as well as .05 filters and matrix carbon filters rename GE. Have to piece them together though but yet they do have them.
RichConley
01/31/2007, 03:13 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9125185#post9125185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lo0seR
They do to have them, filmtec 36 GPD membranes as well as .05 filters and matrix carbon filters rename GE. Have to piece them together though but yet they do have them.
and you'll end up spending way more to get a subpar system. Save the giftcard for something else.
piscivorous
01/31/2007, 03:52 PM
I just ordered my system from The Filter Guys...everyone always talks them up on the board here. I called before I ordered to get a few questions answered and they were very helpful. I should be getting it tomorrow, so I am looking forward to it.
AZDesertRat
01/31/2007, 05:07 PM
The problem with most hardware store units and even Sears is they use non standard sized membranes and sometimes filters too so you are stuck buying middle of the road quality replacements from them. They also do not sell DI units only low production rate RO units.
Stick with the RC vendors who deal strictly in reef quality water treatment.
reeftee
01/31/2007, 08:43 PM
So if I were to use a ro/di unit on my city water it will clear up the chlorine and all the other stuff that can cause problems in your reef tank. When I talk to the LFS they are clueless they just say that they use city water in their shop without even putting prime in. the should be called the local Joke store.
gary faulkner
01/31/2007, 08:46 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9124860#post9124860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rungeg
I highly recomend Buckeye Field Supply.
That makes two of us.
HTH:D
AZDesertRat
01/31/2007, 08:54 PM
RO/DI will remove much more than just chlorine. RO by itself combined with its normal carbon prefilter is about 90 to 98% effective on removing almost everything in water down to the molecular level. Deionization takes care of the remaining stuff for water that is so pure that for all practical purposes its not even electrically conductive.
bmrescort
02/01/2007, 08:34 AM
SPECTRAPURE gives you 2 tds meters with their units so you can see how bad the water is coming in and going out. It is a very heavy duty built model that will mount anywhere you need it to. I bought a 5 stage unit from them and I'm very happy with it.
Lo0seR
02/01/2007, 07:59 PM
What would you call subpar ? They are Filmtec membranes, KX Matrikx PB1 Carbon Block filters, better yet I'll put the ball back in your court, whats better? O ya it's called a gift card "spend it" buddy because you cant make interest on it.
Covey
02/01/2007, 09:44 PM
I bought one of the GE RO from Lowe's before I knew any better. Everthing was standard size but the membrane I got with my GE RO was only 10GPD at a 90% rejection rate. Add on a DI, a must for reefkeeping, and that membrane bites you in the rump. It burn thru DI resin VERY quickily.
I used it for 6 months and ended up replacing it with a Filter Guys RO/DI very happy with it and there service.
http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm
BTW very unhappy with Purely.
Almost any RO from any sponser on RC is better suited to a reefkeepers needs than the GEs at Lowes.
Lo0seR
02/01/2007, 10:20 PM
Filmtec is made by DOW the same one that all the others sell as RC sponsers. The main difference is GPD, the ones at Lowes is 36GPD while the sponsers is 75 to 100 GPD.
BLANKENSHIP76
02/01/2007, 10:51 PM
The new premium aquatics brand is very reasonably priced and from what I hear is very good.
AZDesertRat
02/01/2007, 11:23 PM
GE makes their own membranes the are not Dow Filmtec.
Lo0seR
02/01/2007, 11:29 PM
Listen I do not know what they sale at your local Lowes, but the one here in San Diego sale Filmtec membranes, matrikx carbon filters.
AZDesertRat
02/01/2007, 11:32 PM
What brand of RO units are they? If they are GE they use GE Osmonics membranes which they manufacture themselves. Lowes may have Dow membranes on the shelf for replacements but GE is not going to put a competitors membrane in their product I will guarantee you. Hev you ever seen a new Chevy on the lot with a Ford engine in it, I think not.
Covey
02/01/2007, 11:33 PM
Mine wasn't Filmtec either. You end up spending far more money to make a Lowe's RO reef worthy than what they are worth.
piscivorous
02/02/2007, 08:56 AM
I just received my filter unit yesterday from The Filter Guys. I had ordered the Ocean Reef 4 Five Stage unit. Price was a little more than I had originally intended on spending on one of these units (seeing the $125 units on ebay), but the reviews and service were well worth the additional calls over the ebay units. I think I got a much better quality product...and it is worth it since I will also be using it for drinking water. The service was excellent, as I called before I ordered with a few questions. On top of that, I was extremely surprised to see the packaging and labeling. It was packaged very well for shipping and when I got it I fully expected to have to figure out what everything was...water lines going in and coming out from everywhere etc. The Filter Guys had labels on every component and each line was labeled. They also included an instruction sheet and four or five color print out pages with labeled diagrams showing how the quick fit fitting work and what each of the components on the filter unit are. Overall, I am very pleased so far. I hope to have it hooked up in the next couple of days. So far, I would have to highly suggest them for anyone interested in a Ro/Di unit.
Lo0seR
02/02/2007, 09:06 AM
I'm not talking units here, they are Filmtec membranes and Matrikx carbon filters that are sold separately. In fact I'll go after work and shot a pic. or 2 of them so the guy can at see them and buy some stock for future use at least.
AZDesertRat
02/02/2007, 09:15 AM
Unless they are 75 GPD membranes and 1.0 or better yet 0.5 micron carbon blocks why would anyone want them?
Pyrrhus
02/02/2007, 09:30 AM
Allow me to show you how virtually every component that you purchase from the hardware store is inferior to one purchased from a company that sells reef quality RO/DI units.
MEMBRANE: Spectrapure uses only wet Dow Filmtec membranes and hand tests each membrane for production and rejection rates. To qualify for use in a Spectrapure the membrane must have greater than 98% rejection at the stated flow rate.
The hardware store sells DRY membranes which are not as effective as wet membranes.
POINT: REEF RO/DI
PREFILTERS: Spectrapure has pioneered prefilters that do not clog and 0.5 micron carbon blocks that will absorb 20,000 gallons of chloramine before exhaustion, making prefilter changes practically a thing of the past.
Sure there may be decent prefilters at the hardware store, but they will require replacement no less frequently than every six months.
POINT: REEF RO/DI
DI: Don't even get me started here....
POINT: SPECTRAPURE
dwdenny
02/02/2007, 10:01 AM
Well Like me I already have an RO unit it is a Watts Premier 5 stage with 5 micron sediment and two 5 micron Carbon blocks currently. However when I get my tank set up I will switch all the filters to vertually have a reef RO/DI unit. We use it for drinking right now but when the tank is setup it will be used for both. I will ba adding a DI filter as well that will be used for tank only. So unless you have the unit already then I agree with those above me get the RO/DI unit for reefs and use the card for other stuff like tool that you need to build more tank stuff. lol
JCSCAS
02/02/2007, 10:56 AM
Just an FYI. Lowes sells Whirlpool. Home Depot sells GE. The new Lowes units are encapsulated filters and membranes. As far a inferior quality, I would beg to differ.
AZDesertRat
02/02/2007, 12:28 PM
I would not go so far as to say inferior quality but the quality is not the same at all.
dwdenny, I got started with RO exactly the same as you and with a Costco Watts Premier unit also back in 1998. I am fortunate enough to live less than a mile from their factoty as was able to carry the unit to them still sealed in the box from Costco and they replaced the 25 GPD membrane with a 75 GPD one and even bench tested it for me and it only cost me $35 for the swap. Thta unit and a DI that I later added lasted me until 6 months ago when I purchased a Spectrapure MaxCap system. Its still in use by a friend and as far as I know is working fine although with upgraded prefilters and carbon blocks.
Lo0seR
02/02/2007, 08:02 PM
KX Matrikx .05 carbon filters why would I use anything else when they are the best, I'm just pointing out that when they are available at the local level go for it, I did.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/78006RODO.JPG
AZDesertRat
02/02/2007, 08:16 PM
Good choice! I just never see high quality filters locally.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f369/AJOIII/2006_08_31020.jpg
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