RO, RO/DI Unit?

[Tswifty]

I need to purchase an RO or RO/DI unit, and I do not know much about them...


2 stage, 3 stage, 4 stage???


Any recommendations for good units (brand/model)?


Thanks!

[rbursek]

Go to the sponser forum call Jim at the Filter Guys, great customer service, knowledge and pricing, they will explain all, and look up your water quality on the internet.
Bob

[drillsar]

i agree with filter guys or air water and ice

[mwwhite]

AZDesertRat and Waterkeeper are the resident experts. What I've learned from them is that the SpectraPure MaxCap is a very good unit. It has 2 DI stages, but one would be fine. The stages are sediment filter, carbon block, RO (reverse osmosis) membrane, and DI (de-ionization) unit).

[AZDesertRat]

The number os stages is not nearly as important as what the stages contain. you will find e-bay type vendors touting "6 stages" and more but it really means nothing if 2 or 3 of them are granular carbon and small 6 oz DI filters.
For RO only you need 3 stages and RO/DI you need 4. There are units with more or less but I consider the above the minimum for a good long lasting system that produces good effluent quality.
1. A good quality prefilter in a 1 micron or less range
2. A solid carbon block, not granular activated carbon, in the 1 micron or less range
3. The RO membrane, typically a Dow Filmtec 75 GPD. Watch out for vendors with ratings like 110 GPD or 125 GPD or even 100 GPD if they say it is a Dow Filmtec membrane. Most of these units are only 90% efficient rather the the much better 96-98%
4. A full sized vertical 10" canister type DI filter. Smaller horizontal DI filters are not as efficient, do not last as long and do not deliver as good a water as the 10" 20 oz verticals do.

Where you buy it is up to you but Reef Central has a number of good vendors who are also Sponsors of these forums and help keep this site going.

[Tswifty]

Is there a particular brand/unit you would recommend?

[rbursek]

AZDesertrat,
you are an asset here, just like Randy, Bertoni, and the bug expert! I am sure there are a few more too. $24.00 a year, I save that just in learning here!!! Just got 3 160gal salt from AM for what I was going crazy over with my RC mix dropping my Ca when I do my 20% water change bi-weekly, and the new Elos Mg test kit with the wrong multyplier in the instructions. I thank you all!!!!!!!
Bob

[rbursek]

I think the Filter Guys just get the right components and make up a unit, nothing wrong with that, cheap, good, great CS and as I said earlier great knowledge, it is worth a call to them since I do not think they can chime in do to ethics of this site, selling a product and all. I went from paying $36.00 for a DI cardrige from MD ato refilling theres at $12.00. And the last to Kents I bought were bad, before I found these guys. Learn from this site, you do not have to fall and break your nose to learn not to trip, learn from the ones who have!!!!!!!LOL
Bob

[Tswifty]

Thanks a ton everyone, I'll def check them out!

[AZDesertRat]

www.spectrapure.com
www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
www.melevsreef.com
www.airwaterice.com
www.purelyh2o.com

[Tswifty]

Thanks Again!!!

[Ksflyer1]

I just installed a Ocean Reef + 1 from Thefilterguys.biz and I must say this think is very high quality. Packaging and service were superb. KS

[mg426]

www.thefilterguys.biz

[WaterKeeper]

You mean the Rat gets paid $24 bucks a year. :eek1:

[AZDesertRat]

Shhhhhh. Don't tell anyone!
I also get much more than $24 a years worth of information from this site too. Used to be I couldn't wait to get my copy of FAMA magazine every month. Now I don't remember the last time I picked one up, everything I need is here.

[Playa-1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11770445#post11770445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mg426
www.thefilterguys.biz

:) I went with the filter guys RO/DI and it works like a champ. I've got horrble water going in and great water coming out.

[reef_doug]

Always worthwhile to have a TDS meter. Hanna TDS1 can be purchased new for under 30 bux.