RO/DI Confusion

skozzy1 · 05/19/2007, 11:34 AM

I ready to order an ro/di setup. I read that there is some waste water involved in the filtering process. Is there a ratio of production to wastewater.
Does the waste just go down the sink? Or is it good to use for something else.
In my case I would have to use a kitchen sink adapter.
What do you guys do to mount the filter rack. It would have to be somewhat portable so I could store it elsewhere when not in use.

alan214 · 05/19/2007, 11:37 AM

The waste to product ratio will vary based on your local water quality and other factors. Lots of people use the waste for plant watering and for supplying water to soaker hoses.

Billybeau1 · 05/19/2007, 11:45 AM

I know one guy that fills his washing machine with it

nick18tjetta · 05/19/2007, 11:48 AM

I am going to start filling my washing machine with waste water. My washer is in the Garage, and my RO unit is in the Garage, doesn't seem to far fetched to me.

vanmo92 · 05/19/2007, 12:40 PM

If you read the thread I have going now, you will know that under my circumstances I have there is about 40 gallons of waste for every 1 gallon of good water I get. We use it for our washing machine and I also use it to some degree for watefchanges in my Freshwater tanks.

virginiadiver69 · 05/19/2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vanmo92
I have about 40 gallons of waste for every 1 gallon of good water I get.

There is something definitely wrong with your setup. A 2:1 is optimal, 3 or 4:1 is probably normal but... 40:1!!!

Sk8r · 05/19/2007, 01:21 PM

i get 4 to 1, and can use it for washing. It's good for any ordinary use but fish. Don't think I'd drink it---just in case there's bacteria in some filter. But anything else is good.

vanmo92 · 05/19/2007, 01:32 PM

Yes there is something wrong. I think it is that the feedwater is so full of junk and sediment that is smaller than the pre-filters. I was looking at the one melev is selling because he claims he get 5 gallons in 1 1/2 hours. I get one gallon in about 4 hrs. By the way, I have an aquasafe unit now. I am wondering though if the unit will make a difference with all the junk in the water. I was also thinking about getting a 1 micron filter for it. What do you guys think?

virginiadiver69 · 05/19/2007, 01:59 PM

The sediment filter on mine is a 5 micron.
I have a unit from thefilterguys and am really happy with it. I've heard good things about melev's and BFS. AZdesertrat swears by his(I forget were he got it) though it is a bit pricey.

smatter · 05/19/2007, 03:59 PM

I use a carbon filter followed by two mixed bed ion exchange cartridges, no RO membrane, no waste. Water pressure and temperature are no longer an issue. I get about 200 gallons before I need to rotate in a fresh canister, and it costs me less than $5 to fill it with bulk DI resin. I can live with ten cents a gallon.

05/19/2007, 11:34 AM	#1
skozzy1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ketchikan Alaska Posts: 132	RO/DI Confusion I ready to order an ro/di setup. I read that there is some waste water involved in the filtering process. Is there a ratio of production to wastewater. Does the waste just go down the sink? Or is it good to use for something else. In my case I would have to use a kitchen sink adapter. What do you guys do to mount the filter rack. It would have to be somewhat portable so I could store it elsewhere when not in use.

05/19/2007, 11:37 AM	#2
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	The waste to product ratio will vary based on your local water quality and other factors. Lots of people use the waste for plant watering and for supplying water to soaker hoses. __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

05/19/2007, 12:40 PM	#5
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	If you read the thread I have going now, you will know that under my circumstances I have there is about 40 gallons of waste for every 1 gallon of good water I get. We use it for our washing machine and I also use it to some degree for watefchanges in my Freshwater tanks. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

05/19/2007, 01:21 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	i get 4 to 1, and can use it for washing. It's good for any ordinary use but fish. Don't think I'd drink it---just in case there's bacteria in some filter. But anything else is good. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/19/2007, 01:32 PM	#8
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	Yes there is something wrong. I think it is that the feedwater is so full of junk and sediment that is smaller than the pre-filters. I was looking at the one melev is selling because he claims he get 5 gallons in 1 1/2 hours. I get one gallon in about 4 hrs. By the way, I have an aquasafe unit now. I am wondering though if the unit will make a difference with all the junk in the water. I was also thinking about getting a 1 micron filter for it. What do you guys think? __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

05/19/2007, 11:45 AM	#3
Billybeau1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 12,010	I know one guy that fills his washing machine with it

05/19/2007, 11:48 AM	#4
nick18tjetta Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 643	I am going to start filling my washing machine with waste water. My washer is in the Garage, and my RO unit is in the Garage, doesn't seem to far fetched to me.

05/19/2007, 01:59 PM	#9
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	The sediment filter on mine is a 5 micron. I have a unit from thefilterguys and am really happy with it. I've heard good things about melev's and BFS. AZdesertrat swears by his(I forget were he got it) though it is a bit pricey. __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

05/19/2007, 03:59 PM	#10
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	I use a carbon filter followed by two mixed bed ion exchange cartridges, no RO membrane, no waste. Water pressure and temperature are no longer an issue. I get about 200 gallons before I need to rotate in a fresh canister, and it costs me less than $5 to fill it with bulk DI resin. I can live with ten cents a gallon.