Anyone ever used MWS RO/DI???

frogger1again · 09/06/2007, 11:31 AM

Just wondering if anyone has any experience/knowledge of this ebay company? They sell a 5 stage with a booster pump for ~$160 shipped.

Also, my water pressure is 52lbs. Do you think I would benefit from the booster pump or would it be a waste of money? Thanks

AZDesertRat · 09/06/2007, 01:13 PM

They use shoddy components and boast lots of false claims. Their membranes are poor quality and notice they do not even tell you who makes it or what model it is, same goes for the other filters too. At 52 psi you should be able to get 50-75 GPD no problem if your water temperature is not too cold. Take a look at www.buckeyefieldsupply.com , they have a nice calculator that shows what you can expect if you know your temp and pressure. Thye also sell very good units at a good price. Don't waste your time with e-bay vendors that are out to make a quick buck with Chinese imports that are knock offs and not even ANSI/NSF approved for sale in the US. As the vendor to show you the certifications to back up their claims.

frogger1again · 09/07/2007, 11:09 PM

I know you are very against the ebay vendors, but let me ask you this. The website you directed me to says the RO membrane is a "filmtec." I have found one of the cheaper venders on ebay selling a unit with a filmtec membrane in it. The housings all appears to be the same - the unit on your website looks identical to almost all of the cheap knockoffs. Is there a difference in quality of the filter housings and if so, what is a name brand of good housings and how do I tell the difference between the good and the bad?

Another question for you - regardless of the name brand of the unit, if you only had $160 to spend on a unit would you get a 5 stage with an attached pump or a 6 stage with an extra carbon filter. Both would have DI.

Also, I've seen you say temp is also a major factor in production. If I use a garden hose attachment on a basin sink would it be better to adjust the temp warmer using a little hot water or would using water from the water heater mess things up? I've always heard there are more particulates from a hot water heater.

Thanks again for your time and expertise!

Darkstar04 · 09/08/2007, 08:50 AM

Wouldn't it be a bad idea to use "hot water" because there is more copper pipe?

AZDesertRat · 09/08/2007, 12:04 PM

Even Dow Filmtec makes bad membranes. If it is advertised as anything other than a 75 GPD it probably a bad 100GPD nanofilter that is only rated at 90% efficiency insted of 98% for the 75. Most e-bay vendors sell the 100 which is the absoulte worst membrane you can get next to no name Chineses clones which are not even legal to seel for drinking water in the US.

Yes there is a difference in the quality of housings and components. Its very easy to tell just by lifting a good unit then doing the same with a knock off. The weight is heavier due to more plastic, the quality of the castings or mouldings is better and they will withstand pressure surges better.

Why do you think you need a booster pump? If you have 50 psi available you should be good. You are not going to find a quality system with a 8800 booster pump for $160, the pump alone is about $100 with the required pressure switch. Ebay vendors fail to tell you that it needs the pressure switch to function. For $160 you have probably 5 or 6 very good reef quality choices from sponsors here on RC. I have done numerous posts on the choices and vendors.

Hot water and trying to temper or mix hot and cold is a disaster. 75 GPD is only a few ounces per minute and it is impossible to temper flows that low with a faucet or valve, one flush of the toilet inside the house and you just melted your membrane!

09/06/2007, 11:31 AM	#1
frogger1again Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 23	Anyone ever used MWS RO/DI??? Just wondering if anyone has any experience/knowledge of this ebay company? They sell a 5 stage with a booster pump for ~$160 shipped. Also, my water pressure is 52lbs. Do you think I would benefit from the booster pump or would it be a waste of money? Thanks

09/06/2007, 01:13 PM	#2
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	They use shoddy components and boast lots of false claims. Their membranes are poor quality and notice they do not even tell you who makes it or what model it is, same goes for the other filters too. At 52 psi you should be able to get 50-75 GPD no problem if your water temperature is not too cold. Take a look at www.buckeyefieldsupply.com , they have a nice calculator that shows what you can expect if you know your temp and pressure. Thye also sell very good units at a good price. Don't waste your time with e-bay vendors that are out to make a quick buck with Chinese imports that are knock offs and not even ANSI/NSF approved for sale in the US. As the vendor to show you the certifications to back up their claims.

09/07/2007, 11:09 PM	#3
frogger1again Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 23	I know you are very against the ebay vendors, but let me ask you this. The website you directed me to says the RO membrane is a "filmtec." I have found one of the cheaper venders on ebay selling a unit with a filmtec membrane in it. The housings all appears to be the same - the unit on your website looks identical to almost all of the cheap knockoffs. Is there a difference in quality of the filter housings and if so, what is a name brand of good housings and how do I tell the difference between the good and the bad? Another question for you - regardless of the name brand of the unit, if you only had $160 to spend on a unit would you get a 5 stage with an attached pump or a 6 stage with an extra carbon filter. Both would have DI. Also, I've seen you say temp is also a major factor in production. If I use a garden hose attachment on a basin sink would it be better to adjust the temp warmer using a little hot water or would using water from the water heater mess things up? I've always heard there are more particulates from a hot water heater. Thanks again for your time and expertise!

09/08/2007, 08:50 AM	#4
Darkstar04 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 123	Wouldn't it be a bad idea to use "hot water" because there is more copper pipe?

09/08/2007, 12:04 PM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Even Dow Filmtec makes bad membranes. If it is advertised as anything other than a 75 GPD it probably a bad 100GPD nanofilter that is only rated at 90% efficiency insted of 98% for the 75. Most e-bay vendors sell the 100 which is the absoulte worst membrane you can get next to no name Chineses clones which are not even legal to seel for drinking water in the US. Yes there is a difference in the quality of housings and components. Its very easy to tell just by lifting a good unit then doing the same with a knock off. The weight is heavier due to more plastic, the quality of the castings or mouldings is better and they will withstand pressure surges better. Why do you think you need a booster pump? If you have 50 psi available you should be good. You are not going to find a quality system with a 8800 booster pump for $160, the pump alone is about $100 with the required pressure switch. Ebay vendors fail to tell you that it needs the pressure switch to function. For $160 you have probably 5 or 6 very good reef quality choices from sponsors here on RC. I have done numerous posts on the choices and vendors. Hot water and trying to temper or mix hot and cold is a disaster. 75 GPD is only a few ounces per minute and it is impossible to temper flows that low with a faucet or valve, one flush of the toilet inside the house and you just melted your membrane!