Where to put new RODI/drinking water unit?

ggsteve · 03/28/2013, 05:37 PM

I'm ordering my BRS RODI drinking water system tomorrow and I'm thinking about placement. Under the kitchen sink is an obvious choice, but do I really want to be wrestling with cartridge changes under the sink if I can put the unit in the basement or the bathroom closet?

RODI water storage is also an issue. The basement has an ambient temp of about 50* all winter and mid 60's summer, so I would have to warm up the water before water changes, but I could store more than I could ever use. Water storage space on the first floor would be tight. I guess I could put a 20 gal rubbermaid container of the floor of the bathroom closet. Is that enough for a 65 gal reef tank? (I have a 150 gal FW planted tank but I am happy to Python that one!)

Your thoughts?

bean59 · 03/28/2013, 07:06 PM

Mine is mounted to the basement wall under the kitchen. RO goes up thru the floor into cabinet above. DI goes into brute can in basement. Day before water change I fill a couple of 5 gallon buckets and bring upstairs, add salt and mix overnite giving water plenty of time to warm up

Dukey · 03/28/2013, 08:02 PM

Go for the basement! Way too much of a hassle under the sink: eats up too much space and changing filters is too difficult. You would have many options for warming the water prior to water changes.

rjallen · 03/28/2013, 10:29 PM

I have a 65 gallon tank for salt water mixing & storage in my basement. Yes it gets cold but I use two sub. aquarium heaters to warm up temp to mid 70s for changing. RODI water goes directly into this tank and is regulated by a BRS float valve. I use a small panworld external pump to both mix and pump water up to the aquarium on the first floor. Works great.

ggsteve · 03/29/2013, 06:25 AM

Ok, I think I have my design figured out. I will hang the RODI unit on the basement wall under the kitchen sink and run the RO line up to the cabinet. I don't really have a good place for the bladder tank in the basement so I think that will go under the sink. I will lose my sink soap dispenser to the new RO faucet but I knew that was going to happen.

I will then run the RODI line to the bathroom closet on the first floor and use the largest Rubbermaid tote that I can conveniently fit with a BRS float valve for RODI water. I will keep a small circulation pump in the tote for pumping top off water and filling buckets for mixing and water changes. Has anyone ever used one of those self-coiling plastic garden hoses as a method to reach your tanks? It seems like that would be very convenient.

I'm not sold on storing the RODI water in the basement. A hassle getting the water upstairs and electricity (for heating) is expensive here.

ggsteve · 03/29/2013, 06:46 PM

Well, my RODI unit is on its way! Ordered at 11 am this morning and BRS shipped it at 1 pm this afternoon. Can't wait to install it!

03/28/2013, 05:37 PM	#1
ggsteve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: North Central MA Posts: 372	Where to put new RODI/drinking water unit? I'm ordering my BRS RODI drinking water system tomorrow and I'm thinking about placement. Under the kitchen sink is an obvious choice, but do I really want to be wrestling with cartridge changes under the sink if I can put the unit in the basement or the bathroom closet? RODI water storage is also an issue. The basement has an ambient temp of about 50* all winter and mid 60's summer, so I would have to warm up the water before water changes, but I could store more than I could ever use. Water storage space on the first floor would be tight. I guess I could put a 20 gal rubbermaid container of the floor of the bathroom closet. Is that enough for a 65 gal reef tank? (I have a 150 gal FW planted tank but I am happy to Python that one!) Your thoughts?

03/28/2013, 10:29 PM	#4
rjallen Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Troy,Montana Posts: 440	I have a 65 gallon tank for salt water mixing & storage in my basement. Yes it gets cold but I use two sub. aquarium heaters to warm up temp to mid 70s for changing. RODI water goes directly into this tank and is regulated by a BRS float valve. I use a small panworld external pump to both mix and pump water up to the aquarium on the first floor. Works great. __________________ RJ 120 Reef, 40 Sump, Vectra M1 Return Pump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 WP-40 controllable circulation pumps, BRS GFO Reactor, Avast Biopellet Reactor, Apex Controller, 2 part dosing, Dual Carbon/ Purige Current Tank Info: 120 Gal. Mixed Reef

03/28/2013, 07:06 PM	#2
bean59 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 74	Mine is mounted to the basement wall under the kitchen. RO goes up thru the floor into cabinet above. DI goes into brute can in basement. Day before water change I fill a couple of 5 gallon buckets and bring upstairs, add salt and mix overnite giving water plenty of time to warm up

03/28/2013, 08:02 PM	#3
Dukey Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 9	Go for the basement! Way too much of a hassle under the sink: eats up too much space and changing filters is too difficult. You would have many options for warming the water prior to water changes.

03/29/2013, 06:25 AM	#5
ggsteve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: North Central MA Posts: 372	Ok, I think I have my design figured out. I will hang the RODI unit on the basement wall under the kitchen sink and run the RO line up to the cabinet. I don't really have a good place for the bladder tank in the basement so I think that will go under the sink. I will lose my sink soap dispenser to the new RO faucet but I knew that was going to happen. I will then run the RODI line to the bathroom closet on the first floor and use the largest Rubbermaid tote that I can conveniently fit with a BRS float valve for RODI water. I will keep a small circulation pump in the tote for pumping top off water and filling buckets for mixing and water changes. Has anyone ever used one of those self-coiling plastic garden hoses as a method to reach your tanks? It seems like that would be very convenient. I'm not sold on storing the RODI water in the basement. A hassle getting the water upstairs and electricity (for heating) is expensive here.

03/29/2013, 06:46 PM	#6
ggsteve Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: North Central MA Posts: 372	Well, my RODI unit is on its way! Ordered at 11 am this morning and BRS shipped it at 1 pm this afternoon. Can't wait to install it!