Cheap but GOOD RO/DI Unit?

JaneP · 09/07/2008, 03:54 PM

anyone know a good make of ro/di unit? i use wallmart water and it has been giving me diatoms.

AZDesertRat · 09/07/2008, 03:57 PM

About as cheap as you will find and still work well and include things like a TDS meter and full sized high quality filters is the 75 GPD Premium from www.buckeyefieldsupply.com at $169. You may find cheaper units but you give up things like filter quality, filter life, component quality, water quality etc. The Premium also gives you a refilable DI cartridge so you can buy DI resin in bulk for much less.

Runfrumu · 09/07/2008, 04:03 PM

The filter guys have one that has the DI on it for around $135. They are a sponsor and have heard good things about them. I'm getting ready to order the $135 this week myself.

http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm

JaneP · 09/07/2008, 04:11 PM

i will look into those.

thanks!

AZDesertRat · 09/07/2008, 06:15 PM

Not nearly the same unit. It does not have a full sized vertical 20 oz refillable DI canister and cartridge, no pressure gauge, no TDS meter, no adjustable flow restrictor, no waste valve, no RO bypass valve, not as good prefilter etc. See why the Buckeye Premium is such a good deal. You cannot beat it for $169.

JaneP · 09/07/2008, 07:59 PM

thanks for the advice

SSalty · 09/07/2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
About as cheap as you will find and still work well and include things like a TDS meter and full sized high quality filters is the 75 GPD Premium from www.buckeyefieldsupply.com at $169. You may find cheaper units but you give up things like filter quality, filter life, component quality, water quality etc. The Premium also gives you a refilable DI cartridge so you can buy DI resin in bulk for much less.

How would you recommend hooking up that unit? Because I don't see that the kit includes installation equipment. I don't want to tap into my copper lines under the sink.

I don't meen to hi-jack but I am sure the original poster can benefit too.

Thanks.

mg426 · 09/07/2008, 10:13 PM

They will most likely include a fitting that will hook up to you washers COLD water valve. Just let them know if this is what you need. then get a tee from your hardware store.

AZDesertRat · 09/08/2008, 07:18 AM

It comes with an installation kit. Contact the vendor through their RC sposnors forum for specifics on everything it includes.

ludiNano · 09/08/2008, 11:13 PM

Do you know what the rejection ratio is for that Buckey RODI system is- 3 gallon of bad : 1 gallon of RODI (exp.)????

AZDesertRat · 09/09/2008, 07:18 AM

All normal RO and RO/DI units are 4:1 or 4 waste to 1 good, this is the industry standard waste ratio. There is only one engineered and proven unit that sucessfully has an ultra low waste and that is the MaxCap UHE from Spectrapure at 1:1.

Guygettnby · 09/09/2008, 11:23 AM

i have a DVONEB RODI 100gpd unit and i bout it for $135 shipped. my tap water is 58ppm and after it goes thru the 6 stage unit it comes out as 2ppm. the unit also only waste 2 gallons of waste to 1 gallon of good. i bought this unit off of ebay and i have loved it ever since.

i usualy say you get what you pay for but in this case i lucked out and got a great RODI unit for a great price. the filters last for awhile too, so they arent some really cheap filters and this guy sells them for really cheap aswell. if you buy more then 1 set of filters at a time they are even cheaper. another great thing about this unit is the DI canister is refillable as well. he also sells that for pretty cheap.

all in all i have heard some people upset with his product and i have heard some people very happy with it like myself. all i can say is read his feedback and decide for yourself. only problem i have with him is he takes forever to answer any emails. but everything i got has been right on time and never been wrong.

Guygettnby · 09/09/2008, 11:32 AM

oh and for hooking up the unit i went to the local hardware store and bought a quick disconect fitting for my faucet. i can use this on either my sink or my garden hose. the only other thing needed would be the adaptor for your faucet itself, since there are many different kinds out there you may wanna bring in the old areator too match up if your not sure what you have. but this way i am able to hook up the unit without having to T into another pipe and it makes it very portable.

AZDesertRat · 09/09/2008, 11:40 AM

If you have a RO/DI and its going in at only 58 and still coming out at 2 TDS I sure would not tell anybody and surely would not recommend it to anyone. Thats not good at all. My tap water goes in at 835 and sometimes higher and comes out of the RO only even before any DI at only 5 TDS and after the DI its much less than an indicated 0 TDS, about 18.2 megaohms resistivity to be exact.
If it is only wasting 2 gallons for every gallon made you need to get a different flow restrictor or your membrane is going to fail due to fouling. They NEED 4:1 to last any length of time at all.

Aqua Keepers · 09/09/2008, 02:23 PM

I just want to vouch for AJ's wisdom on RO/DI's. He is the guru here on the subject and would take his advice.

ludiNano · 09/09/2008, 02:32 PM

He does work as a Water/Wastewater Operations Consultant

09/07/2008, 03:54 PM	#1
JaneP Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8	Cheap but GOOD RO/DI Unit? anyone know a good make of ro/di unit? i use wallmart water and it has been giving me diatoms.

09/07/2008, 04:03 PM	#3
Runfrumu Hi Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Posts: 1,014	The filter guys have one that has the DI on it for around $135. They are a sponsor and have heard good things about them. I'm getting ready to order the $135 this week myself. http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm __________________ Red Sea Max 130d and 125 gallon mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon oceanic tank, Lighthouse Pro XLS, 72" outer orbit fixture, H&S 150-F2000/1 skimmer, H&S 110 Calcium Reactor, Tunze 7096, 2 Tunze 6105's , Tunze Osmolator, Prime 1/4hp drop-in chiller. 5 years running. Red Sea Max, 3 years.

09/07/2008, 10:13 PM	#8
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	They will most likely include a fitting that will hook up to you washers COLD water valve. Just let them know if this is what you need. then get a tee from your hardware store. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

09/08/2008, 11:13 PM	#10
ludiNano I'm becoming...Brundlefly Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bettendorf, Iowas Posts: 1,804	Do you know what the rejection ratio is for that Buckey RODI system is- 3 gallon of bad : 1 gallon of RODI (exp.)???? __________________ -The Loungers really contribute to RC.~ Agu -JoshTodd has a very good point. ~ R_Hudson -Fresh air will get the stink off ~ Carrie

09/09/2008, 02:32 PM	#16
ludiNano I'm becoming...Brundlefly Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bettendorf, Iowas Posts: 1,804	He does work as a Water/Wastewater Operations Consultant __________________ -The Loungers really contribute to RC.~ Agu -JoshTodd has a very good point. ~ R_Hudson -Fresh air will get the stink off ~ Carrie

09/07/2008, 03:57 PM	#2
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	About as cheap as you will find and still work well and include things like a TDS meter and full sized high quality filters is the 75 GPD Premium from www.buckeyefieldsupply.com at $169. You may find cheaper units but you give up things like filter quality, filter life, component quality, water quality etc. The Premium also gives you a refilable DI cartridge so you can buy DI resin in bulk for much less.

09/07/2008, 04:11 PM	#4
JaneP Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8	i will look into those. thanks!

09/07/2008, 06:15 PM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Not nearly the same unit. It does not have a full sized vertical 20 oz refillable DI canister and cartridge, no pressure gauge, no TDS meter, no adjustable flow restrictor, no waste valve, no RO bypass valve, not as good prefilter etc. See why the Buckeye Premium is such a good deal. You cannot beat it for $169.

09/07/2008, 07:59 PM	#6
JaneP Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8	thanks for the advice

09/08/2008, 07:18 AM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	It comes with an installation kit. Contact the vendor through their RC sposnors forum for specifics on everything it includes.

09/09/2008, 07:18 AM	#11
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	All normal RO and RO/DI units are 4:1 or 4 waste to 1 good, this is the industry standard waste ratio. There is only one engineered and proven unit that sucessfully has an ultra low waste and that is the MaxCap UHE from Spectrapure at 1:1.

09/09/2008, 11:23 AM	#12
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	i have a DVONEB RODI 100gpd unit and i bout it for $135 shipped. my tap water is 58ppm and after it goes thru the 6 stage unit it comes out as 2ppm. the unit also only waste 2 gallons of waste to 1 gallon of good. i bought this unit off of ebay and i have loved it ever since. i usualy say you get what you pay for but in this case i lucked out and got a great RODI unit for a great price. the filters last for awhile too, so they arent some really cheap filters and this guy sells them for really cheap aswell. if you buy more then 1 set of filters at a time they are even cheaper. another great thing about this unit is the DI canister is refillable as well. he also sells that for pretty cheap. all in all i have heard some people upset with his product and i have heard some people very happy with it like myself. all i can say is read his feedback and decide for yourself. only problem i have with him is he takes forever to answer any emails. but everything i got has been right on time and never been wrong.

09/09/2008, 11:32 AM	#13
Guygettnby Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: FL Posts: 3,050	oh and for hooking up the unit i went to the local hardware store and bought a quick disconect fitting for my faucet. i can use this on either my sink or my garden hose. the only other thing needed would be the adaptor for your faucet itself, since there are many different kinds out there you may wanna bring in the old areator too match up if your not sure what you have. but this way i am able to hook up the unit without having to T into another pipe and it makes it very portable.

09/09/2008, 11:40 AM	#14
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	If you have a RO/DI and its going in at only 58 and still coming out at 2 TDS I sure would not tell anybody and surely would not recommend it to anyone. Thats not good at all. My tap water goes in at 835 and sometimes higher and comes out of the RO only even before any DI at only 5 TDS and after the DI its much less than an indicated 0 TDS, about 18.2 megaohms resistivity to be exact. If it is only wasting 2 gallons for every gallon made you need to get a different flow restrictor or your membrane is going to fail due to fouling. They NEED 4:1 to last any length of time at all.

09/09/2008, 02:23 PM	#15
Aqua Keepers Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater,Fl Posts: 2,915	I just want to vouch for AJ's wisdom on RO/DI's. He is the guru here on the subject and would take his advice.