Adding DI to RO system? Help!

BlueOnTwo · 10/22/2009, 05:08 PM

Hello RC,

This is my first saltwater tank and I have not added anything in the tank yet. I have an RO unit built into my house for drinking water. I filled up 1/4 of my new tank with RO water and am now rethinking if I should get a DI unit installed to get rid of the last 5% of TDS. Is this worth it?

If YES, what DI unit could I buy to add onto my existing RO system? Also, how/where would I connect the DI unit? I have no clue when it comes to this stuff...dont think my dad does either.
I was planning on buying the single canister unit from Home Depot and putting the DI filter inside of it. Is this how deionizing works?...just another canister with different filter that filters after the RO does its job?

If just my RO is sufficient, pleaset let me know! How many people use just RO? Will I be able to use it without running into big problems like algae,etc?

Input is greatly appreciated!!!

Here are some pics if my RO unit. Filters were just changed.

tangtang clown · 10/22/2009, 05:13 PM

Did you mean 5ppm or 5% ? I have RO and DI and the water goes through the RO and comes out with 4-6 TDS. Then it goes through the DI and comes out 0 TDS. Then it goes into da tank.

You can kind of see the filters here

gordon2726 · 10/22/2009, 06:32 PM

Just add the DI unit after your RO and before the reservoir.

BlueOnTwo · 10/22/2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangtang clown

Did you mean 5ppm or 5% ? I have RO and DI and the water goes through the RO and comes out with 4-6 TDS. Then it goes through the DI and comes out 0 TDS. Then it goes into da tank.

You can kind of see the filters here

Correct me if im wrong but I believe RO filters out 95% of TDS and DI filters out the last 5%; thats what I meant.

If I use just the RO, do you think it will be good enough for corals, softies, lps, fish?

tangtang clown · 10/23/2009, 05:54 AM

It will be better than not using it LOL
Do you have a TDS meter? TDS meter will let you know what you will be putting in you tank. My LFS only uses RO and they sell a ton of it. I all depends on how many TDSs you want or don't want to put in your tank. You can order a TDS meter online.
http://www.purelyh2o.com/index.php?o...d=109&TreeId=3
The Dual In-Line is similar to the one I use.

username in use · 10/23/2009, 06:45 AM

check out bulkreefsupply.com You can get a refillable di canister and some replacement di resin from them. You can even get a dual tds meter for 25 bucks as an option on the di canister. for all the above it will be less than a hundred dollars. And with the tds meter you dont need to waste your money on the color changing resin, you can get the regular which is cheaper and rely on the tds meter to let you know when its time to change.

BlueOnTwo · 10/24/2009, 12:00 AM

If I use just RO water, do I have to add dechlorinator?

reefsahoy · 10/24/2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueOnTwo

If I use just RO water, do I have to add dechlorinator?

if your ro is working correctly then no. for an ro to be effective the prefilters has to remove ALL chlorine. chlorine destroys membranes.

Buckeye Hydro · 10/25/2009, 05:26 AM

I think that you may have some issues with the way your RO system is plumbed. If you'd like, when you have a minute and are in front of the system, call in and we can walk you through what we see in your picture that looks odd.

I would NOT recommend just adding a DI stage after your system. Adding a DI stage to your system won't be complicated, but it will be a little more involved than that.

Russ @
Buckeye Field Supply
513.312.2343

tangtang clown · 10/25/2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeFS

I think that you may have some issues with the way your RO system is plumbed. If you'd like, when you have a minute and are in front of the system, call in and we can walk you through what we see in your picture that looks odd.

I would NOT recommend just adding a DI stage after your system. Adding a DI stage to your system won't be complicated, but it will be a little more involved than that.

Russ @
Buckeye Field Supply
513.312.2343

Eloborate please. I have my tap water going through my RO and then my DI.
Is this wrong?

Buckeye Hydro · 10/25/2009, 01:47 PM

The primary reason you don't want to supply RO water from a pressure tank to a DI stage is that the water in the tank will have a significantly higher tds than RO directly out of the membrane.

So what you do is install a check valve and a tee to supply the DI stage with water from the membrane only (not the tank).

Russ

10/22/2009, 05:08 PM	#1
BlueOnTwo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 23	Adding DI to RO system? Help! Hello RC, This is my first saltwater tank and I have not added anything in the tank yet. I have an RO unit built into my house for drinking water. I filled up 1/4 of my new tank with RO water and am now rethinking if I should get a DI unit installed to get rid of the last 5% of TDS. Is this worth it? If YES, what DI unit could I buy to add onto my existing RO system? Also, how/where would I connect the DI unit? I have no clue when it comes to this stuff...dont think my dad does either. I was planning on buying the single canister unit from Home Depot and putting the DI filter inside of it. Is this how deionizing works?...just another canister with different filter that filters after the RO does its job? If just my RO is sufficient, pleaset let me know! How many people use just RO? Will I be able to use it without running into big problems like algae,etc? Input is greatly appreciated!!! Here are some pics if my RO unit. Filters were just changed.

10/22/2009, 05:13 PM	#2
tangtang clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The DUB, NC Posts: 2,711	Did you mean 5ppm or 5% ? I have RO and DI and the water goes through the RO and comes out with 4-6 TDS. Then it goes through the DI and comes out 0 TDS. Then it goes into da tank. You can kind of see the filters here __________________ Mind over chatter.

10/23/2009, 05:54 AM	#5
tangtang clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The DUB, NC Posts: 2,711	It will be better than not using it LOL Do you have a TDS meter? TDS meter will let you know what you will be putting in you tank. My LFS only uses RO and they sell a ton of it. I all depends on how many TDSs you want or don't want to put in your tank. You can order a TDS meter online. http://www.purelyh2o.com/index.php?o...d=109&TreeId=3 The Dual In-Line is similar to the one I use. __________________ Mind over chatter.

10/23/2009, 06:45 AM	#6
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	check out bulkreefsupply.com You can get a refillable di canister and some replacement di resin from them. You can even get a dual tds meter for 25 bucks as an option on the di canister. for all the above it will be less than a hundred dollars. And with the tds meter you dont need to waste your money on the color changing resin, you can get the regular which is cheaper and rely on the tds meter to let you know when its time to change. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

10/22/2009, 06:32 PM	#3
gordon2726 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Rowland Heights, So Cal Posts: 594	Just add the DI unit after your RO and before the reservoir.

10/24/2009, 12:00 AM	#7
BlueOnTwo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 23	If I use just RO water, do I have to add dechlorinator?

10/25/2009, 05:26 AM	#9
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	I think that you may have some issues with the way your RO system is plumbed. If you'd like, when you have a minute and are in front of the system, call in and we can walk you through what we see in your picture that looks odd. I would NOT recommend just adding a DI stage after your system. Adding a DI stage to your system won't be complicated, but it will be a little more involved than that. Russ @ Buckeye Field Supply 513.312.2343

10/25/2009, 01:47 PM	#11
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	The primary reason you don't want to supply RO water from a pressure tank to a DI stage is that the water in the tank will have a significantly higher tds than RO directly out of the membrane. So what you do is install a check valve and a tee to supply the DI stage with water from the membrane only (not the tank). Russ