RO/DI Choices

Airborne · 03/25/2010, 11:04 AM

I want to buy an RO/DI unit that limits the amount of waste water. Right now I am thinking about the AquaticLife Power Model. I believe that it can be used as my ATO as well. Directly from the unit to the sump. Is this true? If so, are their other models that do the same that I should consider?

1) It has to be of quality.
2) User friendly.
3) be able to ATO for me.

Thanks in advance.

acidblondie · 03/25/2010, 03:03 PM

I have no experience with that unit, but there are several sponsors here with very good units at very good prices. I have a Coralife unit that I improved upon with parts from BRS. Also I have no experience running the ATO directly from the RO but I can see a disaster waiting to happen, a float switch stick and you have unlimited water running into your tank until someone catches it. Just my half cent, adjusting for inflation.

KrisC · 03/25/2010, 03:29 PM

I have a TYPHOON III from Air Water & Ice and love it. Great RO/DI for a great price. It takes my my tap TDS from 450-500 range to 10-15 after the membrane then 0 after the DI. Works great comes with a TDS unit and has lots of different connections to fit your needs. It can be hooked up with an ATO. I would not recommend any RO/DI to be hooked up to a tank system just too much of a chance of something going wrong. I have mine hooked up to a separate reservoir that I manually add to my tank.

Mark 75g · 03/25/2010, 04:18 PM

I bought the spectra pure 180g per day. It has been running great for about 8 months or so. Has dual TDS meters on it and a pressure gage. I have a separate TDS meter that I test the water every now and then and it matches up with the meters built in. More expensive than some models but the performance has been outstanding. Bought from Marine Depot.

Volcano1 · 03/27/2010, 08:53 AM

+1 on Spectrapure. Good sales for RC members on thier sponser forum. They do have a real low waste water unit, though a little pricey.I use the 180 Maxcap system and a booster pump, to get 80 psi. I start with around 700 tds and get down to 8 after the membrane. I had lower quality units in the past, and I'm happier with these results.

slief · 03/27/2010, 09:24 AM

I got a Spectrapure 100GPD UHE unit about a month ago. I am getting a 1:1 ratio of RODI/Waste. The package came with everything needed to set it up. It also came with the float switches for the reservoir so it only runs when the water level is low and stops when my holding tank is full. Very well designed unit and well thought out instructions. Installation was very simple and straight forward.

Mark 75g · 03/28/2010, 09:55 AM

slief,
I heard about the new 1:1 ratio units. Arent they around $1,000. I calculated mine out
(4:1 ratio)that it would take somewhere around 20,000 gallons to make up the $600 cost difference.
Mark

moondoggy4 · 03/28/2010, 10:08 AM

Airborne what part of Ca are you in? There is the MAX show in the OC in So Cal April 10 weekend. They usually have at least two different builders of RO/Di units there and you can speak with them.

Tek_Diver · 03/28/2010, 11:16 PM

You may want to try this :

http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html

Good guy with good products.

Pohono · 03/29/2010, 01:45 AM

+1 on melevsreef ro/di.....I bought his 150gph and love it.....about using your ro/di as a ATO unit, please read, and decide from there:

http://www.melevsreef.com/rodi_recipe_for_disaster.html

moondoggy4 · 03/29/2010, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the read!

Airborne · 03/30/2010, 10:04 AM

I am located in Santa Clarita and will be attending the show!

slief · 03/30/2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark 75g

slief,
I heard about the new 1:1 ratio units. Arent they around $1,000. I calculated mine out
(4:1 ratio)that it would take somewhere around 20,000 gallons to make up the $600 cost difference.
Mark

They are not cheap.. That is true but it was less than $1000. Spectrapure has a customer appreciation link in their sub forum here that gets a pretty good discount. There are cheaper units out there as well. I think Vertex has one. Being in southern california, we pay a lot for water. The more we use, the higher the tier. With lawns to be watered and kids, I use a fair amount of water as it is. With the drought, its not just about the water costs for me. I dont like wasting water so getting a more efficient RODI makes me feel better about the amount of waste.

Mark 75g · 03/30/2010, 08:34 PM

That is true, I with u about recycling and helping the environment. Did not have the extra money at time and with living in Pittsburgh ($.03per gallon) we have all kinds of water. I do put the waste water to good use. I water the garden in the summer and also I fill my outside pond up all year.

Plus u need all the water u can get with a 480g system. LETS SEE A PICTURE

03/25/2010, 11:04 AM	#1
Airborne Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Burbank,CA Posts: 574	RO/DI Choices I want to buy an RO/DI unit that limits the amount of waste water. Right now I am thinking about the AquaticLife Power Model. I believe that it can be used as my ATO as well. Directly from the unit to the sump. Is this true? If so, are their other models that do the same that I should consider? 1) It has to be of quality. 2) User friendly. 3) be able to ATO for me. Thanks in advance.

03/25/2010, 03:03 PM	#2
acidblondie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lino Lakes Posts: 132	I have no experience with that unit, but there are several sponsors here with very good units at very good prices. I have a Coralife unit that I improved upon with parts from BRS. Also I have no experience running the ATO directly from the RO but I can see a disaster waiting to happen, a float switch stick and you have unlimited water running into your tank until someone catches it. Just my half cent, adjusting for inflation. __________________ I'm not at home so I can try this Current Tank Info: A big glass box with a bunch of gizmos and wires

03/27/2010, 09:24 AM	#6
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	I got a Spectrapure 100GPD UHE unit about a month ago. I am getting a 1:1 ratio of RODI/Waste. The package came with everything needed to set it up. It also came with the float switches for the reservoir so it only runs when the water level is low and stops when my holding tank is full. Very well designed unit and well thought out instructions. Installation was very simple and straight forward. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

03/30/2010, 10:04 AM	#12
Airborne Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Burbank,CA Posts: 574	So Cal I am located in Santa Clarita and will be attending the show!

03/25/2010, 03:29 PM	#3
KrisC Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 15	I have a TYPHOON III from Air Water & Ice and love it. Great RO/DI for a great price. It takes my my tap TDS from 450-500 range to 10-15 after the membrane then 0 after the DI. Works great comes with a TDS unit and has lots of different connections to fit your needs. It can be hooked up with an ATO. I would not recommend any RO/DI to be hooked up to a tank system just too much of a chance of something going wrong. I have mine hooked up to a separate reservoir that I manually add to my tank.

03/25/2010, 04:18 PM	#4
Mark 75g Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 510	I bought the spectra pure 180g per day. It has been running great for about 8 months or so. Has dual TDS meters on it and a pressure gage. I have a separate TDS meter that I test the water every now and then and it matches up with the meters built in. More expensive than some models but the performance has been outstanding. Bought from Marine Depot.

03/27/2010, 08:53 AM	#5
Volcano1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: North Central Illinois. Posts: 1,233	+1 on Spectrapure. Good sales for RC members on thier sponser forum. They do have a real low waste water unit, though a little pricey.I use the 180 Maxcap system and a booster pump, to get 80 psi. I start with around 700 tds and get down to 8 after the membrane. I had lower quality units in the past, and I'm happier with these results.

03/28/2010, 09:55 AM	#7
Mark 75g Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 510	slief, I heard about the new 1:1 ratio units. Arent they around $1,000. I calculated mine out (4:1 ratio)that it would take somewhere around 20,000 gallons to make up the $600 cost difference. Mark

03/28/2010, 10:08 AM	#8
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Airborne what part of Ca are you in? There is the MAX show in the OC in So Cal April 10 weekend. They usually have at least two different builders of RO/Di units there and you can speak with them.

03/28/2010, 11:16 PM	#9
Tek_Diver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Grapevine, Texas Posts: 50	You may want to try this : http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html Good guy with good products.

03/29/2010, 01:45 AM	#10
Pohono Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 60	+1 on melevsreef ro/di.....I bought his 150gph and love it.....about using your ro/di as a ATO unit, please read, and decide from there: http://www.melevsreef.com/rodi_recipe_for_disaster.html

03/29/2010, 11:01 AM	#11
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Thanks for the read!

03/30/2010, 08:34 PM	#14
Mark 75g Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 510	That is true, I with u about recycling and helping the environment. Did not have the extra money at time and with living in Pittsburgh ($.03per gallon) we have all kinds of water. I do put the waste water to good use. I water the garden in the summer and also I fill my outside pond up all year. Plus u need all the water u can get with a 480g system. LETS SEE A PICTURE