Cheap RO/DI Unit

kzziboy · 10/21/2011, 08:32 AM

I may get banished for saying this, but here it goes...

I bought one of those cheap RO/DI units on ebay. It was $65.
Right now it's working great. My water isn't all that bad...205 TDS.

I flushed the membrane for about 45 minutes and was getting 4 TDS water. I then connected it to the DI cartridge and it was pumpint out 0 TDS water in seconds. The unit has all quick connect fittings so it's easy to connect and disconnect. It DID NOT leak, which actually REALLY surprised me.

It is a unit that lays down on it's side. I have however rigged up a makeshift stand so it's upright. I've read it should get better contact with the DI resin.

I'm going to be sure to run a little water out of the RO membrane before I hook it to the DI cartridge because of TDS creep. That should save on DI Resin big time.

I was also concerned about prices on replacement carbon cartridges and RO membranes along with the DI resin. It all looks pretty cheap though.

I checked the waste water output compared to pure and it was about a 3:1 ratio.

I guess in closing, I realize it's no where near as sturdy of a unit as what most on this forum use. It's not an easily mounted unit. It may spring a big leak tomorrow...who knows! I DO know that I needed a unit. It was cheap, so I bought it. Time will tell. How long the cartridges last will be a huge factor.

For now though, I'm happy.

Just wanted to share my experience so far.

Thanks!

ZR1001 · 10/21/2011, 05:52 PM

Thanks for sharing!

shifty51008 · 10/21/2011, 06:50 PM

hope you have better luck than when i had one of those 8 years ago. after a year the canisters developed cracks and leaked all over the place. i have pics if you even wanna see

Joel_155 · 10/21/2011, 07:46 PM

Screw looks man functionality always wins over form in my book. Good job on getting a functional yet inexpensive unit. I spent about $175 on my unit from filter direct... I like it but $65 is better than $175. Just my $.02.

Joel

ReeferScooter · 10/21/2011, 11:35 PM

Yea i will be interested to see how long it last cause that is an awesome price for a a unit. Sometimes the ebay stuff is great.

Piper27 · 10/22/2011, 05:52 AM

I am guessing you got the portable one. I ended up getting the 150 from them on ebay and I am happy with it for 100 bucks with the float and everything. I tightened it up some and its been running for almost two years with no problems yet. Only thing I don't like is the di stage, I am going to upgrade that soon.

shifty51008 show thoes pics of the cracks, I would love to see what I may be in for with this thing, and that way I can keep an eye out.

shifty51008 · 10/22/2011, 07:09 AM

ok well here is a pic of whats left of it, the only thing I kept from the system that still works is the storage tank for drinking water so wasn't a complete loss lol

here you can see the cracks may be hard to see

and here is what I have been using for the last 6 years

Piper27 · 10/23/2011, 05:47 AM

Cool thanks for the pics! Now I know what to watch out for.

wonslung · 10/23/2011, 06:29 AM

i bought a cheap one on ebay and it works well.

downreef · 10/23/2011, 12:37 PM

ty for the input

kzziboy · 11/08/2011, 08:36 AM

Yup, it's the portable kind. A little clumsy, but oh well. I see what you mean Shifty on the crack. Something to watch for. Oh well, I like to gamble every now and then. Some have said the DI cartridges go quick. I'm trying to save on that as much as possible by draining the TDS creep out of the line before I run it through the DI cartridge. I've had 0 TDS water from the beginning. My water starts out at 200 to 225 TDS.

10/21/2011, 08:32 AM	#1
kzziboy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Spearfish, SD Posts: 187	Cheap RO/DI Unit I may get banished for saying this, but here it goes... I bought one of those cheap RO/DI units on ebay. It was $65. Right now it's working great. My water isn't all that bad...205 TDS. I flushed the membrane for about 45 minutes and was getting 4 TDS water. I then connected it to the DI cartridge and it was pumpint out 0 TDS water in seconds. The unit has all quick connect fittings so it's easy to connect and disconnect. It DID NOT leak, which actually REALLY surprised me. It is a unit that lays down on it's side. I have however rigged up a makeshift stand so it's upright. I've read it should get better contact with the DI resin. I'm going to be sure to run a little water out of the RO membrane before I hook it to the DI cartridge because of TDS creep. That should save on DI Resin big time. I was also concerned about prices on replacement carbon cartridges and RO membranes along with the DI resin. It all looks pretty cheap though. I checked the waste water output compared to pure and it was about a 3:1 ratio. I guess in closing, I realize it's no where near as sturdy of a unit as what most on this forum use. It's not an easily mounted unit. It may spring a big leak tomorrow...who knows! I DO know that I needed a unit. It was cheap, so I bought it. Time will tell. How long the cartridges last will be a huge factor. For now though, I'm happy. Just wanted to share my experience so far. Thanks! __________________ kzziboy Current Tank Info: 75 gallon. 4-48" T5's 2 10k and 2 actinic

10/21/2011, 06:50 PM	#3
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	hope you have better luck than when i had one of those 8 years ago. after a year the canisters developed cracks and leaked all over the place. i have pics if you even wanna see __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

10/22/2011, 07:09 AM	#7
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	ok well here is a pic of whats left of it, the only thing I kept from the system that still works is the storage tank for drinking water so wasn't a complete loss lol here you can see the cracks may be hard to see and here is what I have been using for the last 6 years __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

11/08/2011, 08:36 AM	#11
kzziboy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Spearfish, SD Posts: 187	Yup, it's the portable kind. A little clumsy, but oh well. I see what you mean Shifty on the crack. Something to watch for. Oh well, I like to gamble every now and then. Some have said the DI cartridges go quick. I'm trying to save on that as much as possible by draining the TDS creep out of the line before I run it through the DI cartridge. I've had 0 TDS water from the beginning. My water starts out at 200 to 225 TDS. __________________ kzziboy Current Tank Info: 75 gallon. 4-48" T5's 2 10k and 2 actinic

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10/21/2011, 05:52 PM	#2
ZR1001 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 359	Thanks for sharing!

10/21/2011, 07:46 PM	#4
Joel_155 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,402	Screw looks man functionality always wins over form in my book. Good job on getting a functional yet inexpensive unit. I spent about $175 on my unit from filter direct... I like it but $65 is better than $175. Just my $.02. Joel

10/21/2011, 11:35 PM	#5
ReeferScooter Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 30	Yea i will be interested to see how long it last cause that is an awesome price for a a unit. Sometimes the ebay stuff is great.

10/22/2011, 05:52 AM	#6
Piper27 I love bengals Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Manassas Virginia Posts: 2,512	I am guessing you got the portable one. I ended up getting the 150 from them on ebay and I am happy with it for 100 bucks with the float and everything. I tightened it up some and its been running for almost two years with no problems yet. Only thing I don't like is the di stage, I am going to upgrade that soon. shifty51008 show thoes pics of the cracks, I would love to see what I may be in for with this thing, and that way I can keep an eye out.

10/23/2011, 05:47 AM	#8
Piper27 I love bengals Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Manassas Virginia Posts: 2,512	Cool thanks for the pics! Now I know what to watch out for.

10/23/2011, 06:29 AM	#9
wonslung Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 50	i bought a cheap one on ebay and it works well.

10/23/2011, 12:37 PM	#10
downreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 193	ty for the input