Ro/DI Question

Illuminati · 01/29/2006, 10:08 PM

Quick Question about RO/DI Units.

My tap water quality is bad. I live in an area where we have well water and it is full of iron and other hard minerals. I have a freshwater tank now and am setting up a saltwater tank.

Is there an RO/DI unit that I could use to filter water for both tanks?

Ideally I would like to put regular tap water into a 5 gallon or bigger bucket and then transfer it to another large bucket after it passes through the unit so I could use the water for either tank.

Is this possible? Or does the unit need to be hooked up to a tank?

I saw a tap water filter at Dr. Forrester & Smith but a friend told me they leak.

Any help would be super appreciated

Thanks

katena10 · 01/29/2006, 10:41 PM

My RO/DI unit and most hook up to your main water supply then produce the treated water out a hose that you can put into a bucket, pail or in my case i bought two 6 Gal water jugs at the store. Dont expect alot of water to come from this unit I get about 7-8 gal A DAY and most people from what i have read get between 7-20 gal a day. So yes tou can use for both and that is what i do, some for my 55 SW and some for my 29 FW>

szwab · 01/29/2006, 10:51 PM

the unit runs on pressure, it would need to be hooked into a water line not fed by a 5 gal bucket.
depending on what freshwater fish you keep the wastewater from the RO can be used for your FW tank

bertoni · 01/29/2006, 10:54 PM

To katena10:

To Reef Central

I agree that you'll want to hook the RO-DI input to your water line. The membranes work best with good pressue.

You can run the output into any container you like. The under-the-counter tanks are handy, but I don't use one. I just stick the line into a 5g water jug and wait for it to get full.

I think you'll be glad you got an RO-DI unit, from the description of your water.

Illuminati · 01/30/2006, 09:32 PM

Thanks for all the info guys.

1 more quick question. How much 'wastewater' comes out?
Could I hook the RO/DI unit to my faucet and let it run while I'm at work or does a bunch of water come out of the waste line?

Thanks for the help.

Palancar · 01/30/2006, 09:44 PM

Much more waste water than RO water. Like 3-to-1 or maybe more.

Fast Fred · 01/30/2006, 09:56 PM

The waste water line generally gets hooked to your sewer drain line, unless you plan on reusing the somewhat filtered waste water elsewhere. Some people water their plants and such with it. Palancar is right though - 1g of R/O to 3-5g of waste. In my house, all of the water we consume is R/O. It makes great coffee!

Illuminati · 01/30/2006, 10:49 PM

Thanks for all the info guys.

1 more quick question. How much 'wastewater' comes out?
Could I hook the RO/DI unit to my faucet and let it run while I'm at work or does a bunch of water come out of the waste line?

Thanks for the help.

AZDesertRat · 01/31/2006, 08:48 AM

You will produce about 4 gallons of waste for every gallon of good water. 4:1. You can put it in the sewer, fill the washing machine, fill the pool, water the trees.......There is nothing wrong with the waste other than it will be a little higher in TDS (25%+/-)than what you started with.

FormulatedFire · 01/31/2006, 09:10 AM

i've got a question......i live in an apartment and havent really looked at ro machines but i dont have a water line to run it on......is it worth me getting one that hooks to the sink than or just run something else?

ktkreegs · 01/31/2006, 09:19 AM

I also have well water, any specific brands out there for well water? or will a regular RODI unit work the same?

szwab · 01/31/2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FormulatedFire
i've got a question......i live in an apartment and havent really looked at ro machines but i dont have a water line to run it on......is it worth me getting one that hooks to the sink than or just run something else?

a bit moere work but definately worth it considering the quality of water that will be going into you tank as apposed to city water.

szwab · 01/31/2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktkreegs
I also have well water, any specific brands out there for well water? or will a regular RODI unit work the same?

I believe there used to be a difference but niot anymore.
is that correct azdesertrat?

AZDesertRat · 01/31/2006, 10:01 AM

Most any good RO unit will work with well water. Lots of municipal water systems are still fed by wells and they work just fine. If your well has particular water problems like high nitrates, silicates, iron or other things you may want to look at units specifically designed for those conditions. www.spectrapure.com builds the cadillac of RO/DI when it comes to things like that. www.airwaterice.com also sells units specifically for wells. I would e-mail or speak to a few of the vendors and see what they can do for your special needs. Thats one of the biggest advantages of dealing with people like AWI,Spectrapure, Melev and Buckeye Field Supply, they build each unit individually and can customize them to fit your needs. Most e-bay vendors cannot say that and will sell you the same thing they sell to the person that wants drinking water only and claim its the best thing since sliced bread. RO/DI is not a one size fits all in a lot of cases.

01/29/2006, 10:08 PM	#1
Illuminati Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Des Plaines, IL Posts: 3,986	Ro/DI Question Quick Question about RO/DI Units. My tap water quality is bad. I live in an area where we have well water and it is full of iron and other hard minerals. I have a freshwater tank now and am setting up a saltwater tank. Is there an RO/DI unit that I could use to filter water for both tanks? Ideally I would like to put regular tap water into a 5 gallon or bigger bucket and then transfer it to another large bucket after it passes through the unit so I could use the water for either tank. Is this possible? Or does the unit need to be hooked up to a tank? I saw a tap water filter at Dr. Forrester & Smith but a friend told me they leak. Any help would be super appreciated Thanks

01/29/2006, 10:51 PM	#3
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	the unit runs on pressure, it would need to be hooked into a water line not fed by a 5 gal bucket. depending on what freshwater fish you keep the wastewater from the RO can be used for your FW tank __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

01/29/2006, 10:54 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	To katena10: *To Reef Central* I agree that you'll want to hook the RO-DI input to your water line. The membranes work best with good pressue. You can run the output into any container you like. The under-the-counter tanks are handy, but I don't use one. I just stick the line into a 5g water jug and wait for it to get full. I think you'll be glad you got an RO-DI unit, from the description of your water. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/30/2006, 09:32 PM	#5
Illuminati Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Des Plaines, IL Posts: 3,986	Thanks for all the info guys. 1 more quick question. How much 'wastewater' comes out? Could I hook the RO/DI unit to my faucet and let it run while I'm at work or does a bunch of water come out of the waste line? Thanks for the help. __________________ RC nTOTM creator Future nTOTM winner :) Current Tank Info: Biocube 16 LED

01/30/2006, 09:56 PM	#7
Fast Fred Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northfield, NJ 08225 Posts: 1,170	The waste water line generally gets hooked to your sewer drain line, unless you plan on reusing the somewhat filtered waste water elsewhere. Some people water their plants and such with it. Palancar is right though - 1g of R/O to 3-5g of waste. In my house, all of the water we consume is R/O. It makes great coffee! __________________ Ya know, for a clown fish, you're not very funny! Member of the New Jersey Reefers Club Current Tank Info: 125g Reef Ready AGA /55g Top Fin Tank for a sump/refugium/ LifeReef Skimmer/ Changing over to SPS only

01/29/2006, 10:41 PM	#2
katena10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ithaca Mi Posts: 4	My RO/DI unit and most hook up to your main water supply then produce the treated water out a hose that you can put into a bucket, pail or in my case i bought two 6 Gal water jugs at the store. Dont expect alot of water to come from this unit I get about 7-8 gal A DAY and most people from what i have read get between 7-20 gal a day. So yes tou can use for both and that is what i do, some for my 55 SW and some for my 29 FW>

01/30/2006, 09:44 PM	#6
Palancar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bloomsbury, NJ Posts: 165	Much more waste water than RO water. Like 3-to-1 or maybe more.

01/30/2006, 10:49 PM	#8
Illuminati Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Des Plaines, IL Posts: 3,986	Thanks for all the info guys. 1 more quick question. How much 'wastewater' comes out? Could I hook the RO/DI unit to my faucet and let it run while I'm at work or does a bunch of water come out of the waste line? Thanks for the help. __________________ RC nTOTM creator Future nTOTM winner :) Current Tank Info: Biocube 16 LED

01/31/2006, 08:48 AM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	You will produce about 4 gallons of waste for every gallon of good water. 4:1. You can put it in the sewer, fill the washing machine, fill the pool, water the trees.......There is nothing wrong with the waste other than it will be a little higher in TDS (25%+/-)than what you started with.

01/31/2006, 09:10 AM	#10
FormulatedFire Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 138	i've got a question......i live in an apartment and havent really looked at ro machines but i dont have a water line to run it on......is it worth me getting one that hooks to the sink than or just run something else?

01/31/2006, 09:19 AM	#11
ktkreegs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 259	I also have well water, any specific brands out there for well water? or will a regular RODI unit work the same?

01/31/2006, 10:01 AM	#14
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Most any good RO unit will work with well water. Lots of municipal water systems are still fed by wells and they work just fine. If your well has particular water problems like high nitrates, silicates, iron or other things you may want to look at units specifically designed for those conditions. www.spectrapure.com builds the cadillac of RO/DI when it comes to things like that. www.airwaterice.com also sells units specifically for wells. I would e-mail or speak to a few of the vendors and see what they can do for your special needs. Thats one of the biggest advantages of dealing with people like AWI,Spectrapure, Melev and Buckeye Field Supply, they build each unit individually and can customize them to fit your needs. Most e-bay vendors cannot say that and will sell you the same thing they sell to the person that wants drinking water only and claim its the best thing since sliced bread. RO/DI is not a one size fits all in a lot of cases.