RO/DI: What would you want?

Icefire · 01/10/2007, 03:00 AM

Currently talking with a mfg to have cost good quality RO/DI unit.

100GPD RO membrane

Is 4 stage the best for us? Sediment / Carbon / RO / DI Resin ?
Booster pump?
Pressurized Tank?

Looking at 80-150$ depending of options.

AZDesertRat · 01/10/2007, 08:23 AM

For $80 you will not get a reef quality RO/DI unit, for $150 you are in the ballpark. The number of stages is not as important as what is contained in those stages. A good place to start is:
1st Stage- A 1micron or 0.5 down to the new 0.2 micron absolute rated prefilter.
2nd Stage- A 1 micron or better yet a 0.5 micron Chlorine Guzzler type solid carbon block.
3rd Stage- A 75 GPD Dow Filmtec RO membrane with a matched flow restrictor, accept no substitutes especially a 100 GPD! No exceptions and no other brands.
4th Stage- A standard 10" vertical canister type DI filter with a full 24 oz refillable DI cartridge.

Thats what I consider the bare minimum. Things I would also add to make a functioning unit are a pressure gauge, a handheld TDS meter, an autoshutoff valve, a DI bypass valve and for me a drinking water kit is important so I get full use out of the system and keep the membrane and filters fresher by using it more often without it setting long periods.

01/10/2007, 03:00 AM	#1
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	RO/DI: What would you want? Currently talking with a mfg to have cost good quality RO/DI unit. 100GPD RO membrane Is 4 stage the best for us? Sediment / Carbon / RO / DI Resin ? Booster pump? Pressurized Tank? Looking at 80-150$ depending of options.

01/10/2007, 08:23 AM	#2
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	For $80 you will not get a reef quality RO/DI unit, for $150 you are in the ballpark. The number of stages is not as important as what is contained in those stages. A good place to start is: 1st Stage- A 1micron or 0.5 down to the new 0.2 micron absolute rated prefilter. 2nd Stage- A 1 micron or better yet a 0.5 micron Chlorine Guzzler type solid carbon block. 3rd Stage- A 75 GPD Dow Filmtec RO membrane with a matched flow restrictor, accept no substitutes especially a 100 GPD! No exceptions and no other brands. 4th Stage- A standard 10" vertical canister type DI filter with a full 24 oz refillable DI cartridge. Thats what I consider the bare minimum. Things I would also add to make a functioning unit are a pressure gauge, a handheld TDS meter, an autoshutoff valve, a DI bypass valve and for me a drinking water kit is important so I get full use out of the system and keep the membrane and filters fresher by using it more often without it setting long periods.