Is 3 TDS good enough for SPS? - Page 2

Curve · 04/09/2008, 06:18 AM

I have that exact same unit that I have been using for about 6 months with no complaints. I have 425 plus ppm tap water and it gives me 1ppm reading out of the other side. I use it on reef with no problems and you can replace the membranes with the filmtecs when they need replacing.

AZDesertRat · 04/09/2008, 07:59 AM

Again any RO/DI should give you 0 TDS, at least for a short time.
The story though is in the RO only TDS. What is that number? This will tell you how good the membrane is since it does 98% of the work, the DI just polishes it off. The moral is better units use better membranes so you will get 0 TDS for much longer thus saving you money on DI resin replacements.
The other thing to look at is the quality of the prefilter and carbon block, cheap ones do not work as well and cause themembrane to fail sooner, again costing you more long term money.
Look at a RO/DI like a fine tool, spend wisely and get a good unit and it will serve you for years and years with little maintenance and cash outlay. Buy a cheap one and it nickles and dimes you to death from then on until you get frustrated and throw it away!

thecichlidpleco · 04/09/2008, 09:41 AM

I got the reef/residental 75 gpd and it is great for drinking water also, I would not go back to buying water.

downhillbiker · 04/09/2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
Again any RO/DI should give you 0 TDS, at least for a short time.
The story though is in the RO only TDS. What is that number? This will tell you how good the membrane is since it does 98% of the work, the DI just polishes it off. The moral is better units use better membranes so you will get 0 TDS for much longer thus saving you money on DI resin replacements.
The other thing to look at is the quality of the prefilter and carbon block, cheap ones do not work as well and cause themembrane to fail sooner, again costing you more long term money.
Look at a RO/DI like a fine tool, spend wisely and get a good unit and it will serve you for years and years with little maintenance and cash outlay. Buy a cheap one and it nickles and dimes you to death from then on until you get frustrated and throw it away!

The TDS reading after the RO only is from 300ppm to under 20ppm so that is about 95% of the cleaning done by RO unit. I appreciate everyone's advice, but I will be buying the unit and giving it a try.

I am down to this...my girlfriend freaks when I tell her the price, and I am lucky that she will let me get the cheap one. It's better than nothing right? And the one I am getting is a 0ppm filter, the difference is what DI media they use.

HChellette · 04/10/2008, 02:11 PM

Go for it b/c I am very happy with my unit.

downhillbiker · 04/10/2008, 02:51 PM

sounds good. i just bought it. it will work great.

100GPD 6 stage RO/DI (2x) DI, plus 3 replacement filters, and 2 replacement DI media, and its shipped to my door for $117. I think it will work great.

I am getting 2 DI units and 2 replacement DI media, so that should keep it clean, I will just keep rotating the back filter into the front slot, and replace media in old filter.

kar93 · 04/10/2008, 02:53 PM

do you have a pic of the unit or a link

sirreal63 · 04/10/2008, 03:02 PM

I hope it works for you long term. The cheapo unit I had went through DI like crazy because the membrane had a horrible rejection rate. I thought everything was fine until I checked the TDS and discovered why I was burning through DI. I highly suggest you invest in a TDS meter. Once you get ready to replace the membrane get a good one from BFS or The Filter Guys, it does make a difference.

I know you took offense at so many of us suggesting a better unit...there is a reason...we learned the hard way and hoped to prevent someone else from learning the hard way. It may have made you feel we are elitist but in reality it is because we care.

snorvich · 04/10/2008, 03:03 PM

Yes, I agree with above. I used to buy cheap until I realized it was more expensive in the long run.

downhillbiker · 04/10/2008, 03:10 PM

i understand. thanks guys. i just think that some units lack mechanically or in design, but i am very mechanically inclined and build much of my own stuff and design my own parts, when cheap ones break.

Yes thats a headache sometimes, but...
1. It makes me more familiar with the unit.
2. When I do fix it it's stronger, and works better than if I had bought the expensive unit.

The link to the actual site won't work, so here's the same one on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ksid=p3907.m29

AZDesertRat · 04/10/2008, 05:02 PM

You will find you will spend much more to make it right than what you would have spent initially on a better unit. Good filters cost money.
Did you get a handheld TDS meter with the unit? If not how are you going to troubleshoot it? Same goes for an inline pressure gauge. Just the additional cost of those two things alone makes the Buckeye 75 GPD Premium a much better value, not even mentioning better prefilter, top name carbon block, Dow Filmtec name brand RO membrane, RO bypass valve, adjustable flow restrictor..... and all at only $161. I think you are making a big mistake. Price alone is not what you should be looking at, look at long term cost of ownership and water quality not saving a nickel today to spend much more tomorrow in upgrades and replacements.

04/09/2008, 06:18 AM	#26
Curve Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Farmerville, Louisiana Posts: 652	I have that exact same unit that I have been using for about 6 months with no complaints. I have 425 plus ppm tap water and it gives me 1ppm reading out of the other side. I use it on reef with no problems and you can replace the membranes with the filmtecs when they need replacing. __________________ If you don't take some meds, you're going to burn out of this hobby everytime a shrimp farts. Current Tank Info: 210 aggresive, 3 gallon led build

04/09/2008, 09:41 AM	#28
thecichlidpleco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,227	I got the reef/residental 75 gpd and it is great for drinking water also, I would not go back to buying water. __________________ knowledge is power, power leads to abuse, study hard, be evil Owning a tank is like being with that girlfriend who could care less about you, but you couldn't stand being without her. Current Tank Info: 125 Reef, (3) 250w aquamedic oceanlights ETSS 600 skimmer, mag12 return, (2) Tunze 6055's with 7095 controller, 100 gallon sump

04/10/2008, 02:11 PM	#30
HChellette Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northeast Louisiana Posts: 19	Go for it b/c I am very happy with my unit. __________________ As a counselor, I often wonder if Saltwater Obsession should be a clinical disorder. We can call it SWOD! Current Tank Info: 150 gallon FOWLR with two Percula Clowns (Marlin & Cora) and a Pink Spotted Goby with an attitude (Jeffery)

04/10/2008, 02:51 PM	#31
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	sounds good. i just bought it. it will work great. 100GPD 6 stage RO/DI (2x) DI, plus 3 replacement filters, and 2 replacement DI media, and its shipped to my door for $117. I think it will work great. I am getting 2 DI units and 2 replacement DI media, so that should keep it clean, I will just keep rotating the back filter into the front slot, and replace media in old filter. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/10/2008, 03:02 PM	#33
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I hope it works for you long term. The cheapo unit I had went through DI like crazy because the membrane had a horrible rejection rate. I thought everything was fine until I checked the TDS and discovered why I was burning through DI. I highly suggest you invest in a TDS meter. Once you get ready to replace the membrane get a good one from BFS or The Filter Guys, it does make a difference. I know you took offense at so many of us suggesting a better unit...there is a reason...we learned the hard way and hoped to prevent someone else from learning the hard way. It may have made you feel we are elitist but in reality it is because we care. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

04/09/2008, 07:59 AM	#27
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Again any RO/DI should give you 0 TDS, at least for a short time. The story though is in the RO only TDS. What is that number? This will tell you how good the membrane is since it does 98% of the work, the DI just polishes it off. The moral is better units use better membranes so you will get 0 TDS for much longer thus saving you money on DI resin replacements. The other thing to look at is the quality of the prefilter and carbon block, cheap ones do not work as well and cause themembrane to fail sooner, again costing you more long term money. Look at a RO/DI like a fine tool, spend wisely and get a good unit and it will serve you for years and years with little maintenance and cash outlay. Buy a cheap one and it nickles and dimes you to death from then on until you get frustrated and throw it away!

04/10/2008, 02:53 PM	#32
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	do you have a pic of the unit or a link

04/10/2008, 03:03 PM	#34
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Yes, I agree with above. I used to buy cheap until I realized it was more expensive in the long run. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/10/2008, 03:10 PM	#35
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	i understand. thanks guys. i just think that some units lack mechanically or in design, but i am very mechanically inclined and build much of my own stuff and design my own parts, when cheap ones break. Yes thats a headache sometimes, but... 1. It makes me more familiar with the unit. 2. When I do fix it it's stronger, and works better than if I had bought the expensive unit. The link to the actual site won't work, so here's the same one on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ksid=p3907.m29 __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/10/2008, 05:02 PM	#36
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	You will find you will spend much more to make it right than what you would have spent initially on a better unit. Good filters cost money. Did you get a handheld TDS meter with the unit? If not how are you going to troubleshoot it? Same goes for an inline pressure gauge. Just the additional cost of those two things alone makes the Buckeye 75 GPD Premium a much better value, not even mentioning better prefilter, top name carbon block, Dow Filmtec name brand RO membrane, RO bypass valve, adjustable flow restrictor..... and all at only $161. I think you are making a big mistake. Price alone is not what you should be looking at, look at long term cost of ownership and water quality not saving a nickel today to spend much more tomorrow in upgrades and replacements.