Help with RO/DI purchase - Page 2

Driftwood · 08/10/2006, 07:49 PM

Thanks for all the info. I'd like to end up with something more accurate eventually. For now the $22 for the HM-3 is easyer on the wallet. I can always give the old meter to a friend when I get a new one.

I really want the meter to test if the new filter is working properly. And in the future to tell me when to replace my filters. I do care about water quality but I guess I figured that my filter would leave some ammount of TDS in the water and when I saw that number climb I could replace the filters or membrain. The DI is color changing so I figured that would be pretty easy to tell when it needed to be changed.

The filter is setup and filled the container overnight. I can't wait to test the water and see if it is all good.

Thanks again!

AZDesertRat · 08/10/2006, 08:23 PM

You'll love it. RO/DI is the way to go.

joshuaroot · 08/10/2006, 08:51 PM

i just bought the typhoon 3 from www.airwaterice.com and its a great unit for 224 shipped to your door

dlb · 08/12/2006, 07:52 AM

I brought a Typoon 3 from www.airwaterice.com too. Great unit!

wav3form · 08/12/2006, 11:56 AM

I just ordered a typhoon (not the 3, the standard) from airwaterice.com. Mentioned i was a rc member; maybe they'll throw in a tds meter. Thanks for the suggestions!

joshuaroot · 08/12/2006, 12:04 PM

i got a tds meter with my purchase but i was lookin at the unit compaired to the diagram they sent along with it and its not assembled the saem as the diagram shows. so i'm gonna have to re work it i think.

Driftwood · 08/15/2006, 08:42 AM

Anyone get a great price on replacement color changing DI resin?

This may sound dumb. On the DI would orange be the used or the new resin? From what I've seen online the black looks to be the new?

Thanks!

ericwebster · 08/15/2006, 09:25 AM

Anybody have the AQUAFx Barracuda 4-Stage
RO/DI System from aquacave.com?

Spuds725 · 08/15/2006, 09:49 AM

You can get a refillable DI filter cartridge and bulk DI resin (color changing)--

About 5 pounds (4 refills) for about $40 at various sites-- here are 2...

http://www.purelyh2o.com/home.php?cat=257

http://www.airwaterice.com/product/BAGDIRESIN

http://www.airwaterice.com/product/REFILLDIPACK

clkwrk · 08/15/2006, 10:11 AM

I am in with AJ 100%

here is a good small read about the 0 tds claim .

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=898154

AZDesertRat · 08/15/2006, 10:12 AM

Don't waste your money on color changing resin. Its not accurate and by the time it turns it has probably already been expended anyway. Either that or it turns right away. Get and always use a TDS meter. The best TDS meter by far right now is the new HM Digital COM-100, it blows the competition away.

clkwrk · 08/15/2006, 10:31 AM

I own one and its way better than my old hanna handheld and my dual inline meters.

Driftwood · 08/15/2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
Don't waste your money on color changing resin. Its not accurate and by the time it turns it has probably already been expended anyway. Either that or it turns right away. Get and always use a TDS meter. The best TDS meter by far right now is the new HM Digital COM-100, it blows the competition away.

I see... Isn't that how it always goes. Too good to be true.

I'll look at the non-color changing stuff.

For now though, is the orange or black the used resin? Does anyone use color changing stuff?

Quote:

Originally posted by clkwrk
I am in with AJ 100%

here is a good small read about the 0 tds claim .

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=898154

That is interesting and that post makes it pretty clear too. Thanks!

Spuds725 · 08/15/2006, 02:11 PM

Orange is the used if I remember correctly--

A TDS meter will tell you more then the color (you will either change it too early or too late without one)...

Driftwood · 08/21/2006, 11:06 AM

I got the TDS meter today. It is really easy to use... I have tested 4 different types of water so-far. Once I get home I'll test the output from the RO/Di filter and post that. For those that are curious, this is what I've tested today so-far.

Tap water at work: 159ppm
Local spring water: 85ppm
Dasani filtered: 23ppm
Distilled: 0ppm
Coke: 453ppm

purelyh2o · 08/21/2006, 05:38 PM

Be careful testing things like coke. The acidity of the mix can cause some damage in the long run on a non commercial meter

Driftwood · 08/22/2006, 12:36 PM

I tested the water from my RO/Di and it tested 2ppm. I've heard that anything under 5ppm is pretty good for a reef. What does everyone think? Should I change out my DI and see if it drops to zero?

I'm curious what others water readings are and when they change filters.

smleee · 08/22/2006, 01:28 PM

Post your input water, after RO water (but before DI), and RO/DI results and we may be able to tell you. RO/DI should be 0ppm.

eee

AZDesertRat · 08/22/2006, 05:24 PM

With a tap water of 159 there is no reason you should not be getting 0 with RO/DI.

Driftwood · 08/23/2006, 07:38 AM

My tap water at work is 159, the water at home tested 130. I'll try and disconnect the DI and get some water from the RO directly to test.

One thing strikes me as odd. I tested water that I made with the filter and had already put in gallon jugs. It tested at 0ppm. So either making 100gallons of water finished off the DI resin or something got into the filtered water?

Should I pump out the water from the rubbermaid trashcan and rinse it out and let it refill?

Is 2ppm that bad? Who here would use it for a water change?

AZDesertRat · 08/23/2006, 08:19 AM

2 ppm is not bad.
Always test directly from the unit and not from storage containers. If your meter doesn't have a built in cup, always use a squeakly clean drinking water glass and triple rinse it with DI between each use, and always rinse the meter between use as in test the tap, triple rinse with DI, test the RO only, triple rinse with DI and finally test the DI and final rinse the glass and meter.

Driftwood · 08/23/2006, 11:17 AM

I just went to HD and bought a 'T' and a little valve. I should be able to test the RO after I install these. I also bought a pressure gauge just to see what the filter is getting.

Do you think the 2ppm could have leached from the container? If so should I look at a better container to use?

Thanks!

MrZ · 08/23/2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Driftwood
I just went to HD and bought a 'T' and a little valve. I should be able to test the RO after I install these. I also bought a pressure gauge just to see what the filter is getting.

Do you think the 2ppm could have leached from the container? If so should I look at a better container to use?

Thanks!

Entirely possible. Food grade containers such as the rubbermaid brute line of products will minimize leaching.

Driftwood · 08/23/2006, 11:26 AM

I need something fairly large. I will take a look at the 'brute' rubbermaids. Thanks!

HDAlien · 08/23/2006, 12:30 PM

I use Filterdirect (Ebay seller) have 2 units from them, they ship quick and are priced right.

08/15/2006, 08:42 AM	#32
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	Anyone get a great price on replacement color changing DI resin? This may sound dumb. On the DI would orange be the used or the new resin? From what I've seen online the black looks to be the new? Thanks! Last edited by Driftwood; 08/15/2006 at 08:54 AM.

08/15/2006, 09:25 AM	#33
ericwebster Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boston MA Posts: 375	Anybody have the AQUAFx Barracuda 4-Stage RO/DI System from aquacave.com? __________________ "Nobody tried to sell me the most used piece of equipment I own .. my mop." 72G Tank LTA, Pulsing Xenia, Blue Tang, Mated Maroons, 2 Damsels, Neon Goby, Watchman Goby, Algae Blenny, Peppermint Shrimp (3), CBS (1), Cleaner Shrimp Current Tank Info: 100G bow front corner. Yellow Tank, Coral Beauty, Clownfish, some SPS, LPS and Soft Corals

08/15/2006, 09:49 AM	#34
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	You can get a refillable DI filter cartridge and bulk DI resin (color changing)-- About 5 pounds (4 refills) for about $40 at various sites-- here are 2... http://www.purelyh2o.com/home.php?cat=257 http://www.airwaterice.com/product/BAGDIRESIN http://www.airwaterice.com/product/REFILLDIPACK __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

08/15/2006, 10:11 AM	#35
clkwrk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mesa ,Az Posts: 10,257	I am in with AJ 100% here is a good small read about the 0 tds claim . http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=898154 __________________ ------- Feel free to use my photos for ONLY informative sites, education or enjoyment.All I ask is to include my Reef Central User id and where you got the photo ( RC).

08/15/2006, 10:31 AM	#37
clkwrk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mesa ,Az Posts: 10,257	I own one and its way better than my old hanna handheld and my dual inline meters. __________________ ------- Feel free to use my photos for ONLY informative sites, education or enjoyment.All I ask is to include my Reef Central User id and where you got the photo ( RC).

08/10/2006, 07:49 PM	#26
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	Thanks for all the info. I'd like to end up with something more accurate eventually. For now the $22 for the HM-3 is easyer on the wallet. I can always give the old meter to a friend when I get a new one. I really want the meter to test if the new filter is working properly. And in the future to tell me when to replace my filters. I do care about water quality but I guess I figured that my filter would leave some ammount of TDS in the water and when I saw that number climb I could replace the filters or membrain. The DI is color changing so I figured that would be pretty easy to tell when it needed to be changed. The filter is setup and filled the container overnight. I can't wait to test the water and see if it is all good. Thanks again!

08/10/2006, 08:23 PM	#27
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	You'll love it. RO/DI is the way to go.

08/10/2006, 08:51 PM	#28
joshuaroot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Posts: 266	i just bought the typhoon 3 from www.airwaterice.com and its a great unit for 224 shipped to your door

08/12/2006, 07:52 AM	#29
dlb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bowie, Maryland Posts: 77	I brought a Typoon 3 from www.airwaterice.com too. Great unit!

08/12/2006, 11:56 AM	#30
wav3form Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 288	I just ordered a typhoon (not the 3, the standard) from airwaterice.com. Mentioned i was a rc member; maybe they'll throw in a tds meter. Thanks for the suggestions!

08/12/2006, 12:04 PM	#31
joshuaroot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Posts: 266	i got a tds meter with my purchase but i was lookin at the unit compaired to the diagram they sent along with it and its not assembled the saem as the diagram shows. so i'm gonna have to re work it i think.

08/15/2006, 10:12 AM	#36
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Don't waste your money on color changing resin. Its not accurate and by the time it turns it has probably already been expended anyway. Either that or it turns right away. Get and always use a TDS meter. The best TDS meter by far right now is the new HM Digital COM-100, it blows the competition away.

08/15/2006, 02:11 PM	#39
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	Orange is the used if I remember correctly-- A TDS meter will tell you more then the color (you will either change it too early or too late without one)... __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

08/21/2006, 11:06 AM	#40
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	I got the TDS meter today. It is really easy to use... I have tested 4 different types of water so-far. Once I get home I'll test the output from the RO/Di filter and post that. For those that are curious, this is what I've tested today so-far. Tap water at work: 159ppm Local spring water: 85ppm Dasani filtered: 23ppm Distilled: 0ppm Coke: 453ppm

08/21/2006, 05:38 PM	#41
purelyh2o Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Altamonte Springs, FL Posts: 454	Hey Drift Be careful testing things like coke. The acidity of the mix can cause some damage in the long run on a non commercial meter

08/22/2006, 12:36 PM	#42
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	I tested the water from my RO/Di and it tested 2ppm. I've heard that anything under 5ppm is pretty good for a reef. What does everyone think? Should I change out my DI and see if it drops to zero? I'm curious what others water readings are and when they change filters.

08/22/2006, 01:28 PM	#43
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	Post your input water, after RO water (but before DI), and RO/DI results and we may be able to tell you. RO/DI should be 0ppm. eee

08/22/2006, 05:24 PM	#44
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	With a tap water of 159 there is no reason you should not be getting 0 with RO/DI.

08/23/2006, 07:38 AM	#45
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	My tap water at work is 159, the water at home tested 130. I'll try and disconnect the DI and get some water from the RO directly to test. One thing strikes me as odd. I tested water that I made with the filter and had already put in gallon jugs. It tested at 0ppm. So either making 100gallons of water finished off the DI resin or something got into the filtered water? Should I pump out the water from the rubbermaid trashcan and rinse it out and let it refill? Is 2ppm that bad? Who here would use it for a water change?

08/23/2006, 08:19 AM	#46
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	2 ppm is not bad. Always test directly from the unit and not from storage containers. If your meter doesn't have a built in cup, always use a squeakly clean drinking water glass and triple rinse it with DI between each use, and always rinse the meter between use as in test the tap, triple rinse with DI, test the RO only, triple rinse with DI and finally test the DI and final rinse the glass and meter.

08/23/2006, 11:17 AM	#47
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	I just went to HD and bought a 'T' and a little valve. I should be able to test the RO after I install these. I also bought a pressure gauge just to see what the filter is getting. Do you think the 2ppm could have leached from the container? If so should I look at a better container to use? Thanks!

08/23/2006, 11:26 AM	#49
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	I need something fairly large. I will take a look at the 'brute' rubbermaids. Thanks!

08/23/2006, 12:30 PM	#50
HDAlien Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 476	I use Filterdirect (Ebay seller) have 2 units from them, they ship quick and are priced right. __________________ ¡ʞuɐʇ ʎɯ ǝʌo1 ı Current Tank Info: 220 gal. reef