RO/DI best bang for the Buck

bigcdc · 11/11/2006, 03:04 AM

I live in Idaho and the water isn't that bad here, maybe 100-125ppm. Much better than where I used to live in Arizona with 500ppm

.
I'm just wondering what the cheapest but most effective RO/DI system there is for an online vendors.

Thanks

~CC

Paul Burgess · 11/12/2006, 10:00 PM

Don't get one from Air, Water and Ice.

firewill65 · 11/12/2006, 10:22 PM

what is wrong with Air, Water, and Ice? Thanks

Dubbin1 · 11/12/2006, 10:38 PM

Yes Paul tell us why. Thats the first time I have ever seen anyone complain about their units.

Filterdirect on ebay makes a pretty decent unit at a low cost. I have had mine for over a year with a 0 TDS reading and no problems whats so ever.

tedu · 11/12/2006, 10:43 PM

Great service and value from buckeye field supply.
www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
(also an RC sponsor)

barjam · 11/12/2006, 11:20 PM

I love my Typhoon III and that is the first time I have read a negative response to Air Water Ice.

BC Sparky · 11/13/2006, 03:57 PM

What's wrong with Air, Water, Ice??? I was about to place an order with them but am now concerned...

joestreich · 11/13/2006, 04:40 PM

I always love when someone tells us NOT to do something but then never tells us why. I am very interested to hear why we shouldn't buy from air water ice.

I bought a typhoon III from them and have been nothing short of amazed at how easy it was to install and how great it works. I am not saying that the other companies mention here are inferior just that my experience was great with air water ice.

Peter Eichler · 11/13/2006, 04:47 PM

I had a problem with my AWI order. Problems happen, the nice thing is they fixed it very quickly and I've been very happy with the unit overall and after hundreds if gallons of water I'm still at 0 tds.

RichConley · 11/13/2006, 04:49 PM

There have been a HUGE number of complaints about AWI in the last year. Apparantly, their service department took the year off.

stereomandan · 11/13/2006, 05:25 PM

To be honest, there isn't a HUGE difference between all of the different vendors, IMO. You just want to make sure that the filters and RO membrane are quality pieces, and that the filter canisters are clear.

You want a least a 5 micron pre-filter, a 75 gpd DOW filmtec membrane and a full size DI cartridge. The carbon block depends on if your city water supply uses chlorine or chloramines.

You can call The Filter Guys, and they will tell you everything you need to know. Excellent guys to talk to.

Dan

kslick · 11/13/2006, 05:30 PM

I agree, Filter Guys are great to deal with!!

AZDesertRat · 11/13/2006, 05:43 PM

www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
www.spectrapure.com
www.thefilterguys.biz
and
www.purelyh2o.com
all build nice units, and all are Reef Central sponsors and hobbyists themselves. AWI is also good even though they may be having problems with customer service.
Unlike what some say there is a difference in the quality of RO/DI units and their components. The suggestions to get a Dow Filmtec 75GPD RO membrane and a standard size vertical refillable DI are good ones. Clear housings really serve no purpose than to look cool. They can actually be a problem if your unit is exposed to warmth and sunlight as they could possibly allow bacterial and viral growth inside the housings if you do not do the regular suggested maintenance.
Most e-bay units are of less quality not only in the membrane and shoddy DI but in the quality of the housings, fittings and pre and carbon filters. Some even use cheap granular carbon and prefilters that are about as efficient as a screen door. Don't be fooled by their false advertising and too good to be true pricing. Expect to pay between $139 and $269 for a good unit that will not only last you forever but will give you the quality of water they advertise.

nano_angel · 11/13/2006, 05:59 PM

walter the 0wner 0f air water & ice has had s0me pr0blems with his help (brian and the girl there) they have since been let g0 and the service is great n0w that walter is taking care 0f it himself again. i have a typh00n III and it is great. i have a 120 a 75 and a 55 and d0 weekly wc and it keeps tds at 0 f0r the past 8 m0nths. w0uldnt use anything else. be sure t0 get the 75 gpd instead 0f the 100 gpd it has a better membrane.

stereomandan · 11/13/2006, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat Clear housings really serve no purpose than to look cool. They can actually be a problem if your unit is exposed to warmth and sunlight as they could possibly allow bacterial and viral growth inside the housings if you do not do the regular suggested maintenance.

Yeah, scratch what I said about the clear housings. Even with the color changing DI resin, you should determine when to change the DI resin out based off a TDS meter, not the change in color. It is nice to see when the DI resin is getting close to needing a changeout though.

Dan

archer8681 · 11/13/2006, 06:48 PM

I just ordered the AWI 75gph, and should have it tomorrow. This was based on the advise of a friend who had one and swears by it. I'll post again if I notice any problems with it.

Absolut352 · 11/13/2006, 07:30 PM

Dont forget http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html got mine today. Thanks Marc.

Jasontkd · 11/13/2006, 07:31 PM

tagging along

11/11/2006, 03:04 AM	#1
bigcdc Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kuna, ID Posts: 79	RO/DI best bang for the Buck I live in Idaho and the water isn't that bad here, maybe 100-125ppm. Much better than where I used to live in Arizona with 500ppm . I'm just wondering what the cheapest but most effective RO/DI system there is for an online vendors. Thanks ~CC

11/13/2006, 04:40 PM	#8
joestreich Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: wi Posts: 36	I always love when someone tells us NOT to do something but then never tells us why. I am very interested to hear why we shouldn't buy from air water ice. I bought a typhoon III from them and have been nothing short of amazed at how easy it was to install and how great it works. I am not saying that the other companies mention here are inferior just that my experience was great with air water ice. __________________ Joel

11/13/2006, 04:47 PM	#9
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	I had a problem with my AWI order. Problems happen, the nice thing is they fixed it very quickly and I've been very happy with the unit overall and after hundreds if gallons of water I'm still at 0 tds. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

11/13/2006, 04:49 PM	#10
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	There have been a HUGE number of complaints about AWI in the last year. Apparantly, their service department took the year off. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

11/13/2006, 05:25 PM	#11
stereomandan Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,888	To be honest, there isn't a HUGE difference between all of the different vendors, IMO. You just want to make sure that the filters and RO membrane are quality pieces, and that the filter canisters are clear. You want a least a 5 micron pre-filter, a 75 gpd DOW filmtec membrane and a full size DI cartridge. The carbon block depends on if your city water supply uses chlorine or chloramines. You can call The Filter Guys, and they will tell you everything you need to know. Excellent guys to talk to. Dan __________________ 90g Tank, 75 lbs Live Rock, T5, T8 and VHO Lighting, Closed loop on Snapper Pump 1.5" Sand in main tank, DSB in 38g Sump, B-ionic Daily, Temp 79, SG 1.026 LPS, Softies Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef

11/12/2006, 10:00 PM	#2
Paul Burgess Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 69	Don't get one from Air, Water and Ice.

11/12/2006, 10:22 PM	#3
firewill65 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida Posts: 746	what is wrong with Air, Water, and Ice? Thanks

11/12/2006, 10:38 PM	#4
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	Yes Paul tell us why. Thats the first time I have ever seen anyone complain about their units. Filterdirect on ebay makes a pretty decent unit at a low cost. I have had mine for over a year with a 0 TDS reading and no problems whats so ever.

11/12/2006, 10:43 PM	#5
tedu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dunwoody, GA USA Posts: 262	Great service and value from buckeye field supply. www.buckeyefieldsupply.com (also an RC sponsor)

11/12/2006, 11:20 PM	#6
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	I love my Typhoon III and that is the first time I have read a negative response to Air Water Ice.

11/13/2006, 03:57 PM	#7
BC Sparky Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nanaimo- BC Canada Posts: 254	What's wrong with Air, Water, Ice??? I was about to place an order with them but am now concerned...

11/13/2006, 05:30 PM	#12
kslick Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 253	I agree, Filter Guys are great to deal with!!

11/13/2006, 05:43 PM	#13
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	www.buckeyefieldsupply.com www.spectrapure.com www.thefilterguys.biz and www.purelyh2o.com all build nice units, and all are Reef Central sponsors and hobbyists themselves. AWI is also good even though they may be having problems with customer service. Unlike what some say there is a difference in the quality of RO/DI units and their components. The suggestions to get a Dow Filmtec 75GPD RO membrane and a standard size vertical refillable DI are good ones. Clear housings really serve no purpose than to look cool. They can actually be a problem if your unit is exposed to warmth and sunlight as they could possibly allow bacterial and viral growth inside the housings if you do not do the regular suggested maintenance. Most e-bay units are of less quality not only in the membrane and shoddy DI but in the quality of the housings, fittings and pre and carbon filters. Some even use cheap granular carbon and prefilters that are about as efficient as a screen door. Don't be fooled by their false advertising and too good to be true pricing. Expect to pay between $139 and $269 for a good unit that will not only last you forever but will give you the quality of water they advertise.

11/13/2006, 05:59 PM	#14
nano_angel Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Indy Posts: 258	walter the 0wner 0f air water & ice has had s0me pr0blems with his help (brian and the girl there) they have since been let g0 and the service is great n0w that walter is taking care 0f it himself again. i have a typh00n III and it is great. i have a 120 a 75 and a 55 and d0 weekly wc and it keeps tds at 0 f0r the past 8 m0nths. w0uldnt use anything else. be sure t0 get the 75 gpd instead 0f the 100 gpd it has a better membrane. __________________ Irresponsible Teenager cleverly disguised as a responsible Adult Current Tank Info: 265 rr aga mixed,120g rr aga sps, 75g aga softy, 55g aga fowlr, 55g aga softy/lps, 46g aga bow mixed, 30g aga mixed

11/13/2006, 06:48 PM	#16
archer8681 Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New York Posts: 236	I just ordered the AWI 75gph, and should have it tomorrow. This was based on the advise of a friend who had one and swears by it. I'll post again if I notice any problems with it. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: AGA 90gal RR, 30 Gal sump/fuge, ASM G3 Skimmer, Eheim 1262, 2x Tunze 6060, Typhoon III RO/DI, Current Outer Orbit HQI/T5HO fixture - 2x 150x HQI, 2x 54w Actinic 460nm, 2x Actinic 420nm, 9/9 Blue/White Lunar LED Lights

11/13/2006, 07:30 PM	#17
Absolut352 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 41	Dont forget http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html got mine today. Thanks Marc.

11/13/2006, 07:31 PM	#18
Jasontkd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 545	tagging along