RO/DI, I am about to purchase one. Do I need a pressure gauge?

jwavec · 02/24/2007, 01:00 PM

If so, why?

drock59 · 02/24/2007, 03:39 PM

RO membranes need a certain level of pressure to work properly. Therefore, it would be a good idea to get a pressure gauge. Having said that, I have never needed or wanted one.

If you get your RO unit and it doesnt work so well, then you might consider a pressure gauge. My two cents.

AZDesertRat · 02/24/2007, 03:41 PM

Yes. It will tell you two things, one is if you have sufficient pressure to run the unit. Secondly if you write down your initial pressure and watch the gauge over time it will tell you of any pressure drop and when prefilters need to be changed due to the drop in pressure. I actually use two gauges, one on the tap water or incoming side and one after the prefilter and carbon to tell what the drop is.

drock59 · 02/24/2007, 03:48 PM

I would listen to AZDesertRat....notice occupation.

mg426 · 02/24/2007, 04:40 PM

He is the Man !!!

cashman95 · 02/24/2007, 05:58 PM

Dont do it!!!! You can acheive very good water quality without the expensive water bill do to a RO unit. Just get single stages and ditch the RO unit. I would do a cold sterile unit and a DI. This will be very good water quality!!!! I promise!!!! The DI is the most important anyway, the cold sterile will also help the DI from exhausting so soon!! Just my 2 cents!

AZDesertRat · 02/24/2007, 07:16 PM

The Kold Ster Il will never give you the same water quality as an RO will. It is very poor at some constituents and has never proven to live up to all its claims. I suppose if your water were near pristine to begin with it might be a viable option but for most of us thats not the case so RO/DI is the best available technology. There are units on the market with reduced waste capabilities and others soon to hit the market that will revolutionize RO systems and change the way we use them today.

Larry Waughon · 02/24/2007, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
There are units on the market with reduced waste capabilities and others soon to hit the market that will revolutionize RO systems and change the way we use them today.

Care to tell us whats coming and when?

AZDesertRat · 02/25/2007, 10:44 AM

I can't, but keep an eye on Spectrapures website and sponsors/vendors forum here on RC. I recently visited their facility and saw working units on the test bench that I was told should be available soon. I had hoped they would be out already because they really piqued my interest! They don't release anything until they have perfected it though.

Larry Waughon · 02/25/2007, 10:46 AM

Thanks

02/24/2007, 01:00 PM	#1
jwavec Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Trussville, AL Posts: 105	RO/DI, I am about to purchase one. Do I need a pressure gauge? If so, why?

02/24/2007, 03:39 PM	#2
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	RO membranes need a certain level of pressure to work properly. Therefore, it would be a good idea to get a pressure gauge. Having said that, I have never needed or wanted one. If you get your RO unit and it doesnt work so well, then you might consider a pressure gauge. My two cents. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

02/24/2007, 03:48 PM	#4
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	I would listen to AZDesertRat....notice occupation. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

02/24/2007, 04:40 PM	#5
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	He is the Man !!! __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

02/24/2007, 05:58 PM	#6
cashman95 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greenville, S.C. Posts: 810	Dont do it!!!! You can acheive very good water quality without the expensive water bill do to a RO unit. Just get single stages and ditch the RO unit. I would do a cold sterile unit and a DI. This will be very good water quality!!!! I promise!!!! The DI is the most important anyway, the cold sterile will also help the DI from exhausting so soon!! Just my 2 cents! __________________ SPS Tank with sump in the garage, 400watt Radium/Lumatek ballast,ReefKeeper2 controlling it all!! VHO actinics in the works! Current Tank Info: 24x24x20 Rimless Cube

02/24/2007, 03:41 PM	#3
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Yes. It will tell you two things, one is if you have sufficient pressure to run the unit. Secondly if you write down your initial pressure and watch the gauge over time it will tell you of any pressure drop and when prefilters need to be changed due to the drop in pressure. I actually use two gauges, one on the tap water or incoming side and one after the prefilter and carbon to tell what the drop is.

02/24/2007, 07:16 PM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The Kold Ster Il will never give you the same water quality as an RO will. It is very poor at some constituents and has never proven to live up to all its claims. I suppose if your water were near pristine to begin with it might be a viable option but for most of us thats not the case so RO/DI is the best available technology. There are units on the market with reduced waste capabilities and others soon to hit the market that will revolutionize RO systems and change the way we use them today.

02/25/2007, 10:44 AM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	I can't, but keep an eye on Spectrapures website and sponsors/vendors forum here on RC. I recently visited their facility and saw working units on the test bench that I was told should be available soon. I had hoped they would be out already because they really piqued my interest! They don't release anything until they have perfected it though.

02/25/2007, 10:46 AM	#10
Larry Waughon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pingree Grove, IL Posts: 1,872	Thanks