Reverse Osmosis Filters & Deionizers, does everyone use them?

Loon · 02/21/2008, 04:10 PM

Is there a alturnitive to using the Reverse Osmosis Filter & Deionizer for water? Does anyone do it differently?

SaltyDr · 02/21/2008, 04:13 PM

You can get your water from the LFS or from Walmart. But for most folks it is a lot easier and ultimately cheaper to get a RO/DI filter. Look at the Filter Guys - great product, great price and superb service.

suzimcmullen · 02/21/2008, 04:27 PM

I wanted something that wouldn't cost a fortune to have put on. So I called the Culligan people. They are coming out on Tuesday and putting a unit in my kitchen. It will make up to 30 gallons per day so I'll have no problem making my changes and storing enough for an emergancy. It's going to cost me 75 dollars to install, 20 dollars per month to maintain. It may seem expensive because I know there are less expensive options. But this way they are responsible to come out and replace filters or work on the unit if it breaks down. I'll not pay anything else for maintenance, repairs or filter replacements. I'll have it in my kitchen handy for cooking and drinking as well.

Suzi

James77 · 02/21/2008, 04:30 PM

Some LFS's sell it by the gallon if you don't need alot. But with water changes ans top off, a RO/DI unit will pay for itself quickly.

reeferhabit · 02/21/2008, 08:04 PM

How easy are RO units to install? how much plumbing experience is needed?

brians4671 · 02/21/2008, 08:08 PM

e z just get a good one ezer

ccso139 · 02/21/2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by reeferhabit
How easy are RO units to install? how much plumbing experience is needed?

If you go the route that I did and use the washing machine faucet for your input: NONE!! All you have to do is buy a two way adapter.

reefergeorge · 02/21/2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ccso139
If you go the route that I did and use the washing machine faucet for your input: NONE!! All you have to do is buy a two way adapter.

Same here. I used a splitter off my wash machine, and drain it down the standpipe. It is as easy as hooking up a garden hose.

reeferhabit · 02/21/2008, 08:41 PM

how about if I wanted to hook it up below my kitchen sink. I am considering The Filter Guys unit

Shooter7 · 02/21/2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by suzimcmullen
I wanted something that wouldn't cost a fortune to have put on. So I called the Culligan people. They are coming out on Tuesday and putting a unit in my kitchen. It will make up to 30 gallons per day so I'll have no problem making my changes and storing enough for an emergancy. It's going to cost me 75 dollars to install, 20 dollars per month to maintain. It may seem expensive because I know there are less expensive options. But this way they are responsible to come out and replace filters or work on the unit if it breaks down. I'll not pay anything else for maintenance, repairs or filter replacements. I'll have it in my kitchen handy for cooking and drinking as well.

Suzi

Is this an RO/DI, or just a "water treatment" setup? Something that makes drinking water is not the same as an RO/DI.

And I also did the same as the last couple posters with my RO/DI. A "Y" splitter off the cold water feed to the washing machine, run the RO/DI waste water line down the same drain the washing machine uses. Easy, easy, easy...

truckdoctor · 02/21/2008, 08:59 PM

i have a culligan under my kitchen sink was here when i moved in it is ro/di unit.i dont pay by the month suzi.

reeferhabit · 02/21/2008, 09:05 PM

Truck- do you change the filters regularly?

suzimcmullen · 02/21/2008, 09:39 PM

They say just call anytime they need changed. I'll test the water to make sure it's ok. But they say if we say it doesn't taste the same they will come right away to change it.

Suzi

Reef of Eden · 02/21/2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by suzimcmullen
They say just call anytime they need changed. I'll test the water to make sure it's ok. But they say if we say it doesn't taste the same they will come right away to change it.

Suzi

make them go off the TDS, who cares what it tastes like

Duff Man · 02/21/2008, 09:47 PM

Be careful using a drinking system for the tank. Most systems that are designed for drinking use a filter at the end of the process that add stuff back into the water because the water made by a RO or RO/DI tastes bad. Drinking systems shouldn't be used for the tank.

suzimcmullen · 02/21/2008, 09:52 PM

They claim it's just pure h20. Can't get any more pure than that.

Suzi

old salty · 02/21/2008, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by suzimcmullen
They claim it's just pure h20. Can't get any more pure than that.

Suzi

Trust me when I say, yes you can.

Shooter7 · 02/22/2008, 05:26 AM

Get a TDS meter and measure it. If it's pure, it will read zero. I suspect, though, that if you mentioned this to the culligan guy, he'll probably say, "A TD-what meter now? You don't need one of those...just taste the water...mmmmmmm" I mean seriously, how are you going to test that the water is "pure"?

dante7921 · 02/22/2008, 06:54 AM

There is not substitute for having your own RO/DI. Suzi, I wouldn't do the culligan thing. Just buy your own and hook it up. You'll end up spending more with culligan and their program. They are very very easy to install and it will pay for itself in no time. And just so you know, filter replacements for my unit only cost about 40 bucks a year! That's nothing in the grand scheme of things.

AZDesertRat · 02/22/2008, 09:10 AM

By the time you pay $75 installation and pay abot 4 or 5 months at $20 a month you just bought your own RO/DI unit. The Culligan is going to be an RO only, low production rate, drinking water system. For about $160 you can get a 75 GPD true reef quality RO/DI system and for maybe another $70 or $80 you can get a drinking water kit for it too and stil have a 75 GPD reef quality system

If you can screw a garden hose on a hose/bib or faucet, you can install a RO/DI unit, it can be that simple.

suzimcmullen · 02/22/2008, 09:21 AM

Maybe true, but my washer and dryer is in the basement and when it stops working I'd have to buy another. I don't have a lot of luck with gadgets lasting very long. I don't want the water downstairs and I'd never lug it up and down the stairs or run tubing all over the house. I'll do whatever water tests necessary on the unit and if I don't like the readings I'll demand new filters. I have tested the RO water coming from 3 different LFS and their water hasn't been perfect either.

People have been using tapwater in saltwater tanks for eons. A drinking quality RO unit will be good enough.

Suzi

Shooter7 · 02/22/2008, 09:30 AM

If RO were "good enough", you wouldn't have all these experienced people saying to use RO/DI.

Your tank, though.....good luck.

02/21/2008, 04:10 PM	#1
Loon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Milwaukee,WI Posts: 112	Reverse Osmosis Filters & Deionizers, does everyone use them? Is there a alturnitive to using the Reverse Osmosis Filter & Deionizer for water? Does anyone do it differently?

02/21/2008, 04:30 PM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Some LFS's sell it by the gallon if you don't need alot. But with water changes ans top off, a RO/DI unit will pay for itself quickly. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

02/21/2008, 08:59 PM	#11
truckdoctor Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: indiana Posts: 36	i have a culligan under my kitchen sink was here when i moved in it is ro/di unit.i dont pay by the month suzi. __________________ you will have time to sleep when your dead Current Tank Info: 75inthewall150inprogress

02/22/2008, 05:26 AM	#18
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	Get a TDS meter and measure it. If it's pure, it will read zero. I suspect, though, that if you mentioned this to the culligan guy, he'll probably say, "A TD-what meter now? You don't need one of those...just taste the water...mmmmmmm" I mean seriously, how are you going to test that the water is "pure"? __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

02/22/2008, 09:30 AM	#22
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	If RO were "good enough", you wouldn't have all these experienced people saying to use RO/DI. Your tank, though.....good luck. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

02/21/2008, 04:13 PM	#2
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	You can get your water from the LFS or from Walmart. But for most folks it is a lot easier and ultimately cheaper to get a RO/DI filter. Look at the Filter Guys - great product, great price and superb service.

02/21/2008, 04:27 PM	#3
suzimcmullen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 890	I wanted something that wouldn't cost a fortune to have put on. So I called the Culligan people. They are coming out on Tuesday and putting a unit in my kitchen. It will make up to 30 gallons per day so I'll have no problem making my changes and storing enough for an emergancy. It's going to cost me 75 dollars to install, 20 dollars per month to maintain. It may seem expensive because I know there are less expensive options. But this way they are responsible to come out and replace filters or work on the unit if it breaks down. I'll not pay anything else for maintenance, repairs or filter replacements. I'll have it in my kitchen handy for cooking and drinking as well. Suzi

02/21/2008, 08:04 PM	#5
reeferhabit Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boynton beach, FL Posts: 340	How easy are RO units to install? how much plumbing experience is needed?

02/21/2008, 08:08 PM	#6
brians4671 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: miami fl Posts: 2,088	e z just get a good one ezer

02/21/2008, 08:41 PM	#9
reeferhabit Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boynton beach, FL Posts: 340	how about if I wanted to hook it up below my kitchen sink. I am considering The Filter Guys unit

02/21/2008, 09:05 PM	#12
reeferhabit Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boynton beach, FL Posts: 340	Truck- do you change the filters regularly?

02/21/2008, 09:39 PM	#13
suzimcmullen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 890	They say just call anytime they need changed. I'll test the water to make sure it's ok. But they say if we say it doesn't taste the same they will come right away to change it. Suzi

02/21/2008, 09:47 PM	#15
Duff Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago's far NW burbs Posts: 629	Be careful using a drinking system for the tank. Most systems that are designed for drinking use a filter at the end of the process that add stuff back into the water because the water made by a RO or RO/DI tastes bad. Drinking systems shouldn't be used for the tank.

02/21/2008, 09:52 PM	#16
suzimcmullen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 890	They claim it's just pure h20. Can't get any more pure than that. Suzi

02/22/2008, 06:54 AM	#19
dante7921 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Harrisburg, Pa. Posts: 97	There is not substitute for having your own RO/DI. Suzi, I wouldn't do the culligan thing. Just buy your own and hook it up. You'll end up spending more with culligan and their program. They are very very easy to install and it will pay for itself in no time. And just so you know, filter replacements for my unit only cost about 40 bucks a year! That's nothing in the grand scheme of things.

02/22/2008, 09:10 AM	#20
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	By the time you pay $75 installation and pay abot 4 or 5 months at $20 a month you just bought your own RO/DI unit. The Culligan is going to be an RO only, low production rate, drinking water system. For about $160 you can get a 75 GPD true reef quality RO/DI system and for maybe another $70 or $80 you can get a drinking water kit for it too and stil have a 75 GPD reef quality system If you can screw a garden hose on a hose/bib or faucet, you can install a RO/DI unit, it can be that simple.

02/22/2008, 09:21 AM	#21
suzimcmullen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 890	Maybe true, but my washer and dryer is in the basement and when it stops working I'd have to buy another. I don't have a lot of luck with gadgets lasting very long. I don't want the water downstairs and I'd never lug it up and down the stairs or run tubing all over the house. I'll do whatever water tests necessary on the unit and if I don't like the readings I'll demand new filters. I have tested the RO water coming from 3 different LFS and their water hasn't been perfect either. People have been using tapwater in saltwater tanks for eons. A drinking quality RO unit will be good enough. Suzi