RODI units? need advice

Tava176 · 09/06/2008, 02:53 PM

Hello all. I am in the market to purchase an RODI....or maybe just RO...not sure.

Here are my questions:

1. RO VS RODI
2. If going RO do I need to add chemicals to replace anything removed by RO system?
3. See question #2, but what it I go RODI?

Here are my tank specs:
100 gallon
fish and coral (no hard corals though)
VHO lighting.
recently stopped using FosBan.
Having a lot of green algae
Been using tap water for the last 5 years.

Thank you in advance for the advice. I appreciate it!

Conesus_Kid · 09/06/2008, 03:10 PM

Definitely go with the RO/DI. You won't regret it.

A good reverse osmosis membrane will get you down to about 3-5 ppm TDS, and DI will bring it down to zero.

You will only need to add your salt mix to the RO/DI water, and then adjust Ca and Alk to your desired levels.

block head · 09/06/2008, 05:45 PM

the filter guys have great customer service, really helpful answering basic or detailed questions.

cardiffgiant · 09/06/2008, 08:44 PM

I've got a spectrapure, and have been happy with that. I've heard good things about the filterguys and about the ones on melevs site.

My advice/experience:
-Get the highest GPD model that you can afford. The production in our climate really drops in the winter months (performance is hampered at low water temps). My 75GDP produces a 5 gal bucket in an hour and 10 minutes in hte summer and an hour and 45 minutes in the winter.
-Buy or build a bypass to flush the membrane (this is the most expensive piece of the unit to replace)
-Get a TDS meter
-Test your product/waste ratio before routing the waste line into your drain

Tava176 · 09/06/2008, 09:29 PM

Thanks to those who have given advice so far. Keep it coming.

2 stage?? 4 stage?? 7 stage??

Something to add though... what do I do with waste water? Is it good for vegi gardens? What can I do with it in the winter?

If I am not mistaken, I will get 5 gallons waste to every gallon of usable water, right??

block head · 09/07/2008, 07:25 AM

depends on the unit as far as waste goes. waste water is lightly filtered tap water. u can use it anywhere u would use tap water.membrane has the biggest effect on performance. wouldn't worry to much about stages.

elvn · 09/07/2008, 11:22 AM

This recent short TDS thread might give a little insight..

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1464468

I just upgraded and stocked up on media for my setup.

http://3dalchemist.com/reef/rodi-supplies-upgrade.htm

I recommend getting a dual in-line tds meter. It goes before and after the DI and gives you a heads up of when your filters need to be replaced. It also helps because you won't be as lazy to check it being in-line with an auto timeout shutoff on the meter. I was lazy about checking with my handheld....

If you read my supplies/upgrade you'd see I added a dual stage DI unit. The idea is to rotate one out and put the partly used one up front with a new one backing it up. You are supposed to get more out of the media that way, as well as avoiding bad tds out of not changing the cartridges immediately since theres a "backup" stage. It also frees a chamber in my original 5 stage Typhoon III for an extra sediment filter before or after the carbon stages. I'm also using refillable DI and carbon cartridges so I stocked up on bagged media.

The upgrade and stocking up on media was an investment but RODI system maintenance was a facet of reefkeeping I was slacking on and feel my sps additions were "hit or miss" due to my resulting water quality. Like most things in the hobby it required time and $ to get it right. I'm still in the process of the getting it right part

Tava176 · 09/07/2008, 01:37 PM

THanks for the info so far all.

Just got off the phone with my Father. He has a RO unit he no longer uses and is going to send it to me for free along with a TDS meter.

The unit has a 5 micron sediment filter, a 5 micron carbon filter and two RO membranes.

I am then going to purchase the below listed DI canister to attach to it.
Should be good enough for free He says he gets down to a reading of 2 with the RO unit and then with the added DI, I should hit 0. He lives in Montana and uses well water that reads around 78 before filtering.

Here is the DI I plan to get...

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/RO/DI...oduct_info.html

09/06/2008, 02:53 PM	#1
Tava176 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sloan, NY Posts: 578	RODI units? need advice Hello all. I am in the market to purchase an RODI....or maybe just RO...not sure. Here are my questions: 1. RO VS RODI 2. If going RO do I need to add chemicals to replace anything removed by RO system? 3. See question #2, but what it I go RODI? Here are my tank specs: 100 gallon fish and coral (no hard corals though) VHO lighting. recently stopped using FosBan. Having a lot of green algae Been using tap water for the last 5 years. Thank you in advance for the advice. I appreciate it! Last edited by Tava176; 09/06/2008 at 03:00 PM.

09/06/2008, 09:29 PM	#5
Tava176 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sloan, NY Posts: 578	Thanks to those who have given advice so far. Keep it coming. 2 stage?? 4 stage?? 7 stage?? Something to add though... what do I do with waste water? Is it good for vegi gardens? What can I do with it in the winter? If I am not mistaken, I will get 5 gallons waste to every gallon of usable water, right?? Last edited by Tava176; 09/06/2008 at 09:41 PM.

09/06/2008, 03:10 PM	#2
Conesus_Kid Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Conesus, NY Posts: 3,897	Definitely go with the RO/DI. You won't regret it. A good reverse osmosis membrane will get you down to about 3-5 ppm TDS, and DI will bring it down to zero. You will only need to add your salt mix to the RO/DI water, and then adjust Ca and Alk to your desired levels. __________________ Scott Friends don't give friends Kenya tree...

09/06/2008, 05:45 PM	#3
block head Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: spencerport ny Posts: 2,619	the filter guys have great customer service, really helpful answering basic or detailed questions.

09/06/2008, 08:44 PM	#4
cardiffgiant Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 3,455	I've got a spectrapure, and have been happy with that. I've heard good things about the filterguys and about the ones on melevs site. My advice/experience: -Get the highest GPD model that you can afford. The production in our climate really drops in the winter months (performance is hampered at low water temps). My 75GDP produces a 5 gal bucket in an hour and 10 minutes in hte summer and an hour and 45 minutes in the winter. -Buy or build a bypass to flush the membrane (this is the most expensive piece of the unit to replace) -Get a TDS meter -Test your product/waste ratio before routing the waste line into your drain

09/07/2008, 07:25 AM	#6
block head Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: spencerport ny Posts: 2,619	depends on the unit as far as waste goes. waste water is lightly filtered tap water. u can use it anywhere u would use tap water.membrane has the biggest effect on performance. wouldn't worry to much about stages.

09/07/2008, 11:22 AM	#7
elvn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: West Seneca, NY (WNY) Posts: 431	This recent short TDS thread might give a little insight.. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1464468 I just upgraded and stocked up on media for my setup. http://3dalchemist.com/reef/rodi-supplies-upgrade.htm I recommend getting a dual in-line tds meter. It goes before and after the DI and gives you a heads up of when your filters need to be replaced. It also helps because you won't be as lazy to check it being in-line with an auto timeout shutoff on the meter. I was lazy about checking with my handheld.... If you read my supplies/upgrade you'd see I added a dual stage DI unit. The idea is to rotate one out and put the partly used one up front with a new one backing it up. You are supposed to get more out of the media that way, as well as avoiding bad tds out of not changing the cartridges immediately since theres a "backup" stage. It also frees a chamber in my original 5 stage Typhoon III for an extra sediment filter before or after the carbon stages. I'm also using refillable DI and carbon cartridges so I stocked up on bagged media. The upgrade and stocking up on media was an investment but RODI system maintenance was a facet of reefkeeping I was slacking on and feel my sps additions were "hit or miss" due to my resulting water quality. Like most things in the hobby it required time and $ to get it right. I'm still in the process of the getting it right part

09/07/2008, 01:37 PM	#8
Tava176 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sloan, NY Posts: 578	THanks for the info so far all. Just got off the phone with my Father. He has a RO unit he no longer uses and is going to send it to me for free along with a TDS meter. The unit has a 5 micron sediment filter, a 5 micron carbon filter and two RO membranes. I am then going to purchase the below listed DI canister to attach to it. Should be good enough for free He says he gets down to a reading of 2 with the RO unit and then with the added DI, I should hit 0. He lives in Montana and uses well water that reads around 78 before filtering. Here is the DI I plan to get... http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/RO/DI...oduct_info.html