Help picking out RO or RO/DI Unit

hardimanm · 02/12/2010, 09:36 AM

I have decided to finally go ahead and get a RO or RO/DI unit. Tired of trekking to the grocery store to buy it by the gallon when i need water.

So i have two questions for the people of this board....

1. What would be a good unit that is not over kill. I only have a 42 gallon tank so gph is not really a factor at all. I have seen some for $100 all the way up to $500. Our water here is pretty good...looking over the info from the water company does show a small amount of phosphates and other trace mins. So Im basically looking for the best bang for the buck that will suit my needs...

2. I dont have a good local store to buy this equipment from. So where is the best place to order from. Dr Fosters, That Fish Store, anywhere else?

Thanks so much for the help
Michael

strangenames13 · 02/12/2010, 09:51 AM

Go to the sponser section and check out some of the companies there. "The Filter Guys" and "Buckeye Field Supply" are a couple of companies that people refer to frequently.

astiesi · 02/12/2010, 09:53 AM

Bulk Reef Supply also has great units at good prices. I just purchased one from BRS and I'm extremely happy with it.

evergreenreeftank · 02/12/2010, 10:21 AM

Spectrapure has a great unit for $250. MaxCap 90. Check out their sponsor forum and look for the Customer Appreciation sale.

acidblondie · 02/12/2010, 10:25 AM

++ on Bulk Reef Supply

Slayer311 · 02/12/2010, 10:30 AM

$250 unit is prolly overkill for what you are wanting, you can pickup a good unit ro/di for under $200 easily, prolly under $150. Just as long as it has sediment/carbon/ro membrane/di filter sections = 4 filters, and if I were you, I would focus on getting clear housings with a refillable DI cartridge that is standard 10" size. Here is a great example on ebay, has all clear housings, DI cartridge is standard size, not mini, comes with preasure gauge, and inline TDS installed. All the same stuff you would find in similar $300-500 units for 189.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-RO-DI-W...item439d01f23d

Slayer311 · 02/12/2010, 10:35 AM

And here is the same unit minus the dual inlinie TDS for $139 and you can buy the same dual inline tds for about $28, so $170 total if you install it yourself which is super easy to do.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RO-DI-REEF-AQUAR...item439d11639f

Slayer311 · 02/12/2010, 10:40 AM

and if you are feeling lucky here is the exact unit I am running at a very low bid price, retails for $400, amazing unit, I recently upgraded it with a dual inline TDS for $28 and love it. Has always made great 0tds water.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Seachem-Pinnacle...item4a9e6e9086

swivel · 02/12/2010, 11:12 AM

+++ on BRS. I will be ordering mines today. However i am wondering if i need a FM2 Filter Monitor and Float Valve?

Slayer311 · 02/12/2010, 12:57 PM

the most important thing you need to help gauge if your unit is running correctly is the preasure gauge, if you have low preasure coming in, it can jack with your units output capabilities. The 2nd best thing I bought was the dual inline tds, as soon as my numbers start to creep up I know a filter change is coming due, helps prolong the life of my membrane / di resin.

detroit_fan · 02/12/2010, 01:42 PM

Buckeye Field Supply is a great company and help answer lots of questions on the forum. Good company to support and great products

Crypsis · 02/12/2010, 01:50 PM

The only place for ro filters imo. Top notch great customer service will build to suit your needs. I have the top of the line reef miser filter which has a 1:1 waste water ratio. This duel stage filter is a bargain at $265. My old ro produced 4g of waste water for every gallon of product.

http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm

Eel-byte · 02/12/2010, 01:51 PM

+1 on the Filter Guys

travis442 · 02/12/2010, 01:55 PM

I just order the 'Plus' system from Bulk Reef Supply installation was a snap and it came with a pressure gauge and a dual inline TDS meter. I would highly recommend them and the price was pretty good as well. If you can get in on a group buy somewhere you can save a few bucks.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...us-system.html

It includes all of the fittings that you need to hook it up to anything a sink faucet, washer connection and I think one to even tap a line. I have heard nothing bad about them and the quality seems to be excellent.

02/12/2010, 09:36 AM	#1
hardimanm Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Madison, Alabama Posts: 207	Help picking out RO or RO/DI Unit I have decided to finally go ahead and get a RO or RO/DI unit. Tired of trekking to the grocery store to buy it by the gallon when i need water. So i have two questions for the people of this board.... 1. What would be a good unit that is not over kill. I only have a 42 gallon tank so gph is not really a factor at all. I have seen some for $100 all the way up to $500. Our water here is pretty good...looking over the info from the water company does show a small amount of phosphates and other trace mins. So Im basically looking for the best bang for the buck that will suit my needs... 2. I dont have a good local store to buy this equipment from. So where is the best place to order from. Dr Fosters, That Fish Store, anywhere else? Thanks so much for the help Michael

02/12/2010, 09:53 AM	#3
astiesi Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 142	Bulk Reef Supply also has great units at good prices. I just purchased one from BRS and I'm extremely happy with it. __________________ Anthony

02/12/2010, 10:25 AM	#5
acidblondie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lino Lakes Posts: 132	++ on Bulk Reef Supply __________________ I'm not at home so I can try this Current Tank Info: A big glass box with a bunch of gizmos and wires

02/12/2010, 01:42 PM	#11
detroit_fan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 843	Buckeye Field Supply is a great company and help answer lots of questions on the forum. Good company to support and great products __________________ Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. B.Franklin We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home-T.Jefferson Current Tank Info: 125g & 29g

02/12/2010, 01:50 PM	#12
Crypsis yes Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Co Posts: 364	The only place for ro filters imo. Top notch great customer service will build to suit your needs. I have the top of the line reef miser filter which has a 1:1 waste water ratio. This duel stage filter is a bargain at $265. My old ro produced 4g of waste water for every gallon of product. http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_systems.htm __________________ Merlin Current Tank Info: 180gal rimless peninsula build in progress.

02/12/2010, 09:51 AM	#2
strangenames13 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: south florida Posts: 48	Go to the sponser section and check out some of the companies there. "The Filter Guys" and "Buckeye Field Supply" are a couple of companies that people refer to frequently.

02/12/2010, 10:21 AM	#4
evergreenreeftank Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Broomfield, CO Posts: 215	Spectrapure has a great unit for $250. MaxCap 90. Check out their sponsor forum and look for the Customer Appreciation sale.

02/12/2010, 10:30 AM	#6
Slayer311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 201	$250 unit is prolly overkill for what you are wanting, you can pickup a good unit ro/di for under $200 easily, prolly under $150. Just as long as it has sediment/carbon/ro membrane/di filter sections = 4 filters, and if I were you, I would focus on getting clear housings with a refillable DI cartridge that is standard 10" size. Here is a great example on ebay, has all clear housings, DI cartridge is standard size, not mini, comes with preasure gauge, and inline TDS installed. All the same stuff you would find in similar $300-500 units for 189. http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-RO-DI-W...item439d01f23d

02/12/2010, 10:35 AM	#7
Slayer311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 201	And here is the same unit minus the dual inlinie TDS for $139 and you can buy the same dual inline tds for about $28, so $170 total if you install it yourself which is super easy to do. http://cgi.ebay.com/RO-DI-REEF-AQUAR...item439d11639f

02/12/2010, 10:40 AM	#8
Slayer311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 201	and if you are feeling lucky here is the exact unit I am running at a very low bid price, retails for $400, amazing unit, I recently upgraded it with a dual inline TDS for $28 and love it. Has always made great 0tds water. http://cgi.ebay.com/Seachem-Pinnacle...item4a9e6e9086

02/12/2010, 11:12 AM	#9
swivel Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: san francisco Posts: 268	+++ on BRS. I will be ordering mines today. However i am wondering if i need a FM2 Filter Monitor and Float Valve?

02/12/2010, 12:57 PM	#10
Slayer311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 201	the most important thing you need to help gauge if your unit is running correctly is the preasure gauge, if you have low preasure coming in, it can jack with your units output capabilities. The 2nd best thing I bought was the dual inline tds, as soon as my numbers start to creep up I know a filter change is coming due, helps prolong the life of my membrane / di resin.

02/12/2010, 01:51 PM	#13
Eel-byte Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duluth, Mn Posts: 1,508	+1 on the Filter Guys

02/12/2010, 01:55 PM	#14
travis442 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Irving, Tx Posts: 106	I just order the 'Plus' system from Bulk Reef Supply installation was a snap and it came with a pressure gauge and a dual inline TDS meter. I would highly recommend them and the price was pretty good as well. If you can get in on a group buy somewhere you can save a few bucks. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...us-system.html It includes all of the fittings that you need to hook it up to anything a sink faucet, washer connection and I think one to even tap a line. I have heard nothing bad about them and the quality seems to be excellent.