ro/di unit setup

Bandapin · 04/05/2006, 11:06 PM

Hi, I have a question about RO/DI units. Are they always hooked up to a tank like a skimmer is, or just used to replace water that has left the tank, like by evaporation or during water changes? Are they connected to a building's plumbing, or just connect to a faucet somehow, or otherwise? I have not seen one in person, and would like to learn these things before I go out and buy one. Thanks for your time!

bertoni · 04/05/2006, 11:13 PM

There are lots of ways to set up an RO-DI filter. Mine is tapped into the water line for a sink faucet, and lives under that sink. There's a needle valve to control water flow. Other design include an under-sink water tank, and so on.

I run the clean water output line into a 5g container that sits in the sink, and then transfer that to containers that feed an autotopoff pump. Works well for me. Some people plumb them to the tank via a switch that drips water into the tank on an as-needed basis, but I've always been afraid of the failure modes.

Bandapin · 04/06/2006, 07:49 AM

thanks!

hopper · 04/06/2006, 09:31 AM

Mine is hooked up in the laundry room with a y-adapter from the washing machine water line. Drop a five gallon container under it and a few hours later swap it out with another one. I do about 20 gallons a week like this. They are not as compliated as they look. All the lines are simply water lines that are feeding one canister after another in a series and most RO/DI units already have these installed in the proper order. All you have to do is hook it up to the water supply. Initally you would need to run about 5 gallons of water through it and after that you are good to go.

smleee · 04/06/2006, 09:37 AM

I currently have mine sitting in a shower (paranoid of flooding) of a spare bathroom while waiting for the fish room to be finished. I hook it up to the sink faucet when making water and put the waste line down the shower drain. Good water fills a 5g HD bucket or a 20g Brute. There are countless ways of hooking one up!

Since you mentioned buying one, here are some key things to remember when choosing an RO/DI unit for aquarium use:

1. Make sure and get a genuine DOW FilmTec membrane. These are the best performing membranes available. Some sellers make other claims, but are flat out lying. Some even sell cheap knock-offs.

2. Full size vertical DI canisters. Hollow horizontal DI tubes are not as affective even when mounted vertically and/or packed tightly with resin.

3. Customer service.

eee

Bandapin · 04/06/2006, 03:19 PM

Thanks, you've all been a big help!

04/05/2006, 11:06 PM	#1
Bandapin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 15	ro/di unit setup Hi, I have a question about RO/DI units. Are they always hooked up to a tank like a skimmer is, or just used to replace water that has left the tank, like by evaporation or during water changes? Are they connected to a building's plumbing, or just connect to a faucet somehow, or otherwise? I have not seen one in person, and would like to learn these things before I go out and buy one. Thanks for your time!

04/05/2006, 11:13 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	There are lots of ways to set up an RO-DI filter. Mine is tapped into the water line for a sink faucet, and lives under that sink. There's a needle valve to control water flow. Other design include an under-sink water tank, and so on. I run the clean water output line into a 5g container that sits in the sink, and then transfer that to containers that feed an autotopoff pump. Works well for me. Some people plumb them to the tank via a switch that drips water into the tank on an as-needed basis, but I've always been afraid of the failure modes. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/06/2006, 07:49 AM	#3
Bandapin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 15	thanks!

04/06/2006, 09:31 AM	#4
hopper Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bossier City, La. Posts: 623	Mine is hooked up in the laundry room with a y-adapter from the washing machine water line. Drop a five gallon container under it and a few hours later swap it out with another one. I do about 20 gallons a week like this. They are not as compliated as they look. All the lines are simply water lines that are feeding one canister after another in a series and most RO/DI units already have these installed in the proper order. All you have to do is hook it up to the water supply. Initally you would need to run about 5 gallons of water through it and after that you are good to go.

04/06/2006, 09:37 AM	#5
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	I currently have mine sitting in a shower (paranoid of flooding) of a spare bathroom while waiting for the fish room to be finished. I hook it up to the sink faucet when making water and put the waste line down the shower drain. Good water fills a 5g HD bucket or a 20g Brute. There are countless ways of hooking one up! Since you mentioned buying one, here are some key things to remember when choosing an RO/DI unit for aquarium use: 1. Make sure and get a genuine DOW FilmTec membrane. These are the best performing membranes available. Some sellers make other claims, but are flat out lying. Some even sell cheap knock-offs. 2. Full size vertical DI canisters. Hollow horizontal DI tubes are not as affective even when mounted vertically and/or packed tightly with resin. 3. Customer service. eee

04/06/2006, 03:19 PM	#6
Bandapin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 15	Thanks, you've all been a big help!