Best RO/DI system?

[Currdawg12]

I bought a cheap one off amazon and it doesn’t work like I would want so needing a good and reliable and made with good quality parts

 

[solitude127]

What's the budget? If I had an extra 1k , I'd go with the Spectarpure UHE unit

 

[Currdawg12]

What's the budget? If I had an extra 1k , I'd go with the Spectarpure UHE unit

500 or so

 

[solitude127]

Do you know what the TDS out of the tap is? If it's really high, Above 500, I'd go with one of the onces listed below because the membranes have a 99% rejection rating saving you money on DI in the long run.
Here are the 2 I'd go with within that range
https://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/ROD...PD-RO-DI-System-Manual-Flush-w-Mega-MaxCap-DI

Or even better
https://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/ROD...-1-1-Ultra-Low-Waste-Water-Ratio-RO-DI-System

 

[Geebs19]

I personally really like my BRS 6 stage 150g/day water saver.

 

[oldpaddy]

I've had my brs 150g for 5 years and I have no complaints.

 

[Reef-Tank]

I had spectrapure and it worth the money.

 

[Currdawg12]

I have a 45 gallon and my tds is 155

 

[Zohar78]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/6-stage-deluxe-plus-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html

I would go with 100gpd for 10 dollar more. Probably pick up a booster pump too.

 

[galantra]

Brs hands down for me,I have a 5 stage plus model and from searching around checking for the better options but they seem too offer all the perks in one place

 

[CJS80]

I started with the 4 stage BRS and added pieces to the have the 7 stage. Has work great for years for me.

 

[Insane320]

I love the Spectrapure UHE

 

[Currdawg12]

Well another question is what if my tank is already started with untreated water can I start t like that and then just use the rodi water during water changes? It should slowly get better right?

 

[JoshH]

Another happy spectrapure owner here, just saw your TDS and I'll revise my question to what kind of production are you looking for out of your system?

 

[Jurgen Frenz]

I use the Aquatic life RO Buddie 100 gpd combined with a Aquatic life booster pump. I love it

 

[anit77]

Well another question is what if my tank is already started with untreated water can I start t like that and then just use the rodi water during water changes? It should slowly get better right?

The basis of a good RO system is quality components to start with and there are quite a few out there. Just because you pay more doesn't make those components better. The heart and soul of the system is in the filters & membrane you put in it.

So, you've told us what your TDS is but the next question is what is your water pressure at the supply line?
For a single membrane setup to want 80ish psi at the supply which would keep you above 65psi after the prefilters. 65+ psi is where the RO membranes work best and the higher the better. For a dual membrane 90+ psi at the supply. If you don't have that high of pressure then you'll need a booster pump to get there.
Most houses have a pressure regulator that limits the house pressure to 50-60psi. If you can tap in before the regulator you may find higher pressure. If that's not an option then get a booster pump.

For the unit itself. The one you have may not be bad. Could be the filters and most likely low water pressure at the supply. The question of quality comes in if the housings can't handle up to 110psi continuously. If you're going to buy a new one anyway you can't beat the pricing from BRS. With TDS over 100 coming in the house I'd use a 5 stage minimum. That last question is if your water company uses chloramines. If so, that would be addressed with the carbon prefilters you'd need to use. At the 155 tds you're right at the point where I'd waffle against recommending running dual membranes "Water Saver" because the brine coming out of the 1st membrane is going to be pretty high and you'd be hard pressed to see 3 tds after 10-15 minutes, if at all because the 2nd won't be able to stop enough. BRS also has a lot of good videos on these topics.

With your tank, you can switch over to to RODI filtered water at any time without worry, no need to go slow there. Once you have a properly setup RODI, change out the topoff water with it and just start your next water change using the filtered water.

My water is 40-50 TDS. I have inlet pressure of 94-98psi and I think the county uses chloramines. I'm using a 5 micron sediment filter, a 5 micron carbon block, followed by a 1 micron carbon block. The sediment filter gets changed out as I see a pressure drop of 5-8psi. The carbons every six months. I use Dow membranes rated at 98% rejection @65psi.
After 1-15 minutes the TDS meter reads zero after the membranes. If I see 1-2 TDS after 1/2hr I change all prefilters.

Hope that helps.

 

[jp_75]

brs is what i like and have. 4 stage is good enough.

 

[Juniorh2r]

I use aquatic life 5 stage with r.o. buddy pump booster and so far no complaints very simple

 

[Currdawg12]

I had the aquatic life but the fittings broke on one of the adapters after the first day now it leaks and the water still was coming out at around 15 to 30 tds

 

[Currdawg12]

Another happy spectrapure owner here, just saw your TDS and I'll revise my question to what kind of production are you looking for out of your system?

I’m wanting to use it for salt water reef and I just need something that’s gonna last but not over 500 dollars