Hello! I am new to the reef hobby and I am currently gathering equipment for my tank, I already have the tank itself and the filter, I still need to buy the lights, test kit, lid, food, skimmer, wavemaker, etc. Since I have a lot of equipment to buy, I need to get a budget friendly RODI system, so anybody got any good RODI systems for a 20 gallon long reef tank?
Best RODI system for reef?
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stacksoner
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It really depends on your water quality out of the tap and how much filtration you require. You may want to contact Spectra pure to see what they recommend for starters
DDenny
Valuable Member
Just depends on your incoming water quality like what has been said above. If you have any doubt then get something better. There are several that use those smaller RO/DI units with not problem. It also depends on how much water you need to make at any one time. Think if you have to do a 100% water change will that unit fit the bill to make the amount of water you need as quickly as you need it? My incoming water (city) is like 200 TDS. I am planning on a 5 stage with separate DI unit cause we use it for drinking water as well. I will just split the line with a "T" and a shut off valve to the DI which I already have. Just my 2 cents worth of experience.
Thaxxx
Valuable Member
That is not a RODI.
It's just a Reverse Osmosis unit.
Get a BRS 7 stage, I lost about. $10k in coral years ago from a cheap 4 stage unit when my city water dept. made some changes unknowingly. Your saltwater will only be as good as your rodi water. I run the 200GPD with booster pump.
N103
New Member
I plan on having really hardy - beginner friendly soft corals such as zoanthids , any hardy coral options will be nice, will a cheap RODI system work for hardy corals or should I buy the one above?
KStatefan
2500 Club Member
What is the quality of your source water?
What is the TDS of your source water?
What is the pressure of the source water?
Has it been treated with chlorine or chlorimines?
How much water to you want to make?
How fast do you want to make it?
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The one above is pretty reasonable priced. I would say it’s decent. This is not a cheap hobby and you get what you pay for with everything in it.
We really need to know your TDS coming in though. Because if it’s high like 300 TDS or more you are going to want a very good unit or you will kill corals and blow through filters and membranes and resin.
Sdot
Valuable Member
This... i recently acquired a 6 stage RO unit from express water, that includes a UV sterilizer. Produces amazing tasting water and takes my tap from 175 TDS to 3. I distill the 3 TDS water to 0 for top off. I'm pretty certain the water is good but I am sending an icp test to be sure.
N103
New Member
I do not know how to measure the TDS or the pressure of my water, it has chlorine, I want to make 20% of 20 gallons a week, I will like for the speed to be a max limit of an hour or two
You need to get a TDS meter they are like $15 on amazon.
Or if you have a local reef club or LFS that has one.
DDenny
Valuable Member
Then I would get at minimum 6 stage that produces at least 100 GPD. Production depends on incoming water pressure, temperature and incoming TDS. Spectapure is another source to look at great units but expensive. But even soft corals need good water to start with or they will die. Like it was said above nothing in this hobby it cheap for the good stuff. You can skimp on things but for me water is not one that I would skimp on. The one that I post above I know works in my area as a couple of reefers here have that exact unit and get 0 TDS coming out of the DI side. Cheap/poor filters will not clean it up like we want. A lot of the filters are interchangeable as well so we could get better filters for a cheaper RO/DI unit.
SanFernandoValleyAIOReef
Active Member
I’m looking at 7 stage 150g pro (450$ about) , how often do you have to change the filters
