BRS 4 stage RO/DI unit

Sicklid · Sep 24, 2014

I am planing to buy a BRS stage RO/DI unit for my saltwater tank,
Is this unit good enough for the reefing hobby or do I need a better unit?
I saw online thay there are more products but my budget does not let me get something better!!
Thanks reefers!!

RandoReefer · Sep 24, 2014

GREAT Choice! I've had mine for a couple of years now. My advice, spend the little extra $$ and get the 4-Stage Plus. You will be pleased with the inline TDS meter and pressure gauge, as well as the auto shutoff valve that comes pre-installed for quick incorporation of float valves!

I've since added an extra stage and 150gal/day upgrade. Well worth the purchase for high quality product! Filter replacement packs make filter changes a breeze!

Good luck!

RandoReefer · Sep 24, 2014

Also, you may want to check your local "Consumer Confidence Report". It will tell you whether or not your city uses chloramines to sanitize the drinking water. If they do, you may want to check out Bulk Reef Supply's 5-Stage Chloramine RO/DI unit. This is why I added another stage to my 4-Stage.

Good luck!!

Jimbo662 · Sep 24, 2014

I did the same thing Rando did...got tired of waiting for water so added the upgrade to 150g per day.

cginter · Sep 24, 2014

Can't go wrong with BRS products. Been using my 5 stage plus for 2-3 years now, no problems.

hawkinsrgk · Sep 24, 2014

I made my RO/DI out of BRS parts and love it. I dont think you will be disappointed.

LetItReef · Sep 24, 2014

RandoReefer said:
GREAT Choice! I've had mine for a couple of years now. My advice, spend the little extra $$ and get the 4-Stage Plus. You will be pleased with the inline TDS meter and pressure gauge, as well as the auto shutoff valve that comes pre-installed for quick incorporation of float valves!

I've since added an extra stage and 150gal/day upgrade. Well worth the purchase for high quality product! Filter replacement packs make filter changes a breeze!

Good luck!

How much are the filters to replace and how long does it last? How much waste water? Thanks.

RandoReefer · Sep 24, 2014

LetItReef said:
How much are the filters to replace and how long does it last? How much waste water? Thanks.

Here is their list of filters and filter replacement kits.
Filter Kits - Bulk Reef Supply

Here is a list of the RO/DI units they have available.
Reverse Osmosis Systems - Bulk Reef Supply

Filter life is variant on your water source and water production amount. Normally, most carbon filters are changed after ~1,200 gallons of RO/DI water produced (6-8 months). Most people change the sediment filter at the same time. BRS offers color changing DI Resin, which is normally changed after the color changes or at the same time all other filters are replaced. (Hence the "filter replacement kit"). The "Dow Filmtec" Reverse Osmosis membrane is normally replaced every three years or so.

Normal waste water to product water ratio is about 4:1 for a 75GPD unit. (That is, 4gal waste water for every 1gal RO/DI water.) YET, when you add the 150GPD upgrade, you can cut that ratio in half!!

Hope this helps!

RandoReefer · Sep 24, 2014

I found this http://cdn.bulkreefsupply.com/media/wysiwyg/PDFs/5 Stage Plus and WS Plus Instructions.pdf

It may help explain a bit more about the BRS product.

AZDesertRat · Sep 25, 2014

You might compare that unit side by side with this one for less money and a better value all around.
Refurbished 90-GPD RODI System

More effective 1 micron sediment filter versus 5 microns which is very coarse and allows particulates through to plug the carbon pores, a specially treated and batch tested high rejection rate RO membrane versus dry, untreated or tested off the shelf, custom blended reef specific silica removal DI resin, a capillary tube flow restrictor versus fixed type and an inline pressure gauge.

And dual membranes do not cut your waste in half, at least not if you expect the membranes to last and get your moneys worth out of them. Whoever is promoting that is incorrect. When you send the concentrated waste from one membrane into another it is even more important to keep the ratio up or the membranes foul and fail prematurely, driving the cost of replacements and overall ownership up.

Euphyllia57 · Sep 25, 2014

AZDesertRat said:
You might compare that unit side by side with this one for less money and a better value all around.
Refurbished 90-GPD RODI System

More effective 1 micron sediment filter versus 5 microns which is very coarse and allows particulates through to plug the carbon pores, a specially treated and batch tested high rejection rate RO membrane versus dry, untreated or tested off the shelf, custom blended reef specific silica removal DI resin, a capillary tube flow restrictor versus fixed type and an inline pressure gauge.

And dual membranes do not cut your waste in half, at least not if you expect the membranes to last and get your moneys worth out of them. Whoever is promoting that is incorrect. When you send the concentrated waste from one membrane into another it is even more important to keep the ratio up or the membranes foul and fail prematurely, driving the cost of replacements and overall ownership up.

You just saved me $60, thank you! I really thought that adding a second membrane would reduce waste water. I'm planning on getting the 90gpd Spectra Pure 4-stage unit because of the better initial filters than BRS ro/di units.

Euphyllia57 · Sep 25, 2014

Forgot to mention the no-rust mounting bracket also!

Chameleon · Sep 25, 2014

Euphyllia57 said:
Forgot to mention the no-rust mounting bracket also!

that just means its plastic. I have this unit and it works well though.

Euphyllia57 · Sep 25, 2014

Chameleon said:
that just means its plastic. I have this unit and it works well though.

I know lol, I just hate rust.

AZDesertRat · Sep 25, 2014

Don't get me wrong, I love BRS chemicals and have a closet full of them including 5 gallon buckets of the two part Magnesium mix but they could do a better job on RO/DI. I think there are several vendors I would use before them including Spectrapure, Buckeye Hydro and PurelyH2o just to name a few.

Euphyllia57 · Sep 25, 2014

AZDesertRat said:
Don't get me wrong, I love BRS chemicals and have a closet full of them including 5 gallon buckets of the two part Magnesium mix but they could do a better job on RO/DI. I think there are several vendors I would use before them including Spectrapure, Buckeye Hydro and PurelyH2o just to name a few.

I completely agree, love BRS for a lot of products but wished they included better initial filters.

Kalen · Sep 26, 2014

I saw this thread and I'm interested in picking a ro di unit up. I am just not sure which one would work for me. I am thinking about the 6 stage ro/di deluxe. I currently have a 30 salt but plan to upgrade layer on. Do you believe this will work for me. Would be ordering from brs.

Euphyllia57 · Sep 26, 2014

Kalen said:
I saw this thread and I'm interested in picking a ro di unit up. I am just not sure which one would work for me. I am thinking about the 6 stage ro/di deluxe. I currently have a 30 salt but plan to upgrade layer on. Do you believe this will work for me. Would be ordering from brs.

That is a really nice unit IMO! When it comes time to replace the filters just pick up some smaller micron filters instead of the ones that come with the unit in order to better protect the carbon blocks and membrane for a longer life span.

Kalen · Sep 26, 2014

Thanks. That's very helpful. I look at ro units and there is so many out there it's like which one is good

ygon · Sep 26, 2014

GREAT Choice! I've had mine for a couple of years now. My advice, spend the little extra $$ and get the 4-Stage Plus. You will be pleased with the inline TDS meter and pressure gauge, as well as the auto shutoff valve that comes pre-installed for quick incorporation of float valves!

+1 I have the same system for some time now. works great!