Buying the Right RO/DI System

Jedi_Master · Apr 8, 2022

Looking to buy a decent RO/Di system for by 60 gallon mixed reef system with 25 gallon sump. I’ve been researching for awhile but really can’t make heads or tails with regards to this. I’m on city water, and don’t know the TDS.

I figure I should get something with a pressure gauge and TDS meter? In terms of waste water ratio, should I be looking at 1:2 or 1:1.5 or is this overkill?

Any and all suggestions welcomed as I want to get this right the first time.

Thanks.

Pistondog · Apr 8, 2022

Jedi_Master said:
Looking to buy a decent RO/Di system for by 60 gallon mixed reef system with 25 gallon sump. I’ve been researching for awhile but really can’t make heads or tails with regards to this. I’m on city water, and don’t know the TDS.

I figure I should get something with a pressure gauge and TDS meter? In terms of waste water ratio, should I be looking at 1:2 or 1:1.5 or is this overkill?

Any and all suggestions welcomed as I want to get this right the first time.

Thanks.

I have this one after a couple of Amazon units. Added a 2nd ro membrane in series for double output.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/4-stage-75gpd-plus-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html
Has pressure and tds meter, switchable input to output

vetteguy53081 · Apr 8, 2022

Jedi_Master said:
Looking to buy a decent RO/Di system for by 60 gallon mixed reef system with 25 gallon sump. I’ve been researching for awhile but really can’t make heads or tails with regards to this. I’m on city water, and don’t know the TDS.

I figure I should get something with a pressure gauge and TDS meter? In terms of waste water ratio, should I be looking at 1:2 or 1:1.5 or is this overkill?

Any and all suggestions welcomed as I want to get this right the first time.

Thanks.

Everyone has a favorite as Mine is typhoon 3 by Air water and ice.
Most 4 stages (what I recommend) are reliable - Just dont fool around with RO buddie
BRS
SpectraPure
IceCap
AquaFX Barracuda

KrisReef · Apr 8, 2022

RO is more efficient with a booster pump .
The size of the units output tells you how much time you have to wait to fill an empty water storage container. How many gallons a day you need depends upon how much water changes and top off your tank needs. The basic ro units are the same; they have different interchangeable membrane and flow valves that regulate the gpd.

DI is the expensive end, you want to get a unit that allows you to refill resin for the best economy of operation.
Some resin is rechargeable, but that’s a pain ime.

These general comments apply across the spectrum. I think a lot of the hardware is made in China and rebranded with stickers.

Woodyman · Apr 8, 2022

Some light reading for some insight.

RO/DI Basic Guide

There are always a lot of questions regarding which RO/DI setup do I need, how many stages, how do I know when to change filters/membranes, I’m getting a weird TDS value, etc. Hopefully this clarifies a few things and helps some of you out one day. My first recommendation would be to find the...

www.reef2reef.com

Dbichler · Apr 8, 2022

If your in city water just go and check the water analysis on govt website and see if they use chloramine and if so you’ll need chloramine buster added to 4 stage in order to save di resin. As vetteguy said any of those four are great I use aquafx barracuda with chloramine buster

rja · Apr 11, 2022

I got the Amazon RO/DI unit and simply put— with my LFS down the street and their water at 25¢/gallon, I just haul and stockpile water in my basement closet next to my tank. I can’t stand waiting around for a bucket to fill and I also can’t stand the amount of water being wasted. I suppose I could capture the waste water and dechlorinate it for my planted fw tanks but christ— making 5 gallons takes like 4 hours for me and I have sprung a leak in my sink plumbing… chefin’ up some water aint all it’s cracked up to be huh

Bph · Apr 11, 2022

I am a fan of Spectapure 90 gpd unit.

JumboShrimp · Apr 11, 2022

Whichever way you go, booster pump, booster pump, booster pump. (IMHO)

Islandvib3s · Apr 11, 2022

Depending on your tds source, you might not need RO,just DI. But I was in the market for a new one because my old one needed all filter replaced and I needed a upgrade. Its honestly cheaper to put your own together by ordering parts individually. I ordered it all on Amazon. Brackets from brs. I built a 7 stage for under 250. 3tds meters and pressure Guage. Ill get a booster later if I really need it. Im going to try w/o RO and see what I produce after nuclear di. Worst case ill add my old ro canister back w/new ro membrane.

doubleshot00 · Apr 11, 2022

I just got a Koolermax ar-122 from amazon 6 stage. Great value. I needed at least a 5 stage because my local water uses chloramine.

Jedi_Master · Apr 15, 2022

Thanks for all the advice all. Is this a worthwhile unit. It’s a bit expensive in Canada but seems to check off all the boxes or is this overkill?

Spectrapure Maxcap RO/DI System W/Manual Flush - 90 GPD | Mail Order Pet Supplies, Inc.

www.aquariumsupplies.ca

Viva'sReef · Apr 15, 2022

Jedi_Master said:
Thanks for all the advice all. Is this a worthwhile unit. It’s a bit expensive in Canada but seems to check off all the boxes or is this overkill?

Spectrapure Maxcap RO/DI System W/Manual Flush - 90 GPD | Mail Order Pet Supplies, Inc.

www.aquariumsupplies.ca

Yes, Spectrapure has been doing it longer than anyone. I've had one of these units running at my company for 20 years. Take care of it and it will likely outlast your tank

j/k....maybe.

JumboShrimp · Apr 15, 2022

Wow, all the component-parts look similar if not identical to the one I have from BRS. They probably have some deal to have Spectrapure manufacture for them so they can slap a BRS label on it. I agree, it is a quality unit.

a4edwin · Apr 15, 2022

JumboShrimp said:
Wow, all the component-parts look similar if not identical to the one I have from BRS. They probably have some deal to have Spectrapure manufacture for them so they can slap a BRS label on it. I agree, it is a quality unit.

They prob own spectrapure already

Woodyman · Apr 15, 2022

Jedi_Master said:
Thanks for all the advice all. Is this a worthwhile unit. It’s a bit expensive in Canada but seems to check off all the boxes or is this overkill?

Spectrapure Maxcap RO/DI System W/Manual Flush - 90 GPD | Mail Order Pet Supplies, Inc.

www.aquariumsupplies.ca

Worthwhile - absolutely!

Expensive - yes, they are higher priced, but they are high quality units, if you put the effort into taking care of the components it will serve you well.

Jedi_Master · Apr 21, 2022

Woodyman said:
Worthwhile - absolutely!

Expensive - yes, they are higher priced, but they are high quality units, if you put the effort into taking care of the components it will serve you well.

I know I was currently looking at the spectrapure, but I came across the Aqua FX Hammerhead. However, it’s a 4 stage instead of a 5 stage system but it’s a tad cheaper ($60 roughly) and already has a booster pump incorporated into it. What do you guys think?

AquaFX HammerHead Fully Automated RO-DI - 100 GPD

AquaFX HammerHead Fully Automated RO-DI - 100 GPD ships from Toronto, Canada

www.aquariumdepot.ca

vetteguy53081 · Apr 21, 2022

Jedi_Master said:
I know I was currently looking at the spectrapure, but I came across the Aqua FX Hammerhead. However, it’s a 4 stage instead of a 5 stage system but it’s a tad cheaper ($60 roughly) and already has a booster pump incorporated into it. What do you guys think?

AquaFX HammerHead Fully Automated RO-DI - 100 GPD

AquaFX HammerHead Fully Automated RO-DI - 100 GPD ships from Toronto, Canada

www.aquariumdepot.ca

Another very good unit

Woodyman · Apr 21, 2022

Jedi_Master said:
I know I was currently looking at the spectrapure, but I came across the Aqua FX Hammerhead. However, it’s a 4 stage instead of a 5 stage system but it’s a tad cheaper ($60 roughly) and already has a booster pump incorporated into it. What do you guys think?

AquaFX HammerHead Fully Automated RO-DI - 100 GPD

AquaFX HammerHead Fully Automated RO-DI - 100 GPD ships from Toronto, Canada

www.aquariumdepot.ca

It's easy to add an additional filter to make it a 5 stage. Just plumb a housing before the first housing of the unit and use that as first one as sediment. Then use the first 2 housings prior to RO on the bracket as your carbon.

Either will work, but the included booster pump is a big plus!

Adding an extra housing to turn it into a 5 stage will be ~15-30 bucks depending on how you do it and where it's sourced from (bracket or no bracket, etc.)

outhouse · Apr 22, 2022

ebay or amazon is the only way to go, or your paying to much. How you build your system solely depends on incoming TDS. mine is low so I run 3 membranes, and tuned my output with different restrictors.

if your TDS is high your stuck with a 75 to 90 GPD membrane with the standard restrictions and wasting a lot of water, and DI