DI without RO system?

[Atherial]

I already have a drinking water reverse osmosis system in my house. I was told I need to add a DI filter for the fish tank water. But I'm having the hardest time finding just a DI system that isn't part of a whole RO system. What I'd really love is something that would hook up to my RO faucet with a hose whenever I need more water. I don't want to add the DI system in line under the sink since usually I'll want drinking water from it.

 

[Woodyman]

I already have a drinking water reverse osmosis system in my house. I was told I need to add a DI filter for the fish tank water. But I'm having the hardest time finding just a DI system that isn't part of a whole RO system. What I'd really love is something that would hook up to my RO faucet with a hose whenever I need more water. I don't want to add the DI system in line under the sink since usually I'll want drinking water from it.

Just buy a couple standard 10" filter housings and the resin to go along with them.

BRS, Amazon, hardware stores, big box stores, spectrapure, they all carry just the housings for you to use as you please.

 

[Woodyman]

I already have a drinking water reverse osmosis system in my house. I was told I need to add a DI filter for the fish tank water. But I'm having the hardest time finding just a DI system that isn't part of a whole RO system. What I'd really love is something that would hook up to my RO faucet with a hose whenever I need more water. I don't want to add the DI system in line under the sink since usually I'll want drinking water from it.

Personally I would tee if off prior to the RO faucet and add a manual valve.

Open the valve when you need to make some DI, close it when your done. Or use a solenoid.

 

[Woodyman]

I already have a drinking water reverse osmosis system in my house. I was told I need to add a DI filter for the fish tank water. But I'm having the hardest time finding just a DI system that isn't part of a whole RO system. What I'd really love is something that would hook up to my RO faucet with a hose whenever I need more water. I don't want to add the DI system in line under the sink since usually I'll want drinking water from it.

Couple links:

Triple DI Saver Kit with Resin and TDS Meter

Includes BRS PRO DI Resins! Triple Deionization Saver canister kit complete with HM Digital Triple Inline TDS Meter & BRS Pro Series Single Bed Cation Resin, Pro Series Single Bed Anion Resin, and Pro Series Mixed Bed Cation Color Changing Resins. This is the perfect add-on to any reverse...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Dual Deionization Canister with DM-1 Dual TDS Meter

Dual deionization add on canister kit complete with triple TDS Meter and pre-packed color changing DI cartridges! Dual DM-1 TDS Meter already installed Perfect for adding additional DI stages to your RO system Cartridges come with canisters full of Color Changing DI Resin Cartridges are...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

SpectraPure - Innovators in Water Technology

SpectraPure, Inc. is an Industry Standard in the Water Purification world. From Drinking Water to Aquarium Systems, you don't just want pure water, you want the PUREST Water! Get it with SpectraPure!

spectrapure.com

HYDRONIX Clear 10 in. x 2.5 in. Filter Housing HF2-10CLWH12

The HYDRONIX HF2-10CLWH12 is a 10 in. clear filter housing with a 1/2 in. port connection. Houses water filter cartridges sized 10 in. x 2.5 in. inside a clear housing body to allow for visual maintenance

www.homedepot.com

SKU# 206755392

If your comfortable plumbing it can be done for under $100 just buy the fitting and housing from somewhere and plumb it up yourself to add in..

If not buy a pre-made one for a couple more bucks. BRS and Spectrapure both have singles and doubles.

BRS also has a triple, spectrapure doesn't have a triple on the site, but they could put one together if you asked.

 

[Woodyman]

Couple links:

Triple DI Saver Kit with Resin and TDS Meter

Includes BRS PRO DI Resins! Triple Deionization Saver canister kit complete with HM Digital Triple Inline TDS Meter & BRS Pro Series Single Bed Cation Resin, Pro Series Single Bed Anion Resin, and Pro Series Mixed Bed Cation Color Changing Resins. This is the perfect add-on to any reverse...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Dual Deionization Canister with DM-1 Dual TDS Meter

Dual deionization add on canister kit complete with triple TDS Meter and pre-packed color changing DI cartridges! Dual DM-1 TDS Meter already installed Perfect for adding additional DI stages to your RO system Cartridges come with canisters full of Color Changing DI Resin Cartridges are...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

SpectraPure - Innovators in Water Technology

SpectraPure, Inc. is an Industry Standard in the Water Purification world. From Drinking Water to Aquarium Systems, you don't just want pure water, you want the PUREST Water! Get it with SpectraPure!

spectrapure.com

HYDRONIX Clear 10 in. x 2.5 in. Filter Housing HF2-10CLWH12

The HYDRONIX HF2-10CLWH12 is a 10 in. clear filter housing with a 1/2 in. port connection. Houses water filter cartridges sized 10 in. x 2.5 in. inside a clear housing body to allow for visual maintenance

www.homedepot.com

SKU# 206755392

If your comfortable plumbing it can be done for under $100 just buy the fitting and housing from somewhere and plumb it up yourself to add in..

If not buy a pre-made one for a couple more bucks. BRS and Spectrapure both have singles and doubles.

BRS also has a triple, spectrapure doesn't have a triple on the site, but they could put one together if you asked.

Some of the pre built ones come with the first round of resin included. Some are just housings. So depending on what you buy you will also need to buy your resin. You can buy prepackaged or pack it yourself. If you opt to pack it yourself make sure you buy the refillable cartridges when buying the bulk resin. (If it's not included in a kit, if you go that route, or if not and you plumb it yourself and you buy bulk resin)

 

[Duncan62]

I already have a drinking water reverse osmosis system in my house. I was told I need to add a DI filter for the fish tank water. But I'm having the hardest time finding just a DI system that isn't part of a whole RO system. What I'd really love is something that would hook up to my RO faucet with a hose whenever I need more water. I don't want to add the DI system in line under the sink since usually I'll want drinking water from it.

Buy the fittings on Amazon along with an RObuddy di cartridge. Umbrella in line . Easy fix

 

[Atherial]

What is the difference with more canisters? I could I do fine with a single? I'm looking at this one since I like the idea of having the meter included.

Single Deionization Canister with DM-1 Dual TDS Meter

Single deionization add on canister kit complete with Dual TDS Meter and pre-packed color changing DI cartridges! Dimensions - 14" x 6" x 5.5" Dual TDS Meter already installed Perfect for adding additional DI stages to your RO system Cartridges come with canisters full of Color Changing DI...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Woodyman]

What is the difference with more canisters? I could I do fine with a single? I'm looking at this one since I like the idea of having the meter included.

Single Deionization Canister with DM-1 Dual TDS Meter

Single deionization add on canister kit complete with Dual TDS Meter and pre-packed color changing DI cartridges! Dimensions - 14" x 6" x 5.5" Dual TDS Meter already installed Perfect for adding additional DI stages to your RO system Cartridges come with canisters full of Color Changing DI...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

What TDS is your RO water?

Multiple is a safety factor and further water polishing. Depending on the makeup of your TDS it sometimes make sense to split the beds because of consumption of the different resins within typical mixed beds.

 

[rlman41299]

This is true. My 3 DI canisters are filled as follows: cat ion, an ion, mix bed. I go through anion resin 3-4 times faster than the rest. If I have a single canister and use a mix bed resin then I am wasting the cation resin when you change the anion once it is used up.

 

[Atherial]

I will admit that I've never actually tested my RO water. I bought it as our well water has nitrates (area used to be farmland).

 

[Woodyman]

I will admit that I've never actually tested my RO water. I bought it as our well water has nitrates (area used to be farmland).

Does your unit have a TDS meter? Or do you have a hand held unit?

How old is your unit and are the filters maintained? Or have you set it up when installed and not messed with it since?

 

[Atherial]

I do not have a TDS meter. My unit is a five years old and the filters are changed every year. My husband does the filter changes and he sterilizes everything according to the directions.

 

[Woodyman]

I do not have a TDS meter. My unit is a five years old and the filters are changed every year. My husband does the filter changes and he sterilizes everything according to the directions.

You can start with 1 if you want for cost and add on more later. Or just buy 3 now and be done with it the choice is yours. If your on a well and already know you have some issues 3 may be the way to go, but without more information I can't make a specific recommendation. So the blanket would be go with 3, better to have more than not enough in my opinion.

 

[littlebeard]

Hi @Atherial ,

I see you're from the same area I am. While many have given great ideas on how to set up a DI canister, I just wanted to give some words of caution since our water may be somewhat similar given the location. Also it appears you use well water. DI is used up extremely fast when it has high carbon dioxide content and low ph. Which for me I think was like 10x faster DI usage(change from $15 a month to $1.50). Since I evaporate off at least 10 gallons a week and do a water change every 2 weeks, this actually can add up. Simple solution for me was to aerate it with an airstone for 24hrs before pushing through the DI resin.

Probably not something you want to hear given your ro system is under the sink, but I thought I would mention it as it may save you time/money/headache later down the road.

Hopefully it's not an issue for you at all.

https://aquaticlife.com/blogs/news/how-co2-can-impact-di-resin-consumption

 

[Woodyman]

Hi @Atherial ,

I see you're from the same area I am. While many have given great ideas on how to set up a DI canister, I just wanted to give some words of caution since our water may be somewhat similar given the location. Also it appears you use well water. DI is used up extremely fast when it has high carbon dioxide content and low ph. Which for me I think was like 10x faster DI usage(change from $15 a month to $1.50). Since I evaporate off at least 10 gallons a week and do a water change every 2 weeks, this actually can add up. Simple solution for me was to aerate it with an airstone for 24hrs before pushing through the DI resin.

Probably not something you want to hear given your ro system is under the sink, but I thought I would mention it as it may save you time/money/headache later down the road.

Hopefully it's not an issue for you at all.

https://aquaticlife.com/blogs/news/how-co2-can-impact-di-resin-consumption

This is a good read if you do have high levels of CO2.

DIY CO2 Degassing Chamber for RO/DI

Well, I learned the hard way that the water coming out of my well has a high CO2 content. I burned through a pound of DI resin and only got 40 gallons out of it.... To keep this from happening again, I could either buy lots of RO/DI water or remove the CO2 from the RO water before I pass it...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Atherial]

Huh. I'll have to watch out for CO2 issues. If necessary I can aerate in a bucket and then pump it through.

 

[Woodyman]

Huh. I'll have to watch out for CO2 issues. If necessary I can aerate in a bucket and then pump it through.

This is why I say 3 resins from a safety standpoint without knowing the specifics of your source water.

3 will handle the CO2 if it is a problem vs blowing through resin on a single housing.

You can buy one for now and always add on more later, but if your going to need it down the road it's more economical to buy 3 up front.

If you have a pH meter you could check your source water for CO2

 

[Atherial]

No pH meter yet either. I do have my pool test kit that I could use for pH but that is still packed up (still winter here).