Help me ID this Rodi unit

[gunguy05]

I got this on craigslist for 50 bucks. Owner said all filters had just been replaced. Just trying to figure out what brand it is. Only a small amount of the sticker is left in the middle. (i think he had it sitting outside full time). I don't know a whole lot about Rodi units so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Brian

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[Justunsmegareef]

Mine doesnt have a name ethwr ha ha but I bought it new. All filters are the same size . So brand shouldnt matter

 

[AZDesertRat]

The brand really doesn't matter but it appears to be the normal ebay type drinking water system with an added horizontal DI on top. They are pretty inexpensive even when new and are rarely reef quality, I see them for as little as $50-$60 new but the cost to bring them up to reef standards brings the cost up where it esceeds the $130 cost of a brand new reef quality system with better filters, better RO membrane, a full size real 20 oz vertical DI with fresh reef quality resin, an inline pressure gauge, john guest type speed fittings and not the old leaky compression fittings, ANSI/NSF and UPC rated clear housings, etc. Did the owner give you any idea what micron rating filters were installed, what carbon(s) was installed or what RO membrane it has? I don't see a flow restrictor so its hard to say what size membrane you have or what brand. Did he say how many gallons had been made since the replacements and what the tap, RO only and RO/DI TDS readings were or what flow restrictor he was using and what the waste ratio was so the membrane stayed clean and functional?

I never recommend buying a used RO or RO/DI unless you know the seller and its history. If this one has been stored outside I guarantee you the RO membrane is shot, the DI resin is way past exhausting and the sediment and carbon filters and housings probably need to be disinfected to kill bacteria and viruses. RO systems should always be kept inside in a climate controlled space away from direct bright lighting and temperature extremes. RO membranes melt at anything over 113 degrees and even a light freeze will damage them.

At a minimum you need a handheld TDS meter to troubleshoot this system before you spend any more hard earned money on it. If the membrane is bad which I suspect you will be spending $40-$60 on a new ree fquality one with a matched flow restrictor. Just by looking you can tell the DI is bad and separated which it should not be so there is another $15-$25 for replacement resin or $50-$75 for a new vertical DI canister and refillable cartridge to get 0 TDS water. RO/DI is something you don't want to cut corners on.

 

[Mattyice008]

Could be air, water, and ice. I use their 5 stage rodi works great

 

[Justunsmegareef]

Mines from aqaurium creations here in Utah.

 

[AZDesertRat]

It is probably Water General or Filters Direct, same low end company or Devonb which is/was another ebay seller. Note none are Better Business Bureau rated which should tell you something.

Compare your photo to something like this and notice the things I mentioned like speed fittings versus screwed compression fittings, high quality clear canisters and thicker lids and sealing surfaces versus the opaque white ones and the color coded lines and plumbing for ease of installation. There really is a difference in quality and we have not even looked inside where the real guts of the system is.
Refurbished 90-GPD RODI System

http://spectrapure.com/manuals/MARINE-PRO-DI.pdf

 

[gunguy05]

Well, sounds like I must have bought crap. The guy that had it had a great looking tank, so I figured he must have known was he was talking about. The flow restrictor was on about 4:1 according to him. He said to turn it wide open, let it run for about 5 mnutes to flush it out, then cut back to about 4:1 ratio of waste/clean.

I will be picking of a TDS meter in the next week and checking things out before I use it any further.

Thanks for the input
Brian

 

[robbrouse]

I'd get the meter and test it, but dang the rust alone would of made me past on it. If you are even thinking about using it take the time to take it apart and clean the rest off. Did he say why he ran it out side ad left it there?

 

[gunguy05]

I'd get the meter and test it, but dang the rust alone would of made me past on it. If you are even thinking about using it take the time to take it apart and clean the rest off. Did he say why he ran it out side ad left it there?

He didn't say, I just assumed by the rust that was on it. i didn't really think twice about it, I figured rust was on outside and that It didn't make that big a difference. But I guess you live you learn.

 

[russo36]

By the time u get new filters and a tds meter is gonna come out to almost the price of a new unit.... U can find some good ones that come w everything starting in the 120-130 range... I got an 8 stage w faucet... Tds meter and storage tank for 220... Remember when u buy new u know what u are getting and if you are not satisfy u can return it... When u buy used it can come w some hidden secrets! I'm sure it has happen to most of us.

 

[gunguy05]

By the time u get new filters and a tds meter is gonna come out to almost the price of a new unit.... U can find some good ones that come w everything starting in the 120-130 range... I got an 8 stage w faucet... Tds meter and storage tank for 220... Remember when u buy new u know what u are getting and if you are not satisfy u can return it... When u buy used it can come w some hidden secrets! I'm sure it has happen to most of us.

russo, how's this BRS 4 Stage Value PLUS RO/DI System - 75GPD - Bulk Reef Supply ?

Like i said, I'm new to the Ro/DI thing. I have always used bottled water.. I know.. not the best, but it's worked so far.

If replacing filters how is this : BRS 5 Stage RO/DI Replacement Filter Kit - Bulk Reef Supply

Well, and i guess I just saw that membrane too.. forgot that. another 45 bucks. yeah, I'm getting into the price of a new one...

CRAP!

 

[AZDesertRat]

There are better RO/DI systems than BRS. Their stuff is just average and pricing is average. The sediment filters are too coarse, the membranes are untested off the shelf pieces and their DI resins are generic everyday stuff.

Take a look at this for $130:
Refurbished 90-GPD RODI System

You get a 1 micron absolute rated sediment filter versus a 5 micron nominal rated one. The 90 GPD high rejection rate RO membrane has been specially treated to improve it performance then batch tested versus an off the shelf 75 GPD membrane that is you get what you get. The DI resin is blended in house daily to be the very best versus resin out of a bulk bag. You get an inline pressure gauge and they come with the much better capillary tube flow restrictors versus a fixed version that is rarely correct. No comparison really.

Others you might consider include the 75 GPD Premium, BFS-161 from www.buckeyefieldsupply.com or the Optima series from www.purelyh2o.com . All are better systems for less money when you compare them component by component to see what you are really getting. Buckeye also offers tested RO membranes now too and it really does make a difference.

 

[gunguy05]

There are better RO/DI systems than BRS. Their stuff is just average and pricing is average. The sediment filters are too coarse, the membranes are untested off the shelf pieces and their DI resins are generic everyday stuff.

Take a look at this for $130:
Refurbished 90-GPD RODI System

You get a 1 micron absolute rated sediment filter versus a 5 micron nominal rated one. The 90 GPD high rejection rate RO membrane has been specially treated to improve it performance then batch tested versus an off the shelf 75 GPD membrane that is you get what you get. The DI resin is blended in house daily to be the very best versus resin out of a bulk bag. You get an inline pressure gauge and they come with the much better capillary tube flow restrictors versus a fixed version that is rarely correct. No comparison really.

Others you might consider include the 75 GPD Premium, BFS-161 from www.buckeyefieldsupply.com or the Optima series from www.purelyh2o.com . All are better systems for less money when you compare them component by component to see what you are really getting. Buckeye also offers tested RO membranes now too and it really does make a difference.

Well... sounds like I need to just scrap it, cut my losses and save for a new unit. I didn't realize there was that big a difference in these units and the filters that are associated with them.

Thanks for all the info. It has been very helpful, as well as from the others.

Brian

 

[robbrouse]

I'd spend the money on a TDS meter and then test the unit.. IF you are getting 0 TDS, and you wanted a better unit, you could use this one for the time being. I'm thinking about upgrading my filter over buckeyefieldsupply.com/ jsut not sure what I would need and have not taken the time to look into it. Right now I have this one [URL="http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-stage-water-saver-plus-ro-di-system-150gpd.html"]http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-stage-water-saver-plus-ro-di-system-150gpd.html

I'[/URL]m getting 0 TDS, but the DI resin doesn't last past 6 months.

 

[gunguy05]

I'd spend the money on a TDS meter and then test the unit.. IF you are getting 0 TDS, and you wanted a better unit, you could use this one for the time being. I'm thinking about upgrading my filter over buckeyefieldsupply.com/ jsut not sure what I would need and have not taken the time to look into it. Right now I have this one [URL="http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-stage-water-saver-plus-ro-di-system-150gpd.html"]http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-5-stage-water-saver-plus-ro-di-system-150gpd.html

I'[/URL]m getting 0 TDS, but the DI resin doesn't last past 6 months.

Sounds like a plan.

Did you mean you have the same unit as the one above that I have?

 

[robbrouse]

Sounds like a plan.

Did you mean you have the same unit as the one above that I have?

No. I have the one I listed here. BRS 5 Stage Water Saver PLUS RO/DI System - 150GPD - Bulk Reef Supply

 

[Engloid]

I would recommend a TDS meter. Just put new filters in it, clean it, and run it. There is going to be absolutely no difference in your water quality. The thing is basically just housing for filters that you are going to replace anyway. Actually, if you put a tds meter on it and it is working well I'd use it before changing filters.

...and if you buy one without rust on it, it eventually will anyway. As you said, it's on the outside. Your clean water shouldn't touch that part. I've bought a few used RO setups. I put a couple together and have a really nice setup. I check TDS at 4 different places. I have 4 sediment/carbon filters, two RO's, and four DI's inline. ....and it cost me less than buying something more expensive. On setup I bought was the big name spectrapure...works just like the rest. It got parted out and used that way.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

There are better RO/DI systems than BRS. Their stuff is just average and pricing is average. The sediment filters are too coarse, the membranes are untested off the shelf pieces and their DI resins are generic everyday stuff.

Take a look at this for $130:
Refurbished 90-GPD RODI Syste

This! If you can afford it, upgrade to the spectrapure maxcap. It's 5 stages and comes with 2 tds meters.

 

[gunguy05]

TDS meter on the way. I will post results when it get here. Hopefully by Friday

 

[gunguy05]

Finally got a TDS meter in on Friday. Just got around to testing some water and it was 12-14.

Tested the water that I have been using for a year or so now from the water machine at Publix. 30-32.

So, I guess at this point it is much better than that. I will be replacing the filters, and membrane if needed though.