How many RODI stages do I need for 0TDS?

[Nanoreefboi]

So I have been using distilled water which gets the job done, and has 0TDS. But it’s starting to get old going to the grocery store every weekend. I do have a TDS meter, and I tested my tap water which is 247 ppm. How many stages would be appropriate for this amount of TDS?

 

[Fishy212]

Bigger the better. 5-7 stage is your best bet. You can get prefilters to prolong your membrane (usually good for 2-3 years). Look into pressure boosters to gain efficiency with your overall unit. I bought a 55 gallon water storage container, makes everything so much easier.

 

[Perthegallon]

I have 250 as well and I got 7 stages but I only really need the three with the membrane the other carbon blocks are never used but i guess good to have

 

[Miller535]

Any RODI will give your 0 TDS even a small 4 stage. Where the extra stages become needed are for folks who have dirtier water. Because they will burn through the filters in those stages very quickly and it becomes more expensive. So really it depends on your source water. I often do not agree with BRS, but I do on RODI's. They recommend you get the water quality report from your water department and see what all is in your water.

And worse comes to worse, you can always upgrade RODI's by adding extra stages.

 

[Fishy212]

You don’t have to get more stages.. But it is recommended to keep your long term costs lower. The more stages you have it prolongs the time of the useable media. You can easily go for 3 stage but you will be changing the media out a lot because of your high incoming TDS.


If money is not a concern go with over rather than under IMO. Good luck!

 

[Potatohead]

It matters more whether your water has chlorine, or chloramines. If you have chlorine a four stage is fine, if you have chloramines you will probably want two carbon stages.

IMO, assuming chloramines are handled, 90% of people would be better off with a booster pump instead of more stages.

 

[Nanoreefboi]

Thanks everyone! I have settled on the BRS 5-Stage 75GPD, as my reef is only 10 gallons. It does come with two carbon blocks, which will aid in the chloramine removal. I could add a booster pump or more stages later.

 

[Perthegallon]

Thanks everyone! I have settled on the BRS 5-Stage 75GPD, as my reef is only 10 gallons. It does come with two carbon blocks, which will aid in the chloramine removal. I could add a booster pump or more stages later.

I would wait to buy they will have a sale soon I got my 7 stage for 230$