Looking 4 RO/DI system

Ecotech Marine
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Some offer a booster pump with TDS meter installed. Others offer dual DI sections. It really depends on your demands as far as which one you should go with. Mine is the refurd 4-stage and I added my own booster pump. I'm getting about a 3:1 ratio, almost pushing 4:1 which is about right. I do believe I will be adding a second membrane in the future so I can get a 2:1 ratio and produce more product water.
 
Avast
Dual membranes do not reduce the waste ratio and should never be considered a wate rsaving device. Those who promote this are uninformed.
It is even more critical to stick with the 4:1 ratio when using dual membranes since you are sending the concentrated waste or brine from the first to the second. When you cut the waste the second membrane doesn't stand a chance and will foul prematurely.

Your waste ratio is dependent on your tap water quality. if you have hard water and high TDS then stick to the 4:1. If you have soft wate rand low tap TDS then you can consider lowering it to 3:1 or in rare cases 2:1.
 
So I just got off the phone with Scott from Spectrapure and he said that as long as your TDS is below 200 you can run any system at a 2:1 ratio with no ill effects on your membrane, given you have and use a flush kit. All you have to do is install a ball valve inline after the flow restrictor and adjust until you get the 2:1 ratio.
My TDS is between 74-86 and sometimes gets as high as 134. So 2:1, here I come!!!
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I am surprised Scott did not mention softened water along with low TDS. In my conversations with Charles (the founder and CEO), Bruce (the President) and Scott it was always mentioned that soft water is more critical than TDS when it comes to reducing the waste ratio. Hard water is tough on membranes even at the 4:1 ratio and what causes many more failures and short lives than TDS. I would say both soft water and low TDS are important when cutting the waste.
You have some good water with a TDS that low! Mine is 5 to 8 times that high.
 
I couldn't imagine having crazy high TDS, 300+. Id be eating up filters. He also said people in Minnasota have a TDS of 60 or sometimes lower and brag on the forums all the time on being able to run a 2:1. Lol

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TDS in Phoenix is between 500 and 1200+ depending on what part of the Valley and the source blends at the time and is between 20 and 30 grains hardness. You can cut it with a knife!
Actually its not hard on filters since the suspended solids and turbidity are very low, I get over a year out of a 0.2 micron ZetaZorb filter with less than a 2 psi pressure loss so no plugging or fouling. It is hard on membranes though and why all membrane manufacturers recommend softened water and the proper waste ratio for your conditions.

Places like Atlanta and Seattle have very low TDS, sometimes less than 50. On the flip side though sometimes low TDS means agressive water so it can attack plumbing fixtures and pipes so many utilities have to raise the pH, adjust the Langlier Index and add phosphates in the distribution system to protect the metal pipes. I guess there is good and bad in everything!
 
Deltec
Yeah that's insane. This is first rodi setup with a booster pumpand it seems to be working awesome. I have a 150 micron prefilter before the booster pump as well. I'm aslo going to keep a log to see just how many gallons I can make before the sediment filter has to be replaced.
 
I'm not sure what your water systems is like but in the NY City area they have extremely low TDS but extremely high suspended solids so membranes last a long time but sediment and carbon block filters don't last worth a hoot. This is one of the biggest reasons Spectrapure started experimenting with and eventually selling the 0.2 micron pleated ZetaZorb filters. With 10x the surface area they last much longer and if you are very careful can be rinsed a reused a couple times before needing replacement.
 
A local reefer by me uses the 1 micron sediment and carbon block and finds he has to replace the sediment every 3-4 months and the carbon block every 6. His DI last a year and hasn't had to replace his membrane which is going on, if not past, 3 years. Does that sound about right?
 
I think I'm gonna get the spectrapure. Heard good things about them.
 
So far I love mine and you can beat the price for a refurb. Honestly I don't see how mine was a refurb, it looked brand new!
 
Nutramar Foods
Spectrapure.com and as soon as it loads, its right there on the top right. Click the refurb and it'll bring up the specs and price. Should be $130
 
Membranes will last 3 years or more if protected by good sediment and carbon filters, you have the proper waste ratio and you do an annual disinfection on the system. Sediment filters are really dependent on your tap water quality and home much sediment, silt, particulates and colloidal materials it contains. They may las 3-4 months or a year, its case by case and when you see a pressure drop on the gauge its time to replace it and possibly the carbon too.
 
check your kh. Its something you should be checking in your tank even if you don't they would at your lfs.
 
Tidal Gardens
So this morning, using my API kH test kit, I tested my tap water and got a 3. I take it that's really soft water and pretty good right?

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Sears, Lowes, Home Depot or anywhere that sells water softeners also sell an inexpenisve tap water harness test kit that is easy to use and intended for fresh water not saltwater so is accurate.

Hardness is measured in grains per gallon of calcium carbonate. It is a calculation of the ppm calcium carbonate hardness divided by 17.1 and expressed as grain per gallon.
 
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