RO/DI brands?

[pulpfiction]

Hi, I want to get an rodi unit but the only ones I can find a lot of information on is the BRS one. That's basically all that's on youtube and they all feel like infomercials and their stuff is all out of stock and they seem overpriced? There are a lot of different ones on Amazon. Is Ispring or any other brands good? Or is BRS worth spending their premium on and waiting for a restock? I'm looking for a 5 stage 75 GDP unit.

 

[Gtinnel]

I use aquafx that I bought on Amazon. Once you change out the filters/di/membrane they're all the same. They're essentially just plastic housings for filters.

 

[Woodyman]

Just keep in mind all filter housings are not rated the same.

Some may not take higher pressures depending on if/what you set a booster pump to.

 

[Gtinnel]

Just keep in mind all filter housings are not rated the same.

Some may not take higher pressures depending on if/what you set a booster pump to.

Good point. I've never seen a rating on my aquafx (although I've never looked) but it's been doing fine with 100 psi for the last 3 years or so.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Most "full size" RO/DI units have 2.5" x 10" filter housings. that is industry standard size. There are some other RO/DI sytems like the RO Buddy and similar that uses smaller non-industry standard sized housings... those you need to buy filters that fit. If you have a full size industry standard housing then all the standard 2.5" x 10" filters will fit. That is what the BRS units use.

 

[pulpfiction]

Just keep in mind all filter housings are not rated the same.

Some may not take higher pressures depending on if/what you set a booster pump to.

There are a decent amount of reviews complaining about leaking on amazon ones, and I'm not sure if that's from the housing or improper setup. I probably won't get a booster since I have a small tank. I don't mind waiting an hour to fill a bucket.

I use aquafx that I bought on Amazon. Once you change out the filters/di/membrane they're all the same. They're essentially just plastic housings for filters.

Where do I get the change outs? Do they have be specific?

Most "full size" RO/DI units have 2.5" x 10" filter housings. that is industry standard size. There are some other RO/DI sytems like the RO Buddy and similar that uses smaller non-industry standard sized housings... those you need to buy filters that fit. If you have a full size industry standard housing then all the standard 2.5" x 10" filters will fit. That is what the BRS units use.

That's really good to know. I'll want the ones that are easier to find replacements for.

 

[LuizW13]

I bought that BRS 5 stage 75gph back in 2018 when I first started, and love it. I'm not sure how much the price changed over the years, but it's a great filter. I don't know how it compares to others since I never owned any other brand of filter.
But you can buy their 4 stage version, and then add another DI filter to it later in the future. That's also an option.

 

[PeterC99]

Hi, I want to get an rodi unit but the only ones I can find a lot of information on is the BRS one. That's basically all that's on youtube and they all feel like infomercials and their stuff is all out of stock and they seem overpriced? There are a lot of different ones on Amazon. Is Ispring or any other brands good? Or is BRS worth spending their premium on and waiting for a restock? I'm looking for a 5 stage 75 GDP unit.

More important than brand is how much RODI water do you intend to make for ATO & saltwater changes? This should be your guide to which RODI system you get.

The more RODI you plan on making then the better the RODI system needed which may include a booster pump and 2nd membrane to increase production and reduce waste.

 

[Water Dog]

I would recommend that you speak to Russ from @Buckeye Hydro. They're a sponsor here and their only business is water purification. He can design a system for you that will cater specifically to your source water needs.

A lot of the RODI threads I see here start with “I have a BRS RODI unit but…” Just understand that everyone has different source water and one size does not fit all. Start out right the first time based on your specific needs and never look back!

 

[pulpfiction]

More important than brand is how much RODI water do you intend to make for ATO & saltwater changes? This should be your guide to which RODI system you get.

The more RODI you plan on making then the better the RODI system needed which may include a booster pump and 2nd membrane to increase production and reduce waste.

I need to make 4-5 gallons each use. I have a 20 gallon with no top off. I've never used RO/DI but I'm ready to get one. I'm tired of hunting down water.

 

[PeterC99]

I need to make 4-5 gallons each use. I have a 20 gallon with no top off. I've never used RO/DI but I'm ready to get one. I'm tired of hunting down water.

4 to 5 gallons weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, 3 months?

 

[Woodyman]

I need to make 4-5 gallons each use. I have a 20 gallon with no top off. I've never used RO/DI but I'm ready to get one. I'm tired of hunting down water.

Any idea what source water parameters are. Also how deep down this rabbit hole do you want to go.... !?

 

[Woodyman]

Regardless of your source water, amount of water you need and everything else. The best recommendation anyone can give you is to just stick with the standard 10"X3" filters/housings, or if you want to go longer between changes you can also do the 20"X3".

 

[dedragon]

it will depend on your source water whether you need a 4 stage or 5 or 6. But if source water is good and your really arent going to be making much, you could go with the aquaticlife ro buddy at 50gpd. Not my favorite unit but the filter replacements are cheap and it gets the job done if the source water isnt too bad

 

[dedragon]

 

[dedragon]

though i do like the flush kit and pressure gauge that come with the BRS kits, just helps keep the membrane clean and lets you know when to replace membrane by pressure drop

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

Hi, I want to get an rodi unit but the only ones I can find a lot of information on is the BRS one. That's basically all that's on youtube and they all feel like infomercials and their stuff is all out of stock and they seem overpriced? There are a lot of different ones on Amazon. Is Ispring or any other brands good? Or is BRS worth spending their premium on and waiting for a restock? I'm looking for a 5 stage 75 GDP unit.

I’ve used The AquaticLife brand for my tank in the past when I first began my tank. It’s convenient how it is designed , however, it’s very poor at dealing with Chloramines. This filter only lasted me a month if use or about 40 gallons of RODI water until my water kept reading some very high ammonia levels. Luckily, I didn’t have my fish in here or they would’ve been dead, but if you’re looking for a reliable system, I’ve been using the BRS 6 stage deluxe system with 2 carbon blocks, 1 sediment filter , an RO membrane that has the ability to be flushed out (prolongs the RO membrane life), and two DI resin casings that eliminate any remaining tds. I have it plugged underneath my restroom sink and compare to the garden hose connection, my sink waterline gets 50 PSI , enough to maintain a genuine 100 gph stream. I love it and it’s easy to replace the cartridges once you’re done. Plus it comes with a built in TDS meter and it’s very reliable !

 

[dedragon]

I do not trust the inline TDS meter, i have the brs one too, it doesnt really work well at all. A handheld TDS meter will give better results, my tds meter reads 0 but my TDS was actually at 5 in the past. They are pretty helpful to have around

 

[Klyle]

I've had zero problems with my brs unit. Started with a 4 stage and burned through di resin like crazy and was also having diatom / silicate issues..upgraded to 7 stage and cut resin use by half or more and never see diatoms anymore. Plus I like the fact they have tons of videos explaining how to use / upgrade their units, etc. I know they're in the business of selling equipment but I feel like they have straightforward and honest information, which I very much appreciate. I've never used any other unit so I can't speak to that but I'm happy to pay a couple extra bucks for quality gear.

 

[Woodyman]

I've had zero problems with my brs unit. Started with a 4 stage and burned through di resin like crazy and was also having diatom / silicate issues..upgraded to 7 stage and cut resin use by half or more and never see diatoms anymore. Plus I like the fact they have tons of videos explaining how to use / upgrade their units, etc. I know they're in the business of selling equipment but I feel like they have straightforward and honest information, which I very much appreciate. I've never used any other unit so I can't speak to that but I'm happy to pay a couple extra bucks for quality gear.

The great thing about even the cheap BRS starter set is you can infinitely add/remove and upgrade them as time goes on. So if you want invest a little now, and over the next year or 2 you can add more pieces and parts slowly.

That's why I say go with standard sizes, and not proprietary setup units.