RO/DI Questions

[BamboozleBean]

Hey guys, I have some questions about RO/DI water. I was getting the Aquatic Life 4 Stage 50 gallon system, I have a 10 gallon tank, with weekly 1-2 gallon water changes, how long do you think it will last before I have to change the filter? Also, do I still have to put dechlorinator in the water. I don’t think so, but just making sure, thanks.

 

[Akaswan]

you do not need to dechlorinate RODI water

 

[codytbuckner]

No dechlorinator needed if you are using RODI water. All water is different so membranes won’t last the same amount of time everywhere. Get yourself a TDS meter. That will give you a good indication of when to change the filters and membrane.

 

[codytbuckner]

No dechlorinator needed if you are using RODI water. All water is different so membranes won’t last the same amount of time everywhere. Get yourself a TDS meter. That will give you a good indication of when to change the filters and membrane. The goal is zero TDS water. When it’s no longer zero, change it out

The goal is zero TDS water btw. When it’s no longer zero, it’s time to change

 

[JoshH]

As said above you do not need to use a dechlorinator when running an RODI filter. The carbon blocks perform this duty. I would highly recommend as mentioned above, a TDS meter. To take measurements Before the RO, after the RO and after the DI. As for longevity of the filters this greatly depends on your water source. Most carbon blocks will give you a range in gallons of how much they will process before being exhausted but this is just a general guideline. Your TDS meter will not indicate when it's time to change the carbon blocks so it's best to change these on the lower end of the range suggested by the manufacturer of the block. You can also purchase chlorine test strips and test for chlorine after the carbon stage. If there is some present you know it's time to replace the blocks.

I will suggest before you even purchase a unit you should look into your source water. Is it City or well water? What does your city use chlorine or chloramine? Things like that might change what system you should be looking into purchasing.

 

[sfin52]

Hey guys, I have some questions about RO/DI water. I was getting the Aquatic Life 4 Stage 50 gallon system, I have a 10 gallon tank, with weekly 1-2 gallon water changes, how long do you think it will last before I have to change the filter? Also, do I still have to put dechlorinator in the water. I don’t think so, but just making sure, thanks.

I just set this up for a buddy. It's a good system It produces water at a slow rate. For a small tank it will be a great asset. It's an easy system to set up. Also a great unit for a small space. If you need any info just let me know

 

[PatW]

Congratulations. Getting an RODI system is a great choice.

I don’t know how your system is constructed.

Mine has a sediment filter block first. This filter removes the particulates from the water.

Next are two carbon blocks. They remove chlorine from my city tap water. Chlorine would damage my reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The carbon will also absorb various things from the water like organic contaminates.

These three blocks are relatively cheap about $45. I replace them when the sediment block gets kinda brownish stained. It starts off white and I trigger when it starts getting a light color. I make over 1000 gallon per year and these filters last 6 - 9 months.

I have had the RO membrane for as long as I have had the system about 4 years. Before use, I flush it throughly. Water going in is about 150 tds. Co I guess out 2 tds. I have a new RO membrane in reserve.

Finally, I have 2 DI canisters. I have a tds monitor after the RO membrane and one after the first DI canister. When the DI canister reads above 0 tds, I take it out and repack it with new DI resin. I take canister 2 and move it to one and put the repacked canister into position 2. A canister lasts about 6 weeks. It costs me about $50 per year.

With your small system, you will probably only have to replace DI every now and then. You might want to get a tds tester and figure out how to measure various places in your system just to keep tabs.

For my annual supplies, my RODI water costs about a dime a gallon.

Salt costs about 40 cents a gallon. I am rounding up costs.

Mixed salt water then comes out at 50 cents gallon. So my cost tends to be half of a LFS and I don’t have to go drive there and fill up a bunch of containers.
Also, i have my own quality control and I can select my salt mix. I also, always have salt water and RODI water on hand.

 

[sfin52]

Congratulations. Getting an RODI system is a great choice.

I don’t know how your system is constructed.

Mine has a sediment filter block first. This filter removes the particulates from the water.

Next are two carbon blocks. They remove chlorine from my city tap water. Chlorine would damage my reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The carbon will also absorb various things from the water like organic contaminates.

These three blocks are relatively cheap about $45. I replace them when the sediment block gets kinda brownish stained. It starts off white and I trigger when it starts getting a light color. I make over 1000 gallon per year and these filters last 6 - 9 months.

I have had the RO membrane for as long as I have had the system about 4 years. Before use, I flush it throughly. Water going in is about 150 tds. Co I guess out 2 tds. I have a new RO membrane in reserve.

Finally, I have 2 DI canisters. I have a tds monitor after the RO membrane and one after the first DI canister. When the DI canister reads above 0 tds, I take it out and repack it with new DI resin. I take canister 2 and move it to one and put the repacked canister into position 2. A canister lasts about 6 weeks. It costs me about $50 per year.

With your small system, you will probably only have to replace DI every now and then. You might want to get a tds tester and figure out how to measure various places in your system just to keep tabs.

For my annual supplies, my RODI water costs about a dime a gallon.

Salt costs about 40 cents a gallon. I am rounding up costs.

Mixed salt water then comes out at 50 cents gallon. So my cost tends to be half of a LFS and I don’t have to go drive there and fill up a bunch of containers.
Also, i have my own quality control and I can select my salt mix. I also, always have salt water and RODI water on hand.

The ro buddy is not see through so a TDS is a must with this unit.

 

[katonge]

I just ordered one from BRS that has a built in TDS measure.