Ro di system help choosing!!

brownsalt92 · Mar 16, 2016

So my fiance and I are closing on our first house on April 19! So with that I will be moving my 29 reef and 110 sps tank. I always get my water from the local grocery store. My dad's house is on his own well and he didn't wanna put a Ro system in. I'm looking to see what system I should use? My house is on a community well for my whole subdivision I beleave. I also plan on in the near future doing a 250 gal cube sps tank!

How many stage system? How many gpd should I get? Pros cons?? How often will I need to change the resins out?

Maritimer · Mar 16, 2016

I've got the Spectra-Pure with one resin cartridge and no TDS meter (pressure guage only). Picked it up from Marine Depot. I've got a 65gallon display, so probably don't need half the RO/DI you will. Nominal 75gpd works well enough for me - that would be a nearly complete fill for my entire system - but almost certainly would prove tedious working with a 250gallon display.

Had I done a bit more research before ordering, probably would have gone for the extra resin cartridge and the TDS meter.

~Bruce

brownsalt92 · Mar 17, 2016

Maritimer said:
I've got the Spectra-Pure with one resin cartridge and no TDS meter (pressure guage only). Picked it up from Marine Depot. I've got a 65gallon display, so probably don't need half the RO/DI you will. Nominal 75gpd works well enough for me - that would be a nearly complete fill for my entire system - but almost certainly would prove tedious working with a 250gallon display.

Had I done a bit more research before ordering, probably would have gone for the extra resin cartridge and the TDS meter.

~Bruce

Thanks I will have to look in to that! I think it will make life easier than running to the grocery store for 50 gals a week for my tanks and my dad's 300!

fragit · Mar 17, 2016

I just got a Spectrapure Max Cap, it's an investment, but water is the lifeblood in a tank IMO so get the best you can afford.

AZDesertRat · Mar 17, 2016

Pay less attention to the number of stages and more attention to what each stage contains, more is not better in this case. You will need a minimum of 4 stages, a 1 micron or smaller sediment filter, a single 1 micron or smaller carbon block , the RO membrane and a full size 20 oz. vertical refillable DI. Spectrapure is an excellent vendor for several reasons, one is they specially treat all their membranes which is proven to increase their performance and another is they custom blend all their own DI resins in house based on thousands of hours of testing. They also use no larger than 1 micron near absolute rated sediment and carbon block filters, provide capillary tube flow restrictors which you the end user can adjust to suit your excact water conditions and their systems come with an inline pressure gauge.

There are questions you need to answer before buying a system though and these questions can be found here:
http://spectrapure.com/Reverse-Osmosis-General-Info
http://spectrapure.com/maximize-performance-minimize-cost
http://spectrapure.com/frequently-asked-questions-p2#UNDERSTANDING

Two other vendors I highly recommend also are www.buckeyehydro.com and www.purelyh2o.com .

Whatever you end up with, make sure you get a good handheld TDS meter which is ATC temperature compensated. I would pass on the inlines, I own two and never even use them as they are never as accurate as the handhelds are plus they limit you to two or three locations and you will find you need to test TDS in more locations than that.

Opus · Mar 17, 2016

Google spectrapure refurbished, click on the link for spectrapure's site. That will take you to a 90gpd unit for $125. One of the best on the market. You can always add to it if you find you need/want other options like another di cartridge. If your new house has low water pressure (below 60psi) you may need to invest in a pressure booster pump. If you have room at the new house, you may want to look into getting a storage tank or 2. I used to use a rubbermade trash can that held 30 or 40 gallons many years ago. Not sure what is safe to use these days. If you decide to do that, you will need to buy a auto shut-off kit for the RO unit so once the storage tank is full it will shut off the RO unit.

120reefkeeper · Mar 17, 2016

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1458249234.471601.jpg

brownsalt92 · Mar 17, 2016

Opus said:
Google spectrapure refurbished, click on the link for spectrapure's site. That will take you to a 90gpd unit for $125. One of the best on the market. You can always add to it if you find you need/want other options like another di cartridge. If your new house has low water pressure (below 60psi) you may need to invest in a pressure booster pump. If you have room at the new house, you may want to look into getting a storage tank or 2. I used to use a rubbermade trash can that held 30 or 40 gallons many years ago. Not sure what is safe to use these days. If you decide to do that, you will need to buy a auto shut-off kit for the RO unit so once the storage tank is full it will shut off the RO unit.

Yea I plan on either 2 brute 40 gallon cans or 2 food safe 55 gallon elastic drums. Sounds like you guys have good luck with spectra pure! I'm gonna look into that

brownsalt92 · Mar 17, 2016

Plastic*

Greasemonkey13 · Mar 18, 2016

I use the the trash cans because you can always get a set of wheels to roll 1 around with a pump and salt mix ready for your water change

brownsalt92 · Mar 18, 2016

Greasemonkey13 said:
I use the the trash cans because you can always get a set of wheels to roll 1 around with a pump and salt mix ready for your water change

That's what I was thinking

brownsalt92 · May 22, 2016

Bought this system yall recommended man is this much easier for water I hated going to the store for it! Now I just need to get a booster pump since it's at 50 psi. What would you recommend for a ato for a 110

AZDesertRat · May 22, 2016

50 psi is OK, it's what Dow Filmtec rates their advertised rates at.
I have been using a Spectrapure UPLC-ll ATO for over 8 years and love it. Multiple safety levels, multiple fill rates, can adjust levels anywhere between 1/10" and 4" and all at the touch of a button.

brownsalt92 · May 25, 2016

Is it better to have it hooked up before a water softer or after?

azbigjohn · May 25, 2016

brownsalt92 said:
Is it better to have it hooked up before a water softer or after?

After. The sodium added in the softening process makes the ROs job that much easier, and extends cartridge life.

azbigjohn · May 25, 2016

For what it is worth, I have a Spectrapure MaxCap, and it is the best investment I have made. Of course, I live in Phoenix, and can just drive down to Spectrapure to get replacement filters. The customer service there is awesome, especially Jeremy!

AZDesertRat · May 25, 2016

Always use softened water, it is the best thing you can possibly do for a membrane. All membrane manufacturers recommend softened water and not will not honor a warranty issue if softened water was not used.

brownsalt92 · May 25, 2016

Gotcha good to know

brownsalt92 · May 29, 2016

If I'm buying replacement filters should I switch from 1 micron to .5 micron? Also would it be beneficial to put a prefilled for like a rv befor my ro system?? @AZDesertRat

AZDesertRat · May 29, 2016

I buy the best sediment and carbon block filters I can find. If they remove particulates before it gets to the RO membrane it stays cleaner and lasts longer, more than offsetting the few $$ more you pay for the better filters.

Unless you know you have a particular sand or sediment problem that plugs filters I would not add anything in front of the sediment and carbon block filter.