RO/DI unit recommendation

[dwolson]

I’m looking at getting an ro/di unit but I’m at a loss at which one to get. There are so many options (3 stage, 5 stage...). I have been looking at the systems that BRS sells. I’ll only be using if for the reef aquarium. I have well water and I also use a water softener. My TDS is 317. Any recommendations?

 

[Gary S]

I’m looking at getting an ro/di unit but I’m at a loss at which one to get. There are so many options (3 stage, 5 stage...). I have been looking at the systems that BRS sells. I’ll only be using if for the reef aquarium. I have well water and I also use a water softener. My TDS is 317. Any recommendations?

I absolutely love my RO/DI buddy from amazon. I've got terrible water (iron, sulphur, ect) and it come out perfectly clean. Easy set up, easy to change filters, little footprint. Although they arnt great for producing large amounts In a short peroid...tops o can get about 4 gallons an hour

 

[dwolson]

How do I determine how any stages I should get? Lots of options and lots of price differences.

 

[JoshH]

Stages really depends on a few things, what are you looking for out of a system? Low waste? What is in your water? Any chlorine or choramine?(probably neither given you're on a well) what's your water pressure? Does your well run on a 30/50 switch? TBH it doesn't matter what system you get, it matters what is inside the system you get. Filters and membranes are the heart and soul of your system, so this is what you need to be paying attention to when shopping around for a new system.

You can have a quick browse through this thread and see what a lot of reefers are running and what they are dealing with water wise. Myself I love my Spectrapure and wouldn't buy any other system. There filters and membranes IMO are really at the top of the market quality wise. BRS are really good as well and many, many reefers have them and love them as well.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/so-whats-everyones-tap-tds-and-how-do-you-handle-it.355965/

Oh and FWIW this is the system I would have gone with if I knew what I know now when I first set up my system. The only thing I would add is another DI stage and in your case, maybe a booster pump for the two membranes.

http://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI-SYSTEMS/CSPDI-Manual-Flush-180-GPD-RO-DI-System

 

[jeffp1]

I have been running a Aqua-FX Barracuda for about 22 years. No problems.

 

[theMeat]

On well water a 4 stage is enough
Stages...
1- 5 micron particle
2- 1 micron particle
3- membrane
4- di resin

At 317 tds i’d add a whole house water filter onto the water softener. Probably a 5 micron but will take some experimenting to see what size impurities are coming from your well

And JoshH gave good advice. I wouldn’t get cheap crap but it’s not the unit, it what’s inside and how well it’s set up for your situation

 

[mfinn]

Checkout Spectrapure

 

[Orm Embar]

Stages really depends on a few things, what are you looking for out of a system? Low waste? What is in your water? Any chlorine or choramine?(probably neither given you're on a well) what's your water pressure? Does your well run on a 30/50 switch? TBH it doesn't matter what system you get, it matters what is inside the system you get. Filters and membranes are the heart and soul of your system, so this is what you need to be paying attention to when shopping around for a new system.

You can have a quick browse through this thread and see what a lot of reefers are running and what they are dealing with water wise. Myself I love my Spectrapure and wouldn't buy any other system. There filters and membranes IMO are really at the top of the market quality wise. BRS are really good as well and many, many reefers have them and love them as well.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/so-whats-everyones-tap-tds-and-how-do-you-handle-it.355965/

Agreed; I had a SpectraPure unit many years ago, and when I re-entered the hobby in the last few years I went with SpectraPure again. Great service, intro pack was very reasonable price wise, and excellent quality. They have a great explanation about how a few extra percent rejection on the membrane helps your resin last a lot longer. Don't forget the float valve autoshutoff to prevent floods!

 

[dragon99]

I'd suggest contacting Russ @Buckeye Hydro , I bet he'd be happy to walk you through what you need.

A regular 4-stage should be plenty. Options from there that you need to consider are connections, shutoff valves, etc

 

[amazongb]

I have a 4 stage, and some folks have told me that more stages = less waste water..

 

[JoshH]

I have a 4 stage, and some folks have told me that more stages = less waste water..

More stages for less waste water refers specifically to having an extra membrane. Adding more carbon blocks or sediment filters will have no effect on decreasing waste water BUT more of them can help extend the life of your filters in general which is an awesome benefit in and of itself.

 

[lapin]

Well water. In Texas well water has a lot of CO2. Sediment is usually taken care of by your house water filter system. You will still need the sediment filter. You might think of sediment, charcoal, ro then 2 di resin filters. I have rain water collection now. 100 x better than well water.

 

[andyg1960]

I have been using the BRS 150gpd ( with the 2 membranes) or a while and love it.

 

[theMeat]

Well water. In Texas well water has a lot of CO2. Sediment is usually taken care of by your house water filter system. You will still need the sediment filter. You might think of sediment, charcoal, ro then 2 di resin filters. I have rain water collection now. 100 x better than well water.

Lotsa sediment is not taken out by water softeners. As a matter of fact, although not usual, a softener might add sediment depending on the quality of water going in.
That why on city water a sediment filter typically goes before a softener, and with well water it typically goes after