I am a big fan of Spectrapure products, they don't sell just anything but spend years researching and developing their products. Many of the things they sell are patented, copyrighted or trademarked. They truly are innovators.
The only proven 1:1 low waste system available today that really works is Spectrapure's UHE system. Others flush with tap water which contains TDS while theirs uses a microprocessor controller, solenoid valves, a booster pump and stored RO/DI water to flush the membrane pickle or store it in DI when not in use so it draws the TDS out of the membrane and it lasts. This is my personal system and it is going on 7 years old now on the original RO membrane. My softened tap water TDS averaged 560, the RO only TDS is still between 2 and 3 using a calibrated COM-100 handheld TDS meter and the dual DI's both are 0 TDS. best of all is the first or MaxCap DI cartrdiges last over a year each and the second or SilicaBuster DI lasts over 3 years. I have a 100G mixed reef with a 30G sump and a 16G nano in Phoenix where it is hot and go through plenty of water. The system was expensive but paid for itself completely in the second to third year of operation due to its membrane, filter. DI and water savings.
If that is out of your reach which it is for most people I would recommend their refurbished system. Its the best $125 you will ever spend.
You need to know your tap water TDS, hardness, pressure and temperature before considering a normal system low waste ratio. You will only be succesful if you have lower than normal TDS and soft water, otherwise stick with 3:1 to 4:1 depending on your water conditions. If you have very soft or softened water and a TDS in the 50 range you can get away with 2:1 but never 1:1. membranes MUST be flushed and it is the waste ratio that provides that flushing action, not so called flush kits. If the waste is not going down the drain it is collecting and hardening on the membrane fabric where it collects until the membrane bursts and fails.
The only proven 1:1 low waste system available today that really works is Spectrapure's UHE system. Others flush with tap water which contains TDS while theirs uses a microprocessor controller, solenoid valves, a booster pump and stored RO/DI water to flush the membrane pickle or store it in DI when not in use so it draws the TDS out of the membrane and it lasts. This is my personal system and it is going on 7 years old now on the original RO membrane. My softened tap water TDS averaged 560, the RO only TDS is still between 2 and 3 using a calibrated COM-100 handheld TDS meter and the dual DI's both are 0 TDS. best of all is the first or MaxCap DI cartrdiges last over a year each and the second or SilicaBuster DI lasts over 3 years. I have a 100G mixed reef with a 30G sump and a 16G nano in Phoenix where it is hot and go through plenty of water. The system was expensive but paid for itself completely in the second to third year of operation due to its membrane, filter. DI and water savings.
If that is out of your reach which it is for most people I would recommend their refurbished system. Its the best $125 you will ever spend.
You need to know your tap water TDS, hardness, pressure and temperature before considering a normal system low waste ratio. You will only be succesful if you have lower than normal TDS and soft water, otherwise stick with 3:1 to 4:1 depending on your water conditions. If you have very soft or softened water and a TDS in the 50 range you can get away with 2:1 but never 1:1. membranes MUST be flushed and it is the waste ratio that provides that flushing action, not so called flush kits. If the waste is not going down the drain it is collecting and hardening on the membrane fabric where it collects until the membrane bursts and fails.
