RODI Systems - the good, bad and ...

[RWS6605]

I am wanting to set up a RODI system. I know there are tons of options out there but am curious what most people are using.
BRS
LiquaGen
aquatic life
Or how about this little guy?

My tank is a 55 gallon with 10 gal sump. I will be making an ATO as well. I know the GPD production on the little guy is low but I just have a hard time spending 150$+ for my first go around in the SW world.

Thanks!

 

[JasonK84]

I have the RO buddie+DI. It works just fine. It is slow and the cartridges get quite expensive. If I was to do it over again I'd pick something else. That said, it does work and produces 0 TDS.

 

[KStatefan]

My current set up it a mix of Air Water & Ice, Spectrapure, Buckeye Hydro.

If I was purchasing a new system it would be Buckeye Hydro or Spectrapure.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I absolutely love my Vertex Puratek Deluxe system. One of THE BEST investments I've made in my reef.

 

[chefjpaul]

Spectrapure all the way

 

[Zotch]

BRS 4 stage value plus.

 

[Mikeneedsahobby]

I have the RO buddy. I echo jasonk84. It works fine. It is small and slow but the water is good. I ran through the di quickly. Instead of refilling it I bought the brs di add on with tds monitors. I also added a pressure gage and a few valves for flushing. All in it would have been better to buy the brs system instead.

I wouldn’t buy the ro buddy.

 

[Pntbll687]

I have the aquatic life twist in system. It's good for what I need. Cartridges can get expensive, but the changing of all 5 cartridges takes me maybe one minute

 

[wesman42]

AquaticLife has proprietary filters that cost an arm and a leg. By the time you actually replace ALL of the filters + DI resin in it, you're out more than $60 just for the refills. To me, it's not worth it. I had one....and it was painfully slow. Ended up selling it on craigslist for like $20 to another poor sap that'll need to spend $60 on refills.

Long story short, if it's a unit you plan to keep for a long time (several years), then spend the money up front on a BRS 4-5 stage system. I'd rather spend the $40-50 on refills for a larger unit (more surface area, less replacement).

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Good points here. The AquaticLife filters work fine, but the only standard filter is the membrane. The rest are proprietary and are expensive. Plus, there are few expansion options since it's a non-standard system.

I'd probably go Buckeye Hydro, BRS, or Spectrapure. Russ @Buckeye Hydro sponsors R2R and gives great advice when it comes to RO/DI systems. Definitely check out his stock.

 

[RWS6605]

Thank you all for your comments. I forgot I made this post. Apparently don’t have a setting right and wasn’t getting these notifications.

I was able to find a used BRS 5 stage for $75 with extra resin, pressure gauge and TDS meter. Just need to get new filters.

Think I will invest in the water saver option as well.

 

[KrisReef]

Nice score on a 5 stage. It should serve you well.

 

[JoshH]

Thank you all for your comments. I forgot I made this post. Apparently don’t have a setting right and wasn’t getting these notifications.

I was able to find a used BRS 5 stage for $75 with extra resin, pressure gauge and TDS meter. Just need to get new filters.

Think I will invest in the water saver option as well.

Before investing in the water saver, what kind of TDS are you working with out of your tap? And PSI?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

look no further.....


https://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI-SYSTEMS/MaxCap-Standard-90-GPD-RO-DI-System

 

[RWS6605]

Before investing in the water saver, what kind of TDS are you working with out of your tap? And PSI?

PSI is around 80. Not sure on TDS straight from tap. Meter was reading 0 in and 0 out from the DI though.

 

[RWS6605]

Scratch that psi is 65.

 

[dMiles]

I absolutely love my Vertex Puratek Deluxe system. One of THE BEST investments I've made in my reef.

Hoping to pick one up on Black Friday or Christmas.

 

[SeaJay]

I think today is the most exciting day of aquarium keeping for me since the day I first put 160 gallons of store bought RO water in and fired up the pumps. Today I get to go from this:

To this:

Got a water supply and sump pit right there in my basement utility closet, so it would take all of 10 minutes to install, but I don’t have a fitting to connect the inlet tubing to the 3/4 pex supply. I’d be doing a water change right now, but I’ve got a sick kid so hardware store run is gonna have to wait til tomorrow.