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Paul B
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I used it for years with no problem. But I didn't buy the entire thing, just the replacement resins and I put it in an acrylic tube.
They are great, but they don't last long and are much more expensive than if you just buy bulk resins and put that in a tube and run water through it.
They are great, but they don't last long and are much more expensive than if you just buy bulk resins and put that in a tube and run water through it.
LegoZ81
Well-Known Member
short term they work out but you will fairly quickly exhaust the resin as you are tossing full TDS water at them. It is basically the same setup as post DI on a RO unit, but without the RO to drastically cut the TDS prior to the resin.
You will be very very lucky to get 15 to 30 gallons of low TDS, not even 0 TDS water per refill cartridge. Thye work out to be extremely expensive per gallon of water compared to a RO/DI which averages less than a nickel a gallon to make. If you are lucky and get 30 gallons out of a refill that still works out to over 50 cents a gallon for treated water which is more than you would pay if you went to the water and ice store or vending machine which probably work better.
Those who report success or satisfaction rarely have a TDS meter so in all honesty have no idea whatsoever if it works or not, it more of a warm fuzzy feeling you are doing something good.
Don't waste your money. Buy gallons of distilled water until you can save $120 to buy a real reef quality RO/DI system.
Those who report success or satisfaction rarely have a TDS meter so in all honesty have no idea whatsoever if it works or not, it more of a warm fuzzy feeling you are doing something good.
Don't waste your money. Buy gallons of distilled water until you can save $120 to buy a real reef quality RO/DI system.
fjpod
Community Member
I've used one successfully for years...and no, I don't have a TDS meter, but your welcome to come and use your meter on my water. If you own a rodi, you don't know if your water is any good either without a TDS meter. So, yes, if you want to check the effectiveness of your system, whatever it is, you really need the meter.
Of course, I only have a biocube 14 and a 20 gal frag tank. The resin discolors as the water moves up the column so you can tell how much life your resin has left. The life of it depends on the hardness of your water. Very hard water...very short lifespan, and vice versa. I'm in NYC, we have naturally soft water. I get 250 gallons easy, and no waste water. A cartridge costs about 20 bucks, you do the math. It's a very viable option even if you only get 100 gallons.
A large lfs in NYC that I used to frequent uses one. No, I don't work for the company. Distilled water is what? $1.50 a gallon? so if you need a large volume of water, go for the rodi...otw the tapwater filter is ok.
Of course, I only have a biocube 14 and a 20 gal frag tank. The resin discolors as the water moves up the column so you can tell how much life your resin has left. The life of it depends on the hardness of your water. Very hard water...very short lifespan, and vice versa. I'm in NYC, we have naturally soft water. I get 250 gallons easy, and no waste water. A cartridge costs about 20 bucks, you do the math. It's a very viable option even if you only get 100 gallons.
A large lfs in NYC that I used to frequent uses one. No, I don't work for the company. Distilled water is what? $1.50 a gallon? so if you need a large volume of water, go for the rodi...otw the tapwater filter is ok.
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As I said before, its giving you a warm fuzzy feeling and you have no idea if its working or not. Without a TDS meter you are shooting in the dark since color changing resins are an absolutely horrible indicator of resin condition. With most resins you are way past exhausted before it turns color. Yes the NY area has low TDS but it also has one of the highest sediment loadings or silt indexes in the US and is under daily EPA fines in the tens of thousands of dollars until treatment plants are built and in service. Distilled water can be had for around 50 cents a gallon in bulk.
Spectrapure tells me they sell more RO/DI units in the NY area than any other one location if that gives you any idea of water quality, its not what you think. I have done municipal water treatment as my profession for the past 37 years and am certified to run any plant built today so have a pretty good idea what I am speaking about.
Spectrapure tells me they sell more RO/DI units in the NY area than any other one location if that gives you any idea of water quality, its not what you think. I have done municipal water treatment as my profession for the past 37 years and am certified to run any plant built today so have a pretty good idea what I am speaking about.
JackoChang
Active Member
Where are you getting this info? Links?
Magiksurfman
New Member
If you can get a hold of a tds meter try water from the drinking water machines i use the Glacier machine next to my place $0.25 a gallon i usually get 5ppm
they have this posted on em as far as how they filter http://www.glacierwater.com/pdfs/Vended%20Water%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf pretty much everything but the di.
not all machines are alike some ive pulled 25-30ppm i think they add stuff to the water to make it "taste" better kinda like the minerals the pure filters talk about PUR Technology - PURwater.com im more of a straight out the tap kinda guy myself but this water machine water has been doing pretty good in my reef.
they have this posted on em as far as how they filter http://www.glacierwater.com/pdfs/Vended%20Water%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf pretty much everything but the di.
not all machines are alike some ive pulled 25-30ppm i think they add stuff to the water to make it "taste" better kinda like the minerals the pure filters talk about PUR Technology - PURwater.com im more of a straight out the tap kinda guy myself but this water machine water has been doing pretty good in my reef.
fjpod
Community Member
The OP asked whether the tap water filter by API. I addressed his question.
Buy rodi water in bulk you say? How many people just happen to have a thousand gallon holding tank sitting around? How much would that cost?
The elements of even the best rodi eventually fail...and you have no way of knowing unless you test your water, same as the API. The forums are full of folks talking about their membrane failure, yada, yada....
Buy rodi water in bulk you say? How many people just happen to have a thousand gallon holding tank sitting around? How much would that cost?
The elements of even the best rodi eventually fail...and you have no way of knowing unless you test your water, same as the API. The forums are full of folks talking about their membrane failure, yada, yada....
Look up the EPA water system compliance page, you will see NYC is operating under a consent decree or court order. It is common knowledge in the water industry and no big secret.
Why would you need a 1000 gallon holding tank? I store 23 gallons of RO/DI in my ATO reservoir hooked directly to my RO/DI system and another 25 gallons in drinking water jugs for large water changes.
The fact is the tap water filter is an extremely poor investment and cost much more than either owning and operaing your own RO/DI system or purchasing water, in 1G jugs, 5G jugs or whatever. It is an expensive piece of mediocre equipment that will eat youir lunch in replacements and you need a TDS meter to know so.
RO membranes rarely fail all of a sudden, it takes years. Yes, you need a TDS meter, it would be foolish to own a RO or RO/DI system and not have one since it is the only way to know if it is performing or not. Membranes normally last 18 months to 3 years when using lower end replacement filters and up to 10 years or more when using high quality low micron replacements. This is why the cost of ownership of a good system is less than for a low end system even though the low end system may cost less initially, it costs more in replacements and maintenance.
Why would you need a 1000 gallon holding tank? I store 23 gallons of RO/DI in my ATO reservoir hooked directly to my RO/DI system and another 25 gallons in drinking water jugs for large water changes.
The fact is the tap water filter is an extremely poor investment and cost much more than either owning and operaing your own RO/DI system or purchasing water, in 1G jugs, 5G jugs or whatever. It is an expensive piece of mediocre equipment that will eat youir lunch in replacements and you need a TDS meter to know so.
RO membranes rarely fail all of a sudden, it takes years. Yes, you need a TDS meter, it would be foolish to own a RO or RO/DI system and not have one since it is the only way to know if it is performing or not. Membranes normally last 18 months to 3 years when using lower end replacement filters and up to 10 years or more when using high quality low micron replacements. This is why the cost of ownership of a good system is less than for a low end system even though the low end system may cost less initially, it costs more in replacements and maintenance.
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Devonjevon
Active Member
I agree 100%. I bought a cheap 100 gph unit and it was painfully slow. Had to do so many upgrades to make it work I shoulda purchased a better unit.
fjpod
Community Member
So I got hold of a tds meter. My "dirty filthy" NYC tap water comes through the faucet at about 38 ppm. After it goes through the API tap water filter (actually a dionizer), it reads 1 or 2. Not bad for a forty dollar investment. I have made well over 200 gallons with it so far and the resin color still indicates two thirds still good. oh, did I mention that my filter is over 5 years old and that I didn't use it for several years, but have started using it again lately?
So, for small volumes of water, I think it is great. I'm thinking of getting another one and hooking the two of them up in series and probably get my tds down to zero. Really, when you listen to people buying new elements for their Rodi,...pre-filter, micron filter, carbon block, membrane, dionizer...waste water...this is so much simpler and you'll never feel the cost.
So, for small volumes of water, I think it is great. I'm thinking of getting another one and hooking the two of them up in series and probably get my tds down to zero. Really, when you listen to people buying new elements for their Rodi,...pre-filter, micron filter, carbon block, membrane, dionizer...waste water...this is so much simpler and you'll never feel the cost.
Only if you have extremely low TDS such as you do. If you had the national average TDS or 250 its a horrible investment that keeps on costing.
The NY area does have low TDS but horrible TSS or suspended solids due to the fact much of the water is unfiltered and does not meet EPA drinking water standards. TSS does not measure as TDS.
The NY area does have low TDS but horrible TSS or suspended solids due to the fact much of the water is unfiltered and does not meet EPA drinking water standards. TSS does not measure as TDS.
