What RO/DI unit are you currently using in 2019?

How do you get "filtered" water for your aquarium?

  • RO/DI Unit

    Votes: 551 87.9%
  • Local Fish Store

    Votes: 43 6.9%
  • Friend

    Votes: 1 0.2%
  • Use Tap Water

    Votes: 16 2.6%
  • Other (please explain in the thread)

    Votes: 16 2.6%

  • Total voters
    627
Frankenstien version for 12 years:

1 micron RO save.Z sediment filter
1 micron Chloramine carbon block
Spectrapure RO membrane
2 Aquatic life mixed bed resin units
HM Digital dual TDS meter
one post filter chamber filled with aragonite( I use mine for drinking water also)
 
I spent 7 years getting my water from the LFS. 2 years ago, I moved, cutting the distance from the same LFS from 8 miles to 2. I told myself “this is supporting my local store, a small business in my neighborhood.” They charge $0.45/gallon for RO. I change 10 gallon at a time, so I was paying $4.50 a week. I got an RODI with my tax return this year, because i can make the same amount (10 gallon) of RODI water for $0.30 worth of water a week (including rejection water, not counting filter costs—we are on septic, don’t pay for sewer, so it’s just watering my backyard).

My wife was FURIOUS this week. She could hear the rejection water going down the drain. “Our water bill is going to go through the roof, isn’t it?!?” I did the numbers for her, and said for $150 I could get a pump, new flush restrictor, and second membrane to reduce the waste water and bring down the cost from $0.30 to $0.18, which would pay for itself in 25 and a half years. She wasn’t impressed but grumbled about finding a catch basin.
Tell her to use waste water for her flowers and lawn.
 
Everyone needs to get on board with the non mixed di resin. I’ve saved so much $ since I use them separately. I have 3 di containers. 1st caiton, 2nd anion, 3rd mixed bed. I almost never have to change the mixed bed anymore. The anion goes quickly, but then again I have a 700g system that gets 60g changes every week or 2 lately.
Why 2 anion?
 
I buy Distilled water from my local grocery store [in package, not from the machine].
I would test the quality of that water, they not always what they seem to be. But if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
I'm constantly shaking my head at the things some women get upset about. Petty, trivial stuff. A couple 10 dollar bills a month on a hobby? Really????

Would she prefer you were at the bar drinking and perhaps flirting with the cocktail waitress or local fluzzy?

You could get a race car. Tens of thousands of dollars every year, to maintain the car, the truck it takes to tow that car to the track, the entry fees, the fuel and hotel costs......

Radio control airplanes? Minimum $5--$7 thousand every year.... if you want to really enjoy that hobby.

Fishing? Hunting?

Many of those hobbies aren't interesting to women, so it separates you two. But a fish tank keeps you HOME, where you can be with your wife and family.

I'm a blessed man. My wife likes fish tanks, fishing poles, guns and hot rods. We're on the hunt for a 1930's --1940's fat fender coupe or pickup for a resto mod project. She wants to learn how to rebuild an engine and use a welder. I've already taught her how to use a torque wrench, change lubricant in the engine, transmission and differentials, and flush the cooling system.
That's why I'm single now, less headaches. Just works for me. I work, sleep, dog, fish tank, hunting, deep sea fishing, RC trail trucks and a nice date here and there, then repeat .
 
Last edited:
That's why I'm single now, less headaches. Just works for me. I work, sleep, dog, fish tank, hunting, deep sea fishing, RC trail trucks and a nice date here and there, then repeat .
I almost stuck to being single after a miserable 14yr marriage to a woman with untreated mental health issues, and subsequent divorce.

I got lucky and found a really great gal after only dating for 5 months. Actually she found me on a dating app. She sent a message 1st, then called me 1st, asked me out, and 2yrs later she asked me to marry her.

I respect that a LOT. She's not a mouse and she gets what she wants. Not afraid to speak up and she loves me like a king. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.
 
These results are after membrane and then after DI. Boosted 50gpd RO buddie and matching pump.
TDS_from_membrane.jpeg

TDS_from_DI.jpeg


I am getting right at 80gpd (calculated)
 
I use an ancient spectrapure with a GE membrane & BRS DI resin after the RO.
Product water goes to a pressure tank so I can have a RODI faucet & also fills my water-change reservoir. It also feeds the ATO.
Supply is controlled electrically with a manual bypass because the demand valve buzzes really loudly sometimes!
There's check valves on the faucet & reservoir supply--not to prevent backflow, but to prefer the ATO if more than one use point calls for water at the same time.
Control circuit purges each time the ATO calls for water, then adds water to sump.

oTt3TRQRwNyK6aJyL0yYIa4LxK2aJACnXzLiYaLYx0j5oNJvAPYXork6nIGXA8LObUa763iNMUN4PZXkQfiL0lhZ9r4yZ5Jgg-3w1MNvrqU4podFZjhZ8IaGZSJLg9OzJYjgdXKaADoOqf44CpMmNYxjCquinNVMGQY7qGfKcjLEB7FoZ_XOVfSUj9ACUfySh-D5215A3pvl4tzYUgmHX84rm9i0KxzLfGki7X-yHgEv_8HY1AMB6ccgWZBsSYsmsR5b-sIMBGPPPiOkMX27GIgJ549bObtmWl0qaxxhaf0jI6gSQFHc9Kwrlx9PJZ01P8dwnPGh4HOjAw9hna4YPBEOOAsSO9QDg9ESFYTFZAcvSl-QgML2IZQWIPak6Ihzwm6R_BXf-tGzMO-_kCExtQHqEsjWfqWzk3MKxARuTOvjkpe_DfLcFVJ4tg-d46u4x5jMZhqQYtXoFi5OM66F6oApP_Xv3_pekDViSyIV3Wof27YuCLqEX3XxkO-BH1ur1nqf3iEn5rBACotR0k49Nz3G5QdXxB-qIiN8Z-jRBd0O6hMX0dvHbebrbwzXYfXUDsRyqjjejVsRUvYVFJ73R-cMDasofzopsA0oIVHOee_aq2uVJsjTZEenPlCI6OdmOAPTiioskWwHfvq6Uxg_Ra_obtAKCmg=w480-h640-no
-0W_2boBXLBpSEN6lc03H2H7lvJnKE1Nxqd0OSUKX3D_hOxWSu1GobKXdul0e5tlUNQK3mn0nIo30wUIBoSIf0PrX6iRtVAUgJmzFRPZjmZ8-rDiHA0EIOwaKG6km-wv6oGTIlo1Z2ZLx-ZIVyHFrKXG9_nxWXfsgfDDBkA8VVnSn9YDoRcvxmT8gHsB0ZDVTd66scOyJwRoXpke4QuiI0NbVAc5JfkgT8f7ANG3Kko7Pcz1L94sghjyrtOx66OwOrHbitpvkhvw9aXZh2FHSAINodk41ZtMiEuaS4nLwmFfwzIN-CWn9yaKd_QJV_Hm_av-jxZINcWs-eOMp-ZPLBtxzxdgciUD54eXtRA2QJbHqVhT3KsVZKlcRFP6kS2cypeFekpFM55fzBCfyFgAOHAaqNtZ0dJebB-nQXD7KQjTapxVYC0b_JPipi_D6QDe8km1AqqfNfTQl2hok9y9731HE_uEBWpl3RZhR1KotG29ZqoTSXEXQP3KTvq-oMKIoooRltdLwLCVtHYxEbTXLiKc92FZy8VzSd8Ui-bM5nuLZUF8GzWdHgVsseC3Nr5P4Xsx1qu6mHsec9-khrddhf6EKf7nwyR9jxbwXi8vdW-XlX67ZAfoBwshoVvYA9AgIG6GN4DYh6usq3RG_bz4j5ZETaRNBPo=w640-h480-no
VGKnhbfWFC0mZ0ZRK2RUrp5AeiSKuTwMgWijEDEdXUUg5p5cwtsEOZIhLHyuQgbou4R3WKXoTGTPk0umyDHxWbPEFs0I3IHxtFVqC7zQe4NsomLhL7LAzPmlQozo1cwoFBs1uMrEfjbcV_2Ib-NQy0lqgFsiThF67GPtCOtyUf6RyRHPMKeJHmJA8qDfBuM877DRLCy60MRhY6Qt7pkX4t2-1Ju8KEhIiBMeoaZQYcxVYaBXeH_TN87PiazcSKbmME02_zbJmXRuowZkPbrR0VhoHQYbqPCt_HyWZPCOdnR2IAcyXJRg06ccHVmJF9biI-RFrjyCIJ7d2cpWQfjPWzP-T1mefyW0n7xzi4kB-IK-gohepyWrU7ktJ7JLdWx2oP3lgG50Z_Jkg9OzYPxeKHrH8eoigZ1qdSYjNQZ5nEu_56Nx76sj_FlY_DHS8zeD1BPCkC57wYzNMVgKfyc8A9Zx3IHpzYNIkeMlgSkeRj2FtEyYRkB6ENzFdx78c39plcVikzVzcAlNZEBT2a40tDgmMdHFQGHPcS85lcpywyj_NaHH2nEp_y7YU5HX6rDEQSc9nmOblh7QadzY-J02WL8bzjYIIWk7pWBlm6aq8iyERxf8F8wd6epgjtpHIPpnV0IN2mjDvK7IFUnHfrLc-HWXsWAOmRk=w479-h640-no
5TvQI7Z_uZVXb_vNHSUI1eGEXu9eetq_MFIDzlM1M_VvJ0Jrzqz7B3i6xPSnVdMOHCesa7RXJU6VuYkLICsRIiTTZFglN_kO7TR_ShP9md-sPL2hdJAe1tnAhYjAE0tQU_NbOJ72CVi46RAfOV2cm2j5b_emQmH_J0Z0Oi0s-aa9JipMGmJMwLm9tw3rqPS9AAvxyDEWnOpkdSoC4vo-MwvhNS1x8N8SDLc3aix1AvUYBZi55n93ZwxnxJKOAPhCKCHrTh8TDRDof_69YQZXgn8rmqfkgD7kY98QpviAOp5hWXFPYBAYJUtZ6fMGwNHWszuSk_LikCsNPOhrTRYqoq4nsbHbbxWCWwDbSij9EKp-gyzyi4rxBMulDcEm0KZediNR1joXOsXA8dHhdiULI8h1Z5oOPRPxZNjj_0YGp1wX_PegxjC3ayhpzGnJB-gL989KYjAzC6Kg8ac5voriMCD6KdHn2XTwytKc19viViL-Hr5phYqQskrmYwdVcC0YOOsvRN4sswS_kemLqd29UfVwxqmyA-EiiJIUI-gE6hCvYwXBjuJaD9KQKN4ercIRDixWP6aZHeuQh1ffyiw0CsYohF7srMqYpW842RNuO1x5lUJ11mHdyUZFtKerw9cEO6Yh4SxVcm_MRzG5bwjp_SaNFaq2LmA=w480-h640-no
e7hUKR7Klb-regnuUsYVwK4B6bqXnVnOJP4nM1hUHA2vbrPSkd333L1oHoUiwEBbm6tZaMnQg6ikry9kou3tMhI6sKzNgoGRiFNLj2u9_KJ45N-DJ2ABCNXNfNhqIGVi0wWqpCX5vMj1U3dMRZu_BvPxGo-cyMdZesN5g-k2iLTMMMjK64iJ36J1okSuwYE9iaLeEgbS5V4bc5AgLL4CCuRa3dd-903JvqjyoXLgvQx7DWy3VyleY1rB545dxj4urG8ethwWiZ2-7EgFueklIO4iwjocEfiQEz71cSc0T6TWoM7WbxZj0pB_-9Ia0PMdEopyL2hjHkFJkOhimuSzh7Bna9Cc4CldwFNvYygoi9XRp2d-_8CHiHHIRsbofoPze2HL-WaRsiaT_8Sx3q2WRieoDk4gw2Lqmau90xJUCi2Zi_Iwa4ZCtIEuyZzkoDaYwgO1vLmH5gjSALeo-x122Z1pG3lGsny3wUOc05yk6TzcYIR0GLX3O2qq70BdFSK9FmHhLDPD4yVbliFWxaAgtwzUJS8rdJV0L83cQWLRpYC_h_GS8wko0IsUC1kmtW3hQHNxHLHudqemLHpFZzlnlIAt4pz3UebFXi6f-FxEawrfLabnjtBuxK5uzLTcEFDBtl7j5wQbJBiKkuLo7oHpZQxkLFyOLew=w480-h640-no

 
What is considered high TDS & Chloramines?

My TDS is 344 ppm & Chloramines is 3.8 ppm according to latest water report. I'm located in Florida.

I'm assuming I should be looking at a stage 5 at a minimum?
 
What is considered high TDS & Chloramines?

My TDS is 344 ppm & Chloramines is 3.8 ppm according to latest water report. I'm located in Florida.

I'm assuming I should be looking at a stage 5 at a minimum?

I wouldn't consider 344 as astronomical but it's getting up there. You'll be looking for a system designed to handle chloramines specifically and ideally atleast two carbon blocks. I'm a sucker for Spectrapure myself but Buckeye Hydro, BRS and marine depot all make good systems as well.

This would be a good starting point with a spectrapure system anyway

https://www.spectrapure.com/product/chloramine-removal-90-gpd-ro-di-system-cr-rodi-90-10/
 
What is considered high TDS & Chloramines?
My TDS is 344 ppm & Chloramines is 3.8 ppm according to latest water report. I'm located in Florida.
I'm assuming I should be looking at a stage 5 at a minimum?
Those look high to me.
I would start with: 2 sediment filters if your water is dirty. 1 if not dirty. Then 2 carbon blocks (chloramines). Then you have the RO. After that depending on your water makeup you would need a DI resin canister. If you burn thru resin quickly, then you can add a second add-on DI resin cartridge. Maybe someone close to you has this worked put.
 
Marine Depot unit and easy to use and set up
 
loving my Vertex
Vertex-Technologies-Puratek-Deluxe-200-GPD-RO-DI-Filter-99.jpg
 
Those look high to me.
I would start with: 2 sediment filters if your water is dirty. 1 if not dirty.
Municipal water is very rarely heavy in sediment, regardless of the amount of dissolved solids (TDS), so its unlikely two sediment filters would be warranted. Remember you pay a price in lost psi every time you add a prefilter - so in general, don't do it unless warranted.

Russ
 
Which companies are these?

Im also in Socal.


Thanks
Catalina water, but my first choice, Ocean in Motion. All in LA. Ocean in motion, will meet you like at a store parking lot, if in their route area. I'll give you example when I met them for water they were going to Palm Springs so we met like at the 60 and the 215 freeway. At a store parking lot. Or you can go to their place of business.

But you got to buy in bulk, when I met them I filled up 200 gallons, worth of water
 
Catalina water, but my first choice, Ocean in Motion. All in LA. Ocean in motion, will meet you like at a store parking lot, if in their route area. I'll give you example when I met them for water they were going to Palm Springs so we met like at the 60 and the 215 freeway. At a store parking lot. Or you can go to their place of business.

But you got to buy in bulk, when I met them I filled up 200 gallons, worth of water
Wow.

How much is it per gallon ?

Thanks
 
BRS 5 Stage RODI
 
I use BRS 6 Stage with booster pump. Since I have well water, I find the 6 stage best for my mineral rich H2O.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top