How important is an RO or RO/DI system?

[shark_bait]

I understand that it purifies the water but is it really that important?
Wouldn't a Protein Skimmer remove impurities as well?

If it is manditory, can someone help me find an economic system from Marine Depot which would handle a 55 with a 30 gallon sump? I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Can I just get away with something like this? While it may be cheap, I see that it requires changing filters. Not sure what the overall cost would run me in the long run. Maybe a stanard $100-$200 unit would actually save me money over time???

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Filter

[charlie]

RO/DI is important!!!!! The skimmer removes impurities in your system, the RO/DI removes all total dissolved solids, TDS, before it gets into your system, making the skimmers job alot easier.
Call these guys:
The Filter Guys
They can help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just explain to them your system, what you have in there, and they gladly help you out. I know this from personal experience.
Do yourself a favor and search RO?DI on here, and you will probably find enif reading to really answer your concerns.
In the long run, yes you will save money, believe me!!!!

[Live Rock Ricky]

I 2nd Charlie and actually purchased a system from the The Filter Guys recently.... I bought the Ocean Reef +1 Five Stage and love it!

[lps]

Agreed. An RO/DI is very beneficial. If you don't get one now you'll wish you had later. I have a 55 with a 20g sump and I didn't want to wait and save for the RO/DI before I started but I did and it's well worth it. Here's what I got and its been workin great!

Water General RD-102 Aquarium Reverse Osmosis Filters and Water General RD102, RD100, RD-100

[shark_bait]

I 2nd Charlie and actually purchased a system from the The Filter Guys recently.... I bought the Ocean Reef +1 Five Stage and love it!

They just recommended the same unit. Seems like a steal when you compare to those other name brands at marine depot. Plus I was told that the set of ALL filters are ~$25. There is one seperate filter - Resin maybe??? I see those filters on the marine depot websit that are $25+ each and you would have to buy them seperately I believe.

Are the ocean reef filters available through any other distributorsor would I have to go through them? That would concern me if they ever went out of business or if I had to pay outrageous shipping charges for a few filters.

[zhenya]

I've been using this filter for about eight or nine years with great success.
It comes with inline TDS meter and has pressure gauge and yo can choose your filters.
Having said that, the guys Charlie recommended are top notch as well.

[shark_bait]

But are other brand filters interchangeable if I were to go with the Filter Guys?

[charlie]

As long as you get the 10" filters, yes they are. I have always bought filters from my LFS for my system.
That is something you could ask if you aren't entirely sure, OK.

[charlie]

What I have found in the past is they are as cheap or cheaper though.

[shark_bait]

Thanks for all of your help. So I have narrowed down my search to 3 units - all by Filter Guys.

Filter Guys link - RO/DI Systems

$135.00 - OCEAN WAVE FIVE STAGE 75 GPD RO/DI
$160.00 - OCEAN WAVE+ FIVE STAGE 75 GPD RO/DI
$199.00 - OCEAN REEF + 1 FIVE STAGE 75 GPD RO/DI

Can someone help me understand why I would NEED to spend the extra money to upgrade from the $135 unit? Each 5 stage system filters the same amount of particulates but the more expensive units have all the bells and whistles. Do I need them? What features do the more expensive units offer that is a "must have"?

[charlie]

Looks to me as tho the second unit has an auto shut off valve included, and the 3rd unit has the shut off and an in line tds meter. The tds meter is a nice offering. I have one on mine, and it is sure nice to know when to start replacing the filters and membranes. I don't use the auto shutoff, I am usually around when I am making water.
Make sure you ask them about the chlorine guzzler, if you are not on city water, I don't think this is real important. The last one also has the pressure guage. I use the pressure guage on mine because I upgraded my existing system to the water saver, and I already had the aquatec pressure pump. I make close to 10 gallons an hour with my system. HTH