Help / Advice on RODI Unit

[chrisfont23]

I am looking to get an RO/DI unit, because I think it will be more beneficial in the long run. I've got a 29 gal tank. I am looking to avoid breaking the bank, and find one that isn't too expensive, but will produce enough water for my needs...this is only going to be used for aquarium water, so I'd like to avoid drilling into my sink or countertop if at all possible. Prefer something that plugs into my garden hose and can be stored away when not in use.

Thanks!

[Original Fin]

Laundry area if you have one is a pretty convenient home for one too. Supply and drain's already there for the waste water. Mine has a laundry sink too, so I just put my fill container in there and if i forget to check on it and it overflows, it just goes down the drain.

See my earlier post on Chavezs thread...Bulk Reef Supply, The Filter Guys.com, and Buckeye Field Supply all have a good assortment of quality products.
Don't skimp too much here...low end hardware can lead to floods. Check out Spectrapure to compare with high end.

[chrisfont23]

Which one do you own? What do you suggest? I would be doing the same thing - setting up in laundry area. I am looking for one that requires no welding or pipe cutting and anything for that matter which will cause me strife and pain with the wifey (ie. if I flood the basement, I am dead).

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I got mine from thefilterguys.com with the dual tds meter. I didn't get the pressure gauge but will add one soon.

[Original Fin]

I ended up going with Buckeye Field Supply. Got their 4 stage RODI with optional pressure gauge and dual inline TDS meter for right around $200. I've had it running since Chrismas, and I'm very happy with it's quality. I think the others I mentioned are pretty much the same thing.

You can use a brass garden hose Y splitter on your washer cold water supply...get the type with dual valves. I got the plastic one initially, fearing for copper contamination. I've since learned that the filtration will remove any trace copper present in the feed connector, or your homes plumbing for that matter.
I now recommend brass over plastic for durability. One end of the Y you'll thread on your standard 1/2" washer hose. On the other side of the Y, you'll need to find a reducer, or series of reducers that terminate in a 1/4" "John Guest" style connector. All of these things can be found at most HW stores.
The 1/4" waste line can simply be fed down the washer drain pipe.

I purchased an some additional 1/4" tubing, and a 1/4" John Guest Valve and installed that prior to the last stage (DI) to use for purified drinking water. You don't want to drink deionized water for the same reason's it's not good to drink distilled water. No flavor and no electrolytes. This helped win a few points back with the wifey as we now save money on spring water too, and she doesn't have to lug it around at the grocery store, car to house, etc..

[Original Fin]

On your washer connections, just be sure to wrap the threads teflon tape a couple times to eliminate the possibility slow leaks/drips.

[chrisfont23]

Thanks Fin. I will follow when I purchase one. In the meantime, OK to use distilled water? Has to be better than where I am now. I started with tap free of chloramines / chlorine to cycle (about 3-4 mos ago), changed and topped w/ tap (w/ Prime) for about 2-3 weeks (with the rock, corals). Assuming switching to distilled now is the best way until I get the RODI unit.

One more question...w/ the corals/rock now in water as it is, are they OK? Or do I need to up my water changes (I do 20% weekly). 0 ppm on Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites. Calcium at 440. Phosphates about 1

Thanks!

[chrisfont23]

Also...anyone have any experiences using this one:

PR-RODI50 Premium Aquatics - PR-RODI50 Aquarium Supplies

[Original Fin]

Thanks Fin. I will follow when I purchase one. In the meantime, OK to use distilled water? Has to be better than where I am now. I started with tap free of chloramines / chlorine to cycle (about 3-4 mos ago), changed and topped w/ tap (w/ Prime) for about 2-3 weeks (with the rock, corals). Assuming switching to distilled now is the best way until I get the RODI unit.

One more question...w/ the corals/rock now in water as it is, are they OK? Or do I need to up my water changes (I do 20% weekly). 0 ppm on Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites. Calcium at 440. Phosphates about 1

Thanks!

Distilled is good, just really pricey. A lot of supermarkets have RO machines. Its not as good as RODI, but much better than tap, and a heck of a lot cheaper than distilled. Some can be a little sketchy about changing filters when needed though, so always test for nitrates and phos when using a new source. TDS tells alot too if you happen to have a hand held meter. Anything over 10, IMO is probably an indication that the filters are old.

I think your WC schedule is good. I assume you don't have a sump? Do you run a skimmer? Without a sump, it can be tricky to manage nitrates and phosphates, so frequent large water changes will be your friend. On a 100+gal sys that gets old and expensive, but it's managable on a tank your size. You could try running GFO in a HOB filter to manage phos.

[chrisfont23]

You could try running GFO in a HOB filter to manage phos.

I use a fluval 305 canister for that.

I am going to go w/ the RODI unit from the filterguyz. Thanks again. Will post progress in about a month or so.

[chrisfont23]

I ended up going with Buckeye Field Supply. Got their 4 stage RODI with optional pressure gauge and dual inline TDS meter for right around $200. I've had it running since Chrismas, and I'm very happy with it's quality. I think the others I mentioned are pretty much the same thing.

You can use a brass garden hose Y splitter on your washer cold water supply...get the type with dual valves. I got the plastic one initially, fearing for copper contamination. I've since learned that the filtration will remove any trace copper present in the feed connector, or your homes plumbing for that matter.
I now recommend brass over plastic for durability. One end of the Y you'll thread on your standard 1/2" washer hose. On the other side of the Y, you'll need to find a reducer, or series of reducers that terminate in a 1/4" "John Guest" style connector. All of these things can be found at most HW stores.
The 1/4" waste line can simply be fed down the washer drain pipe.

I purchased an some additional 1/4" tubing, and a 1/4" John Guest Valve and installed that prior to the last stage (DI) to use for purified drinking water. You don't want to drink deionized water for the same reason's it's not good to drink distilled water. No flavor and no electrolytes. This helped win a few points back with the wifey as we now save money on spring water too, and she doesn't have to lug it around at the grocery store, car to house, etc..

About how long does it take you to make a gallon of water w/ this unit? Figure standard, psi all other things equal. Thx

[Original Fin]

Right,m I should have mentioned the rating on the one I got is 75 gallons per day...now that's just a best guess, real world figures can vary.

If I'm making RO, a gallon takes 5-10 minutes. If I'm making RODI, it's more like 15-25 mins.

[chrisfont23]

Do you have it set up permanently (ie. under a kitchen sink) or something more wife-friendly, like to a slop sink or in a washer room. I want to get something wife friendly, that's also a little versatile, if I want to move it at some point in the future.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Ive got mine mounted to a wall in the laundry room. I tapped into the cold water line for the washer and use the drain for waste water. The clean side line of the ro/di unit goes through the wall, into the garage where I mix my saltwater. Not sure you can do the same but that's how I have mine set up.

[chrisfont23]

Ive got mine mounted to a wall in the laundry room. I tapped into the cold water line for the washer and use the drain for waste water. The clean side line of the ro/di unit goes through the wall, into the garage where I mix my saltwater. Not sure you can do the same but that's how I have mine set up.

FoMo, which one do u own? Appreciate the help all...really studying this while I toil away w/ .89 c per gallon distilled!

[Original Fin]

Mine is also set up in the laundry room. I keep the clean water lines coiled up behind the washer when not in use. Unless I forget to put them back, it's pretty unobtrusive. I'll see if I can pit a pic up later.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I got the 75gpd ocean wave 5 stage from thefilterguys.com. I got the dual TDS meter but didn't get the pressure gauge. I'll be adding one soon though.

[chrisfont23]

I got the 75gpd ocean wave 5 stage from thefilterguys.com. I got the dual TDS meter but didn't get the pressure gauge. I'll be adding one soon though.

Pricey? I have about $200 to spend

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

My mistake. It's not thefilterguys.com. It's thefilterguys.biz

RO/DI Systems

[Original Fin]

Just go with brass fittings. Plastic is asking for trouble, and I will be changing these.