0 TDS with basic 4 Stage RO/DI system. Got it for $69. More TDS readings included...

[mjstech]

Hey Guys,
I ended up spending only $69 with free s/h. On a basic 'portable' 4 stage 100GPD Reverse Osmosis Deionized system from purewaterclub. I used to have a Water General RD-106 5 stage 100 GPD RO/DI with tank/faucet connection like 10 years ago that worked great for me when I had a lot of large tanks and just got back into the hobby for cheap with a 29 Gallon tank about 25 days ago. No bad algae/diatom bloom in tank.
Anyway, I just got my TDS meter (TDS3 for $3.26 free s/h from China that came after about 21 days) and figured I would check my water and post my readings.

I live in Phoenix/Glendale, Arizona. My house was built in 1988. The tap water here is ok tasting to me. It is hot...around 100F.

I took a few different readings;

RO/DI Clean water: 0PPM @82F
Cold Tap water: 529PPM @80F (only ran it for a little bit)
Hot Tap water: 595PPM @104F (only ran it for a little bit)
Fridge with inline filter: 455PPM @62F
RO Waste line: 566PPM @91F (RO system is kept in garage on top of hot water tank like my old system) Drain into kitchen sink for now.
Nestle Purelife 16.9oz water bottle: 54PPM @54F (says the water can come from a few CA sources)

Here is the system I have that is only like 30 days old @ around 100 gallons through it so far if I were to guess. I will keep checking to see if readings start to go up periodically.

Here is my system hooked up, there is no PSI gauge, inline meters, which I didn't need. The replacement filters come in housings and are not too bad in price. I don't know if the heat will lower the life of the filters much or at all.

I got a second DI filter for $6 just in case my output readings were high, but I am pleased I am at ZERO right off that bat. I have tried to measure the output when filling a 5 gallon bucket and it seems spot on.

I was wondering if anyone else has used these and has long road information. I will try to keep this updated with my findings too.
-Mark

 

[shifty51008]

The downfall to that system is no pressure guage which yes you want on any rodi unit to know when to change filters. Also you cant see the sediment filter so you dont know how dirty it is and if it needs changeing, with tap water readings that high i will guess they will get dirty fairly quick, my tap water is that high and i run bigger filters and have to change out the sediment every 3 months or so. Yes hot water will kill the membrane, only run cold water through the system. Also you have to buy specific filters for it which are more than a standard rodi unit with 10" canisters. Also make sure your water dont have chloramines in it, it will put ammonia in your tank but not show up on the tds meter.

But if your happy with it and it produces 0tds then good for you. Those are just my inputs.

 

[Johnv281]

I saw the same rodi from fleabay. With that price ,as long as your reading is zero , its a good buy in my opinion. Gonna get one myself soon.

 

[mjstech]

I figure for how cheap it is and getting 0 TDS I am pretty good for now.
I know it doesn't have the easily removable filters with clear housings. I don't have a plan for when I will change filters, I don't use very much being just a 29G tank and 5 gallon water change and top off here and there for now but will monitor TDS and good/waste output. Down the road I will probably get a larger tank.
And I am not running the Hot line into the reverse osmosis unit as pictured, I am more unsure about ambient temp being high causing any issue being in a garage in AZ).
My water company does annual water tests, I found the 2015 online. Every now and again I will get one similar with my bill. I don't know where they pull test water from. I think I can get a free onsite analysis from them too if I was really concerned.

 

[oseymour]

I'm sorry but that doesn't look like such a great deal to me.

For a while I used the RO Buddie and that looks very similar. http://www.petsolutions.com/images/Products/10901016.jpg and the price isn't much different.

Are the canisters refillable? At least the DI canister should be so then you can purchase new DI resin. Also how will you know when the DI resin is used up? The cartridge is white and you can't see through it. That's a big issue for me.

At least you can remove the tubing after the sediment block to see how the water is coming out to know if it's clogged and needs replacing.

I can't read your water quality report, does it say anything about chloramines?

 

[SkullV]

We have some of the worst municipal city water in the country (from a reefing standpoint at least). That system will be lucky to get 100g out of it before the sediment and DI need changing. I would strongly look into a better "full size" unit from one of the normal outlets. Air, Water, & Ice; BRS; Spectrapure; Buckeye Hydro; etc.

I had one of those portable units in Chicago. Worked great with less than 100TDS out of the tap. Here with 400-700, not a chance. Luckily chlorine/chloramine isn't an issue here though so the carbon lasts quite a while.

 

[oseymour]

We have some of the worst municipal city water in the country (from a reefing standpoint at least). That system will be lucky to get 100g out of it before the sediment and DI need changing. I would strongly look into a better "full size" unit from one of the normal outlets. Air, Water, & Ice; BRS; Spectrapure; Buckeye Hydro; etc.

I had one of those portable units in Chicago. Worked great with less than 100TDS out of the tap. Here with 400-700, not a chance. Luckily chlorine/chloramine isn't an issue here though so the carbon lasts quite a while.

I live in NYC which has great water. Only chlorine and fluoride is added and it is UV disinfected. I only get 40 to 45 gallons before the sediment filter on the RO Buddie needs changing.

 

[SkullV]

I live in NYC which has great water. Only chlorine and fluoride is added and it is UV disinfected. I only get 40 to 45 gallons before the sediment filter on the RO Buddie needs changing.

How are you determining that the filter needs to be changed? If I remember correctly the sediment block on those RO buddies is not see through and there is no pressure gauge.

 

[shifty51008]

How are you determining that the filter needs to be changed? If I remember correctly the sediment block on those RO buddies is not see through and there is no pressure gauge.

yeah you will need a pressure gauge at a min to know when the sediment gets clogged.

 

[oseymour]

yeah you will need a pressure gauge at a min to know when the sediment gets clogged.

How are you determining that the filter needs to be changed? If I remember correctly the sediment block on those RO buddies is not see through and there is no pressure gauge.

Easy, I use a 7 gallon container and I have a reasonable expectation on when the bucket should be filled. If I notice performance has dropped, I simply disconnect the sediment section and see how water is flowing through it. With the RO Buddie, things went downhill pretty fast, it would go from good performance to barely trickling through the sediment filter. A pressure guage would have been easy to add but it was so easy to disconnect the sediment section and check for the flow.

When I upgraded to my current 75 gallon tank, I needed to make water faster so I got the BRS unit.

I used a handheld TDS meter to check quality of the final product water.

I attached a picture of my unit, I literally sold it a couple of weeks ago. I bought the DI section for $30 but I would refill it with BRS resin for a few bucks. It was see through and I would replace the resin when it was about half used.

 

[shifty51008]

Easy, I use a 7 gallon container and I have a reasonable expectation on when the bucket should be filled. If I notice performance has dropped, I simply disconnect the sediment section and see how water is flowing through it. With the RO Buddie, things went downhill pretty fast, it would go from good performance to barely trickling through the sediment filter. A pressure guage would have been easy to add but it was so easy to disconnect the sediment section and check for the flow.

When I upgraded to my current 75 gallon tank, I needed to make water faster so I got the BRS unit.

I used a handheld TDS meter to check quality of the final product water.

I attached a picture of my unit, I literally sold it a couple of weeks ago. I bought the DI section for $30 but I would refill it with BRS resin for a few bucks. It was see through and I would replace the resin when it was about half used.

actually kinda clever way of checking the pressure, nice job. I can't say how well it works but sounds like it should.

and you were smart enough to at least run the DI stage up and downward if the pic is how you had it mounted, otherwise you only get half use out of the DI.