Is having an RO filter really worth it?

E

Engloid

New member
I'm not so much complaining, but just thinking out loud and welcoming others' thoughts, so let me have all you care to share.

I bought one recently and just now got to buying the fittings to hook it up.

Notes so far:

1) It seems that it will take me all night to fill up a 5gal jug.
2) Reading online I find that I will waste about 4 gallons for every 1 gallon of RO water I produce. Therefore, a 5gal RO jug will take a total of 20 gallons from my faucet.

Wonder how much I'm paying for each gallon that I dump down my drain as "waste."

I'm not so sure that buying 2-3 more plastic jugs won't be my best option in the long run. I mean, even if I hook this thing up to automatically top off the tank, I'm still dumping a lot down the drain. Also, what do I do at waterchange time? This slow drip of RO production will likely keep up with evaporation, but I can't see it producing enough water to do a 10% water change on a 125gal tank (12.5gallons) a week, in addition to evaporation.

If I wind up needing to produce 12.5 gallons for water changes, and IF I evaporate 4 gallons, that's 16.5 gallons of RO water that I will need each week, and 66 gallons of water I will "use" to get it. This also leaves me needing to put salt in the 12.5 gallons of water, at an additional expense.

If I buy water from the stores, I will pay $.50 for the top off water ($2) and $1 for each gallon of saltwater ($12.50) That's a total of $14.50 a week....and I don't have to buy any salt.
 
I don't know what value you can put on convienence, but I couldn't survive w/o my unit. Not having to lug all that H2O makes it well worth it, besides the fact that the nearest LFS is 25 miles away, look at the savings in gas!! I have mine hooked up to a sink and it fills up a 3g resivoir in the basement at a rate of about 3g/ hour.
 
Not from ETRC but saw your post. I was in the same boat BUT have a RO/DI unit and didnt like the waste I was producing
I bought a second membrane kit from Bulk Reef Supply and now my waste is about 1-1. You will need 60PSI at the second membrane or the use of a booster pump in that set up though but I figure the water savings alone pays for the pump and 2nd membrane over time. I just wish I had done it 5 yrs ago when I bought my RO/DI. I produce 6 gallons of water in about 40 minutes now VS 6 gallons at 1 and 15 min before the upgrade
Its an option to look at..............
 
200 gallons of salt: $50 or $0.25 per gallon
Monthly water bill about $50, assume $15 for RO/DI
Resins and membranes less than $0.25 per gallon I'm sure
Gas to/from LFS: 3 gallons round trip 1X per week $8

For me it is much cheaper to produce my own water. Plus I know the quality (not naming any names and it was awhile back but a local LFS was not running DI beads in their system). Plus, you're unlikely to get the correct salinity from a LFS that is necessary for a reef tank and will likely have to supplement. Believe me, the LFS have done the calculations and are making a profit on the water they sell I assure you.
 
$14.50 a week buying water? That's almost $800 a year...

It shouldn't take THAT long to fill up a 5g jug. It should be about an hour or so.

If you are worried about the waste water, you can use it for other things such as watering houseplants, lawn, etc.

I can't imagine going back to buying water. My only regret is not doing so sooner; I 'wasted' $50 by procrastinating.
 
Ok...I found out what the problem is. I called the manufacturer (Water General) and the guy was very helpful and knowledgeable. We checked the tubing routing and it was correct. However, there was still just a slow drip of RO water coming out. We checked water into it and it was good flow, but coming out was nearly nothing. The RO membrane is clogged. He said they sell some 100gpd membranes for $45. Is that a good deal, or where is the best place to buy them (cheap)?

I guess it was to be expected. The guy I bought it from said that he didn't have enough water pressure to push it in his apartment, and that the membrane would probably be good for another year. I guess he either knew it was clogged and screwed me, or he bought it and believed what he told me because somebody else told him it was still good. Either way, I only gave $50 for it, so the price after buying a new membrane still won't be bad.
 
Engloid said:
Ok...I found out what the problem is. I called the manufacturer (Water General) and the guy was very helpful and knowledgeable. We checked the tubing routing and it was correct. However, there was still just a slow drip of RO water coming out. We checked water into it and it was good flow, but coming out was nearly nothing. The RO membrane is clogged. He said they sell some 100gpd membranes for $45. Is that a good deal, or where is the best place to buy them (cheap)?

I guess it was to be expected. The guy I bought it from said that he didn't have enough water pressure to push it in his apartment, and that the membrane would probably be good for another year. I guess he either knew it was clogged and screwed me, or he bought it and believed what he told me because somebody else told him it was still good. Either way, I only gave $50 for it, so the price after buying a new membrane still won't be bad.
Click to expand...

If you bought it used, and did not check the membrane, ..... how are the other filters and what is your TDS???? You may want to look into that. Does not matter what you have or if it is efficient if the quality of the product is bad.

As far as the value and is it worth it. Like Dave said, the LFS are making a profit, so it is most likely cheaper for you to make your own. Like others said, there are uses for the waste water- you just need to figure them out.

Good luck. Keep it, it is worth it for several reasons.
 
definitely keep it and replace the filters. Also, on the RO membrane, you may want to replace the flow restrictor - just a few dollars.
 
I haven't checked the TDS and don't have anything to check it with.

I did notice that the first sediment filter has some light brown spotting on it. If I were to throw out a number, I'd say that 50% of it is light brown. If I remember right, these (standard 10") filters are only about $9-11 locally. I will plan to replace at least the first one of these soon also, if not them all.

I have found the membranes for about $28 shipped, on ebay. Anybody know a cheaper place for them?
 
$28 is extremely cheap. I usually pay about $45 for a 90gpd membrane. I think I paid $38 once. You can ask around for someone with a handheld TDS meter. I think one of the LFS can check them as well. The filters are cheap- $5-$8 ea typically, and the carbon is roughly $12 and the DI is $25. Those are rough prices of what i remember paying. I replace my filters, carbon and DI typically about 1-2 times per year and once a year on the membrane. Still way cheaper than buying water. Look into replacing the filters if they are suspicious, and it sounds like they are.
 
I just purchased a new 75gpd rodi for $100 on cl and it was worth every penny. I was going thru 8 gallons a day though so that factors in to it. I'm going to have to look into that second membrane mentioned. would be nice to not have all this extra water. I shouldn't need the extra pump since I was at 90 psi before adding a ball valve so it may be a cheap thing to do.
Some people use the "waste" or extra water to fill their washing machines or wash their cars also.
 
By the time I did the plumbing and bought a holding tank to save the wastewater for the washing machine, I don't think I could realize the gains for years. My washing machine is downstairs and the fish tank is on the other side of the upper level.

I talked to the manufacturer and they said I should have about 2.5 gallons of waste per one gallon of RO water. Even at that rate, I will have to look into what sorts of things I could do with the wastewater. There's got to be something I can do. Anybody have other ideas? Oh, and I only wash my cars when it rains. :)
 
Great! Macclellan, where are you located? I went to meet up with Travis the other day, so I know how far he is away. When I get ready to do this, it may come down to who is closer, if not who is home on that day. I'm in Karns.
 
I have a TDS as well. We group-ordered them a couple years ago and a lot of folks around here have them. Let me know if you want to meet up to check.
 
I think of an RODI as a long term investment. I purchased mine many years ago and even with replacing the filters and membranes several times it has really paid off. I could not imagine having a reef tank with out one.
If you only plan on being in the hobby for a short time it might be better to buy your water from a LFS, but if you are it the hobby for the long term then buy your own RODI.
 
Well, I got a new membrane, a carbon filter, and the other one (1 micron). Put it all together and I do get more water out than before. I got 10 gallons last night, so I guess it will be fast enough to make it worth doing...

but... The manufacturer said I should get 2.5 times as much wastewater as RO water. The problem is that the little restrictor thing that's inline says 600gph...which would mean that I'd be putting out 240 gallons of RO water per hour. I'm getting more like 5 gallons an hour, and that's with a valve in the waste line to restrict it even more.

Any ideas what's wrong here?
 
Engloid said:
The manufacturer said I should get 2.5 times as much wastewater as RO water. The problem is that the little restrictor thing that's inline says 600gph...which would mean that I'd be putting out 240 gallons of RO water per hour. I'm getting more like 5 gallons an hour, and that's with a valve in the waste line to restrict it even more.

Any ideas what's wrong here?
Click to expand...
I think that means the restricter thing is rated up to 600gph, not that you actually have high enough water pressure to get 600gph through there.
 
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