RO/DI Recommended for Multiple Use?

[Artes]

The first part of our plan is to decide on a RO/DI unit that will not only serve as a water source for the aquarium, but also run a line to the fridge to supply the internal ice maker and continue to the kitchen sink for drinking water eliminating the brita pitcher.

In Omaha, they do treat the water with chloramine. Here are other stats in case they matter when making a unit selection.

Average ppm unless noted
Hardness CACO3 - 417
pH - 8.80 pH units
Alkalinity (total) as CaCO3 - 117
Calcium - 46
Chloride - 26
Dissolved Solids - 417
Phosphate - .16
Nitrate-Nitrite - .27-1.8

This is very early in my planning and could change my mind while reading the forum as research, but I'm leaning toward the first salt water tank (FOWLR) to be around the 40-75 gallon range. Until the basement is finished, the largest tank size my wife has ok'd will be 120 or under (4 foot length) and located on the main level.

Placement
What are your thoughts and pros/cons on unit placement? I'm thinking it could be located in the garage (off the main level), basement within the furance room near the drain, or under the sink. If located away from the kitchen sink, would the unit require a pump of some sort to push the water to both kitchen locations? Is a pressured tank under the kitchen sink a good idea for the optional faucet?

Size
Would this be a 5 stage unit and what size is is recommended with my rough tank thoughts?

I appreciate your feedback.

 

[stevek480]

Well I have a 50gpd unit and the water comes out at a trickle, so I don't think you'd want to have any large vertical runs. The again, my household water pressure is crappy so I think I only get maybe 25gpd out of it. If you are going to use it for drinking and ice making, keep in mind many units have a 4 to 1 waste ratio, so you will be using up a lot of water. I think if you add a booster pump before the unit, you should be able to get a better waste ratio.

There is a sponsor here called "Buckeye Field Supply", you may want to contact them to help with your questions.

 

[B-Willz]

Typically on an RO system for drinking water, they use a storage tank to house the water. Some are five gallon tanks under the sink some are very large tanks in a basement. I also think that the taste of DI water is gross, for some reason it has kind of a metalic taste to me.

 

[thegrun]

You should branch off the drinking water after the initial 25 Micron/Carbon Filter/1 Micron and RO filters but BEFORE the DI filter(s). DI water is not good to drink on a regular basis, it pulls electrolytes out of your body, that is why it has that funny taste. Drinking a little is not a problem, but on a regular basis it is not a good idea. You may need to run two DI filters in series to get your TDS down to .000, I have poor water like yours and one DI filter is not enough to get the TDS below .015.

 

[t11t5]

check out airwaterice.com

 

[Chris27]

All I can say is that I'm glad I don't have Omaha Tap Water.....Give the folks at either airwaterice or Buckeye Field supply a call, they can help you out.

 

[footballdude2k3]

i thought that DI made it undrinkable for people...i could be wrong, but i thought there was something in it that we were not supposed to use for drinking, i know that RO is fine, but thought DI was not.

 

[DustinB]

DI is not recommended for consumption. Water in it's pure form is actually supposed to be a solvent. It will absorb minerals from your organs and can even remove minerals from your teeth. RO water is fine, a lot of bottled water is filtered through RO fitlers, but most add some minerals back for taste.

When I got my RO unit I bought the 5 stage with reservoirs from bulk reef supply. I had to buy the booster pump as well because I did not have 60 psi incoming pressure. I also picked up a permeate pump from ebay, helps if you have a pressurized reservoirs.

My incoming TDS was about 430, then 13 after the RO, and 0 after DI. We decided not to drink the RO water anymore because even at 13 TDS you could still feel the water sucking minerals out of your mouth. It tasted ok, just that weird feeling. Now we just use the system without the pressure tank and split the line after the RO so one line goes to the ice maker and the other line goes to the DI.

 

[Artes]

Is Omaha's water quality not ideal to purify for use with a salt water aquarium where it will consume the pre-filters, RO and DI filters at a high pace? I'm just wondering if our water is better served for a freshwater setup that doesn't require the same amount of filtration. Thanks again.

 

[footballdude2k3]

even if it does use filters somewhat fast, they should still last at least a year and they are dirt cheap