RO/DI Units

[bladeruner143]

Can you use these things to drink from? I was just wondering because if you can, it will make convincing my wife a whole lot easier! Also, I know they make RO/DI units that are for drinking purposes, can those be used for aquariums?

 

[kevin95695]

We started with a RO unit under the kitchen sink. I added a 'tee' and ran the new extra output through a DI canister to supply the aquarium. There are those who say RO/DI is "too pure" and water in that state will attract and strip things from your body and therefore don't drink it. I dunno.

 

[jtarmitage]

Well, I've been drinking it for the past 10 years or so to no ill effect. the only problem is when you are forced to drink non ro-di water it tastes like crap.

 

[bladeruner143]

So you still only drink from th RO unit only right Kevin? Not the DI attachment? I guess even getting an RO unit only would be a step-up from tap water right?!

 

[bored4long]

I'm getting ready to start using my RO/DI unit for my drinking water supply, too. I'm currently keeping an eye out for a cheap or free alhambra bottle stands. I'll just use my filter in the garage to keep many 5 gallon jugs filled for drinking.

Do a broader search. I think its recommended to only use the RO water and not the DI for drinking as Kevin mentioned. I'm more interested in what cartridges I should or could add for the drinking water filter that would make it taste the best.

 

[funman1]

Here's a copy of my post from another thread..

"That's exactly how I justifed my unit.
I was spending 50+ a month for bottled water with Crystal Water and a rental cooler.

My Typhoon III was $200

My own cooler (Got a tricked out one) for another $200 but others can be had for cheaper.

and two 5G water jugs from WinCo for $25 for both

So investment of $425 to go to my own water away from Crystal.

12 months spending $50+ a month on water = $600 a year!!!
So my system paid for itself in 8.5 months!

And the aquarium water thing is just an added bonus for FREE!!!"

 

[bored4long]

Steve, where did you get your cooler? Does it have instant hot water? If so, is the output temp adjustable?

 

[funman1]

I got it at Home Depot.

It has Hot, Room temp, and Cold

It's not "Instant hot water" but it has a small hot water tank just like the cold water.
So you have instant hot water till the tank fills with cold water, and it has to heat up again. But it's a good tank for like 4-5 cups of hot water for hot coco, but since I have a cappucinno machine I just told it to turn off ALL hot water and just make cold.

Yes you can configure the water temp for how hot or cold you want it.
AND best of all it has a 7 day timer on it so you can tell it to not make hot and cold water on certain days at certain times.

So mine shuts down at 11:00PM at night and turns back on at 6:00AM in the morning Monday - Friday

Sat On at 8:00AM Off at Midnight
Sun On at 8:00AM Off at 11:00PM
Quite the little Energy Star saver isn't it?

It has a few other features on it too..
It's a VERY neat little water cooler unit. MUCH better than the unit I had from Crystal Water.

 

[jubjub]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1261786

i had to convince my g/f of it to.....basically just need a bypass for the ro water and your good

 

[wpnorton]

Yep....Don't drink the DI. I also tee'd of to the DI canister after the sink drinking water. Supposedly drinking RO-DI water will make your testicles swell like crazy and womens breast shrink. e

 

[bladeruner143]

So is it hard to install this so called "tee?"

 

[bored4long]

My solution for a tee would include this:

plus a valve at each end to control which way the water is routed:

Available at most home improvement stores, I think, or online like www.savko.com. HTH

 

[DrDNA]

I drink the water out of my RODI unit, I usually use it for making morning coffee though I don't remember where I read it, or who it heard it from, but supposedly it isn't healthy to drink large amounts of RODI water because it will mess up the ion balances in your body. Dunno if it's true or not though, but sure tastes a lot better than my crappy well water.
And, no bad after-taste in the morning coffee

 

[kevin95695]

Yep, we drink RO only. Tank gets RO/DI.

Dude, test your drinking water with a TDS meter. You'd be surprised. And purer water tastes sweeter to me. I don't like the taste of municipal water.

The John Guest speed fitting tee and valve pictured are exactly what I used. I also installed an in-line one-way check valve.

 

[DrDNA]

PS - I think Marine Depot also carries the John Guest and JACO fittings.

 

[surfsharkus]

Bought a system from costco will be setting it up shortly.