RO vs Tapwater Filter questions...

[iamwhatiam52]

For a year and a half I've been using a Tapwater Filter ( http://www.petsolutions.com/Tap+Water+Filter-I-17101175-I-C-44-C-.aspx ) simply because that is what the store that set me up sold. My tank is doing well even though my parameters stink (Nitrate = 20, phosphate = .25, alk = 7.5 ), but I want to cut out my sloppy husbandry because I know I can't get away with it forever. One thing I want to look at is the quality of the water I am using.

Is there any advantage to getting an RO system? Is the water quality better? Cheaper?
How much water is wasted by RO systems?

 

[AZDesertRat]

Do you own a TDS meter? Have you ever tested tap water and filtered water TDS? How often do you change the cartridges on the tap water filter? I will bet you a dollar to a donut its exhausted long ago. They normally last less than 50 gallons even in pristine water conditions, here in Phoenix you get about 8 gallons per cartridge and its still nowhere near RO/DI quality.
A good RO/DI system is the very best investment you could possibly make. It puts you in control of your water quality and as you know water is the single largest ingredient in your tank.

 

[redmonkey0019]

I second the RO/DI unit as the best investment you can make, I bought a great one, and have never looked back.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

AZDesertRat, do I get the dollar or the doughnut?
The filter gets changed before it is exhausted.

Now, if I can read between the lines, you suggest I should find out what a TDS meter is, get one, learn to use it, and test my "filtered" water. I will take that good advice.

I'll also take the advice of both of you and start researching which RO/DI unit to get. Any suggestions? redmonkey, what is the great one you bought?

Als, I'm still curious....... how much water goes through these things to produce a gallon of pure water?

 

[Ti]

It's cheaper to have your own RO system

 

[dhnguyen]

The Tap Water filter is actually a DI filter and can produce much purer water than a RO only system. However the DI cartridge will need to be replaced quite frequent and can be very expensive after a while.

IMO you should get yourself a RO/DI unit

 

[Fishbulb2]

I second all the suggestions for the RO/DI. Check out the reefcentral sponsors for some great units.
FB

 

[chevegan]

i bought mine a couple years ago from a guy on ebay. Very well made system and great customer service

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Reef-6st-10...ryZ20684QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

He has been around for a long time and many can vouch for him. he has helped me when I lost some tiny parts too I highly recommend him.

$100? You can't go wrong

 

[AZDesertRat]

I am,
How are you determining when it is exhausted without a TDS meter? If its by using color changing resin that is a very poor indicator and you are probably passing contaminants on without knowing it. A TDS or conductivity meter is the ONLY reliable way to judge when resin is exhausted.
dhnguyen,
DI by itself will not produce the purity a RO system will. DI resin only to nothing for volatile organics, sediment or suspended solids, chlorine and lots of other things the combination of prefilters, carbons and RO take out. I would never have DI without the pretreatment that a RO system provides.
Steer clear of almost all e-bay vendors of RO and RO/DI systems, they are very low end units designed for drinking water and marginal at that. The one suggested is one of the worst, they don't even tell you who makes the membrane! They are out to make a buck on mass produced Chinese or Taiwanese units imported by the boat load with no regards for your reef. Check out:
www.spectrapure.com
www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
www.thefilterguys.biz
www.purelyh2o.com