RODI unit recommendations
- Thread starter kimmy13x
- Start date
My vote would be for Buckeye Hydro. Russ is excellent to deal with and their prices are great. I would highly recommend emailing Russ and letting him know what your needs are. I like Bulk Reef Supply for many things as well, but I don't know that you'd get the same level of support for specifically RO/DI units that you'd get with Buckeye Hydro.
mcgyvr
New member
What size tank?
Any idea if your city uses Chlorine or Chloramines (call them and ask)
Any idea about the TDS of your tap water? (buy a cheap TDS meter now so a more logical filter purchase can be made)
Well or city water?
Any idea about your current water pressure?
Here is just one link to a cheap TDS meter.. There are tons.. all should work about the same..
https://www.amazon.com/2018-New-Pac...TF8&qid=1520424283&sr=8-12&keywords=tds+meter
And a link to a cheap pressure gauge that just screws on your outside hose bib (spigot)
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Bird-P2...pID=513tdz-hTQL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Any idea if your city uses Chlorine or Chloramines (call them and ask)
Any idea about the TDS of your tap water? (buy a cheap TDS meter now so a more logical filter purchase can be made)
Well or city water?
Any idea about your current water pressure?
Here is just one link to a cheap TDS meter.. There are tons.. all should work about the same..
https://www.amazon.com/2018-New-Pac...TF8&qid=1520424283&sr=8-12&keywords=tds+meter
And a link to a cheap pressure gauge that just screws on your outside hose bib (spigot)
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-Bird-P2...pID=513tdz-hTQL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
mako61
New member
I got one from BRS works fine. It has a IN/OUT TDS meter on the DI when its not zero I change the filters + DI. 3-4 times since I had it, about a year.
Buckeye Hydro has a nice system also. I wish I had got a DI bypass. I run mine about once a week. The first water has very high TDS on input DI side. I think it burns my DI faster than needed.
I got the RODI before I got my tank. I knew I didnt want to mess with hauling water -- im way too lazy.
Buckeye Hydro has a nice system also. I wish I had got a DI bypass. I run mine about once a week. The first water has very high TDS on input DI side. I think it burns my DI faster than needed.
I got the RODI before I got my tank. I knew I didnt want to mess with hauling water -- im way too lazy.
Reefer1991
New member
Koolermax rodi on Amazon. I think I payed 120. I have a 300 gallon and have made easily 2000 gallons in the past year and haven't changed any filters except for the DI resin and have 0 tds. It's about time I guess
tmccaffery
Member
I got the bulkreefsupply 75gpd on black friday great RODI unit and priced right. You can also look at spectrapure refurbished units great units.
tmccaffery
Member
Changing your filters will depend on your source water supply; I have well water so if thats your case you will change it more often.
Salty Waffles
New member
I have the BRD 150g unit. I'm on well water so no worries about chlorine/chloramine. We do have fairly hard water and a bunch of iron in our well water.
We have a whole house filtration setup using three of the 20" "Big Blue" filters. First stage is 100 micron, second is a 35 micron carbon block, third is a 5 micron. These last about a year in this configuration before we see pressure drop.
Setup like this, the RODI unit sees very little sediment. I've been using this unit just over a year with the original filters. The resin hasn't begun to change color yet. Id guess I've produced around 500-600 gallons so far for rock curing (dry Pukani cured for 12 months), initial tank fill, and water changes.
We have a whole house filtration setup using three of the 20" "Big Blue" filters. First stage is 100 micron, second is a 35 micron carbon block, third is a 5 micron. These last about a year in this configuration before we see pressure drop.
Setup like this, the RODI unit sees very little sediment. I've been using this unit just over a year with the original filters. The resin hasn't begun to change color yet. Id guess I've produced around 500-600 gallons so far for rock curing (dry Pukani cured for 12 months), initial tank fill, and water changes.
Obviously well water will vary greatly, but I believe the key to RODI longevity is getting as much filtered out as possible before your RODI sees it. I have no doubt that without our whole house system I would have gone through several filter changes on my RODI by now.
Pet Detective
New member
Just look for the best deal you can find....the units themselves are all the same, the difference is GPD, micron rating and stages 4 or 5 [most common].
Filmtec or Spectrapure membrane [most come with Filmtec]
75 GPD is the most optimal RO/waste water ratio option but there are 50 GPD & 100 GPD if you prefer.
Sediment filter 1-5 micron rating is ideal, 1 micron will clog up a little faster....cheap $3
Carbon Block 5 micron rating is usually sufficient but you can get a 1 micron rating with these as well. Here is where a major difference occurs in stages, IF your municipal water adds chloramines, I suggest a 5 stage RO/DI unit, this will add a second carbon block cartridge, I suggest "Pentek Chlor Plus 10" cartridges, they are rated for water with chloramines up to 1000 G & 50,000 G for water without chloramines, I run 2 carbon blocks, change them every 6 months to 1 year, the second carbon block in line will last longer, so I usually stagger changing them out.
If you don't have chloramines, a 4 stage RO/DI unit will be cheaper and do the job just as well. I still suggest the chlor plus carbon blocks $12 because of the high G ratings.
DI Resin becomes depleted, can be recharged as a DIY project at home, I suggest buying 4-6 DI Resin cartridges before you begin recharging them, so that it will be worth your while, and every time you recharge, some will be lost in the process [can't be avoided], very inexpensive and relatively easy to do, I'll spare you the details, just google it.
It is also important to buy a unit with a membrane flush kit, or if you are a DIY'er, you can add one yourself, this extends the life of the membrane, I usually get 2 years use from mine, changing the sediment filter every few months [2 or 3 in my case] also helps to keep the membrane functioning longer.
Filmtec or Spectrapure membrane [most come with Filmtec]
75 GPD is the most optimal RO/waste water ratio option but there are 50 GPD & 100 GPD if you prefer.
Sediment filter 1-5 micron rating is ideal, 1 micron will clog up a little faster....cheap $3
Carbon Block 5 micron rating is usually sufficient but you can get a 1 micron rating with these as well. Here is where a major difference occurs in stages, IF your municipal water adds chloramines, I suggest a 5 stage RO/DI unit, this will add a second carbon block cartridge, I suggest "Pentek Chlor Plus 10" cartridges, they are rated for water with chloramines up to 1000 G & 50,000 G for water without chloramines, I run 2 carbon blocks, change them every 6 months to 1 year, the second carbon block in line will last longer, so I usually stagger changing them out.
If you don't have chloramines, a 4 stage RO/DI unit will be cheaper and do the job just as well. I still suggest the chlor plus carbon blocks $12 because of the high G ratings.
DI Resin becomes depleted, can be recharged as a DIY project at home, I suggest buying 4-6 DI Resin cartridges before you begin recharging them, so that it will be worth your while, and every time you recharge, some will be lost in the process [can't be avoided], very inexpensive and relatively easy to do, I'll spare you the details, just google it.
It is also important to buy a unit with a membrane flush kit, or if you are a DIY'er, you can add one yourself, this extends the life of the membrane, I usually get 2 years use from mine, changing the sediment filter every few months [2 or 3 in my case] also helps to keep the membrane functioning longer.
Last edited:
flawedexistence
Member
Six stage 150gpd BRS unit with booster pump because of low water pressure. Love it. Have just changed filters after one year even though I was at zero TDS.
Buckeye Hydro
.Registered Member
Mrramsey
NEO Reefer
I had a BRS 150gpd water saver which has two membranes. I chewed through DI resin like there was no tomorrow. I have since converted it to a single membrane Spectrapure 99% (60 gpd I believe maybe 75). Since then its been over a year since I had to change my DI. I get a consistent 1ppm out of the membrane where I was getting about 6 out of the BRS dual set up.
It is well worth the price of the upgraded premium membranes.
It is well worth the price of the upgraded premium membranes.
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