This RO / DI SYSTEM any good?

[AZDesertRat]

This thread is going nowhere fast due to idiots who don't have a clue. Anyone can put an american flag on their product and the Chinese and Taiwanese are famous for that. They are not policed so basically do anything they want.
I do know for a fact where this stuff comes from. Water treatment is my profession and has been so for over 32 years so I am confident I do know much more than you think you know!
I'm through here.

 

[anthony34]

AZDesertRat, don’t get upset the guys/gals here are not questing your expertise however you must understand where you by from and how much you spend honestly has no place in the reef world, point in case I know people that use regular tap water and their thanks run rings round people that pay mortgages per month to keep their tanks going with all the fancy additives and gadgets some use so called cheap RO units and their tank looks healthier then those that use more expensive units this hobby is not cut and dry, how much you pay and what fancy equipment one uses sometimes is more of a table talk session and does not guarantee success in this hobby you must do what works for you, absorbed all the information and decides for yourself , if the EBay unit does a wonderful job for you then hey good deal or if the more expensive unit does the job for you then so be it as well, the only true test is they way Your reef tank responds and good custome support from whom ever you purchase from is a added point, just make sure there is a contact number and it actually works

With that said happy reefing to all

 

[rsxs1212]

listen to AZ desert rat.. he knows what he is talking about.. thats how i got mine up and going.. if he wasnt here id have no idea and id be putting in basically tap water in my system

listen to him and you will be good

 

[REHEM]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9661065#post9661065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AZDesertRat
I'm through here.

See ya! :smokin:

 

[carlso63]

Amazing how just asking one simple question can turn into such a big deal...


I am sorry that DesertRat got so upset... I am sorry if he felt that simply questioning some of his logic and / or comments was somehow the equivalent of questioning his work experience or his intellect... and since he works with water quality issues on his job, with many years of experience, I would be the first to say he obviously knows more about the subject of water quality than I do. Absolutely.


But I still stand by a few logical statements of my own (and some of the other respondents):

1) The quality of the water going into your RO / DI unit - the intial TDS in ppm of your tap water - has to be a factor in the quality of the water coming out of the unit. Period. If I had a tap TDS reading of 850 ppm I realize that I would need a "better" unit than this one; maybe I would even need the $360 Spectrapure MaxCap that DesertRat was so adamant about. But I also posted this question on my local marine site, so I could get a possible response from people dealing with the same tap water supply that I have. And I got 2 people who said they own either the exact same unit or a different model made by the same company, and that it was giving them good results. So I am thinking that with the same water supply it is reasonable for me to expect similar results. Is that logic unreasonable?

2) I have issue with DesertRats 'calculations' that after only 30 - 35 gallons of water usage, this unit will basically crap out and the output TDS will shoot way up... do you mean to tell me that, if I test the output TDS after start up (running a little water out) and (for the sake of argument) I get a TDS reading of "0"... and I start to fill my 125 gal tank straight from the output... that before the tank is 1/4 full the unit will lose the ability to give me purified water? I am sorry if I sound insulting but that just sounds silly...(!) And, like I posted here already, I asked local reefers their opinion and no one mentioned anything about this thing crapping out after only 35 or so gallons output -and I would think that would certainly have gotten mentioned had it actually occurred to anyone. In fact I can't understand how anyone (here at RC or on the local site) would have anything positive to say about these units if they really only gave out 35 gallons of good water, then stopped working, or needed a filter or membrane change. In fact, one of the locals pointed out he has had his for 4 years, gets consistent "0" readings for about a year until it's time to change his filters, and that he had to replace the TFC membrane about once every 18 months because his readings went from '0' to about '2 or 3' after a year, then 'went over 5 to 10' at about the 18 month mark. If I have a similar experience, I would be very happy with those numbers and that replacement schedule - and I don't think that is indicative of something that is "junk"... Again, am I being unreasonable thinking along that line of logic?

3) Knowing that everyone's opinions are subjective (mine included) I will always give at least a little more "weight" to answers from people who have actually had experience with a product vs. those without experience - even if they are an expert on the subject. And when 3 people here (and 2 on the local site) give good recs saying they own one - and it gives them '0' readings - vs. 1 guy who says that nothing less than the top-of-the-line unit will work for me; and that it is also the champ for most efficient and most cost-effective (honestly, the way he was pushing it I wanted to ask if he worked for Spectrapure but I was trying not to p*ss him off even more) along with 1 otherguy who posted it was crap - no explanation - and then added like on his 4th or 5th post down they thread that, oh, BTW, he ,did own one and he had to replace the membrane 3 times in 2 months (dude, how much water did you run through that thing?)...

Well, I gave a little more weight to the positive responses and ordered one for $102 bucks shipped. I figure if it really is junk, well then I will have a $100 lesson learned. But, if it works, then I get the job done for less than 1/3 the price I was told I have to pay...

One last thing. A few chimed in to say that I didn't understand what was I was being told by DesertRat about the MaxCap being a better unit...like I am stupid or ignorant or something.

Actually it was YOU who didn't truly understand the question... I NEVER implied that the $89 unit was as good as the $360 MaxCap.

NEVER. That would be like saying a Kia is "as good" as a Cadillac.

I asked would the $89 be OK for me. I got 5 people total who say it works fine for them... hopefully it will be "fine" for me, too...

:hmm5:

 

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9661065#post9661065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AZDesertRat
This thread is going nowhere fast due to idiots who don't have a clue. Anyone can put an american flag on their product and the Chinese and Taiwanese are famous for that. They are not policed so basically do anything they want.
I do know for a fact where this stuff comes from. Water treatment is my profession and has been so for over 32 years so I am confident I do know much more than you think you know!
I'm through here.

Just add them to the ignore list. You have help a lot of people here and you shouldn't have to put up with this. Some people here are really rude and act like you are paid to help them.

 

[carlso63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9664962#post9664962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kb-smoker
Just add them to the ignore list. You have help a lot of people here and you shouldn't have to put up with this. Some people here are really rude and act like you are paid to help them.

And, apparently, the rudest ones here call others "idiots who don't have a clue..." ?

 

[rsxs1212]

i agree maybe the idiots wasnt necessary but everyone like was against what he was saying pretty much.. he knows exactly what he is talking about.. it may sound harsh but dont take gettingcalled an idiot to hardly

 

[rsxs1212]

it seems like everyone who disagrees with desert rat isnt exactly into this website or very active anyway.. most have under 100 posts.. all who agree have over 1000 pretty much or at least 500.. maybe that says something too...

youll see rat on almost every kind of post and he knows what he is talking about

 

[d4a2n0k]

I live on Long Island where the water is actually quite good. I average around 100 TDS year round and still went with the Spectrapure Max Cap unit. Its not just for the people with bad water.

Ive seen my fair share of low quality units over the years and have also had some of the mid-range units from RC sponsors. Even with good tap water, I still found myself changing DI resins more often than I wanted to. No matter how bad or good your tap water is, the Max Cap will save you money in the long run. I know with my tap water, I will be set for a while on the more expensive filters. I will still need to replace the micron and carbon block every 4-6 months but at 10-15 bucks a piece, its a little easier to swallow then replacing the DI cartridge every few months at 30 bucks a piece plus the micron and carbon blocks. The DI in my Max Cap will last me a very long time because after 4 months of use, I still get 0 TDS after the RO membrane.

Its a pick your poison sort of thing. Either pay less now and spend more of replacement cartridges or invest more up front and you can forget about things for a while. As AZDesertRat said, you can get a reef quality unit from an RC sponsor for $150. These units sold on Ebay are fine for drinking water but you will run into trouble using them on reef tanks. Just like everything else in this world, you get what you pay for. Dont talk yourself into thinking that a $99 unit from Ebay is going to filter half as good as a reef quality unit. Good quality filters cost a good chunk of change, theres no getting around that. You might get 0 TDS water for a few days but that DI resin will quickly be exhausted with the lower quality RO membrane before it.

AZDesertRat has no agenda and those that discredit his posts truly dont know what they are talking about. He has forgotten more than most of us will ever know about about water quality.

You can still get the Max Cap for $320 from Reef Exotics which is $30 cheaper than most other places. http://www.reefexotics.com/spectrapure.htm

 

[clekchau]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9661065#post9661065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AZDesertRat
This thread is going nowhere fast due to idiots who don't have a clue. Anyone can put an american flag on their product and the Chinese and Taiwanese are famous for that. They are not policed so basically do anything they want.
I do know for a fact where this stuff comes from. Water treatment is my profession and has been so for over 32 years so I am confident I do know much more than you think you know!
I'm through here.

what do you think of this unit?

http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html

 

[rsxs1212]

lts fine.. i think it was suggested earlier on in the thread but yeah its decent.. or the filterguys have some around there too

 

[REHEM]

Re: This RO / DI SYSTEM any good?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9649444#post9649444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carlso63
The RO / DI systems on this site cost about 40% less than a Kent Marine or other 'brand name' RO / DI unit:

http://www.purewaterclub.com

Anyone have any experience using one of these units?

WoW! This thread got weird quick! I just wanted to try one last time to point out the original question of this thread. And to the original question I politely raised up my hand and answered "Yes", I do indeed have experience with one of these RO/DI units, and here is how I personally have it applied:

<img src=http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/KOLE1357/PureWaterUnit.jpg>

<img src=http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/KOLE1357/ROUnit.jpg>

<img src=http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/KOLE1357/253.jpg>
TDS reading of 253 of incoming tap water.

<img src=http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/KOLE1357/6.jpg>
TDS reading of 6 of outgoing RO water.

I STILL stand behind this unit for the price, the service, and its user friendliness. There are much, much, much better RO/DI units out there that will give you TDS readings of zero every time, but for people on low budgets, this thing gets me by. It cost me $99, it came with all of the filters and the RO membrane plus 5 extra filters for free. I had the thing 2 days after I ordered it thanks to ebay, and I had it installed that evening in about 45 minutes.

This is my first RO/DI unit purchase. Prior to this, I have bought all of my water for the past year from my LFS by the 5 gallon plastic jar at $1.50 a pop (which isn't a bad price from what I've heard, and the water is magical!). But I change my water weekly, and between top-off water and H2O for salt mix, lugging 6 five gallon jars around town starts to get old. I figure that at $99, this unit will pay for itself before the first set of filters even wear out, so where is the harm?

I personally never intended to insult anyone here, and if I did, I apologize. I never claimed to be an expert anything, I just happened to have qualified the "Does anyone have experience with this unit" description. I like it, but if it does go Ka-POW! then I will definately upgrade and use this thread for future reference as to better quality units.

Happy reefing and HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

 

[anthony34]

Same setup I have and works perfect, the proof is in the pics of my Tanks, I have never had any problems with the quality of my reef water.

 

[rsxs1212]

i have the basic unit i got rid of the di and the other white tube on top it like rids of odor or something?? and added a dual stage di from filterguys.. i have 190 going in and 0 coming out..

 

[cbeitel]

I bought the similar one off of e-bay. It will work, but its more like pieces slapped together than a thoughtfully engineered system with quality parts.

Mine has more than paid for itself, but I will be replacing at least some of the parts soon. I make at least 50g a week for top off and WC. The unit requires too much maintenence to keep <2 TDS. My tap is +500 TDS!!!!!!

My advice is to spend the extra $50 and get one from a highly recommended source like Melev or Filter guys. They have better support AND they are both sponsors. Just my O.

 

[rsxs1212]

^^ good advice

 

[Fuegofish777]

I bought an ebay RO unit and I couldnt be happier. It was constructed very well, and yes all the parts, at least the important ones were made in the US. the stock filters that came with it arent even that bad. I plan on getting some brand name cartridges when the time comes, but I've been very satisfied with mine. Then again my tap isnt too bad (350 TDS)....im sure that plays a part.

 

[rsxs1212]

the worst part is the di IMO..

the second thing would be the housing of the RO membrance.. sometimes its not in a perfect cirlce and in more of an oval or egg shape..

last thing would be the ro membrane itself.. everything else is fine..

but the only thing you really need is di IMO then wrap teflon tape around the seal of the RO membrane to make a good seal.. if that makes sense..that way no water seaps past the membrane

 

[omni2226]

I fail to understand how people with bad tapwater spend big bucks on a ro/di for fish....

Think about it. You drink this water.
You bathe in it.
You use it for cooking.
You give it to your cats dogs and birds.
Your kids splash and swim in it if you have a pool.

Yet its not good enough for stupid living rocks?

Buy a whole house filter system and take care of the creatures who matter most,you and/or your family first.