To RODI or not RODI?

[boshk]

I have good luck with my small RODI unit from Amazon. As long as you have patience. The initial fillup was painfull

Agree, the initial fillup was a pain. Mine is only a 50GPD unit for a 45G tank.

I aquascaped, filled DT with just enough saltwater to cover rock (70%)
Next day continue making saltwater for the remaining DT and then sump filling.

I don't know how you guys deal with 100-500G tanks.
Just producing the RODI water, then having to heat it, then mix salt then carry or pipe it to the tank......

 

[smeesh726]

One of the best things you can invest in.

Agreed. Definitely worth the money!

 

[bif24701]

RO/DI is not optional IMHO

 

[Cancun]

Hi! I have had my 80 gallon up and running for 3 yrs....I just bought a 6 stage RO/DI unit last month...and TDS meter. Best investment! My LFS store sells RODI water for a buck a gallon. But it is grest to have my own...totally worth it!!!

 

[Cancun]

Hi! I have had my 80 gallon up and running for 3 yrs....I just bought a 6 stage RO/DI unit last month...and TDS meter. Best investment! My LFS store sells RODI water for a buck a gallon. But it is grest to have my own...totally worth it!!!

 

[Deleted member 336650]

You might check with your LFS, they may occasionally get used systems. Could save you a little money. I got a used 75gpd for $75 & a TDS meter on Amazon was around $20.

 

[Mtaters]

With a tank that size I couldn't imagine lugging all those water jugs around from the LFS. Convenience is everything

 

[hann1bal]

Your all right. I have spent thousands of dollars on my aquarium so far and such a small investment could destroy everything in an emergency situation.


SIDE NOTE: I started this hobby but my wife has probably fell in love with it more than me. She LOVES watching things like our Blasto catch mysis and contort his body to get it into his mouth. She will just sit and watch the tank for hours!


Thanks again for such a great forum.

 

[Cphelpsss]

i recently bit the bullet and got myself a BRS rodi 4 stage with tds meter and all that... prob the same one youre looking at getting. 75gpd... since i had my setup, started as a 55g, trying to get that one full was a nightmare. every time myself or my wife went to the store, we picked up gallons and gallons of distilled/purified water. by the time i was able to completely fill the tank, we had a TON of water jugs sitting everywhere over the course of 3 weeks. topping off water, had to go to the store and get water. it became a hassle. when i upgraded to my 90 gallon, the only thing i have now is my 30 gallon bucket for water, and the rodi filter that has the quick release connection from my kitchen sink. do i think its worth it? the hassle alone of having to lug gallon jugs around is more than enough worth it to me. plus water top offs/changes are easier. the other perk, is that living in the apartment that i live in, water is included in my rent...so theres no utility fee for water. the only thing i need to buy is the salt. and having a tank that evaporates about 2 gallons a day, its pretty nice.

id say do it. youll see very quickly how much your time is worth alone to not have to collect water every other day from the store. lol. and also, at least you know the water youre putting in the tank is 100% pure.

 

[hann1bal]

Good Points.


Another question I had is how accurate are the GPD times? Is it marketing or can i expect lets say 3.175 Gallons/hour from a 75GPD and 3.75 gallons/hour from a 90 GPD?

Basically, I am looking at the 75 GPD BRS but is it something you were like damn I wish I would have spent a little more for the 90 or 100 GPD, etc. I dont think it should matter but just curious.

 

[Greybeard]

I have a small 60g tank, justified buying a good quality RODI in this manner:

My water supply is a well. Generally, it's good water, safe, but not always real tasty. We buy a lot of bottled water. Just tastes better. I purchased a 'Dual Home/Reef' system from AirWaterIce. Mounted the system in a small cabinet on the wall directly behind my kitchen sink, with a 5g pressure tank under the sink. Routed pressurized RO water to a drinking water tap at the kitchen sink, and split it to feed the drinking water dispenser and ice maker in the fridge. Presto. No more bottled water.

Routed a tube from the DI side, under the house, and came up into my aquarium stand. Line T's there, runs to a manual valve plumbed to a float valve in my ATO reservoir. When the reservoir gets low, I open the valve, it fills until it hits the float valve, and I turn the valve off. From the other side of the T in my stand, I have a 8' length of hose with a manual valve on it. When I need water for a water change, or whatever, I just pull out some hose, and fill my container. Simple, clean, efficient... just plain works. No carrying of buckets, driving to the LFS (which in my case is an hour away...). Easy.

Worth the cost? You bet.

 

[kmbyrnes]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22415386&postcount=31

No need to justify the cost, although the math is easy to do.
Last month, my cost for water was .9 cents/gallon, taxes and sewage fees included. At an assumed 4:1 waster ratio, that means my RO/Di is 4.5 cents per usable gallon.

Your own RO/DI frees you from lugging water from the LFS. You will always have fresh water on hand for an emergency and most importantly, you will be in control of your water quality. Your tanks depend on you to provide them the best water available.

 

[CStrickland]

Another question I had is how accurate are the GPD times? Is it marketing or can i expect lets say 3.175 Gallons/hour from a 75GPD and 3.75 gallons/hour from a 90 GPD?

The times are for perfect conditions. If your water pressure is less than 80psi or your water is cold, it goes down pretty quick. I'm getting like 2.something gph out of my 90 in the winter cause my waters very cold.

 

[Bent]

I tried for years using tap water. It sucked.

I tried for years buying RO water. It sucked.

I wouldn't do either ever again.

 

[fity2pounder]

A must have!!

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Another question I had is how accurate are the GPD times? Is it marketing or can i expect lets say 3.175 Gallons/hour from a 75GPD and 3.75 gallons/hour from a 90 GPD?

Basically, I am looking at the 75 GPD BRS but is it something you were like damn I wish I would have spent a little more for the 90 or 100 GPD, etc. I dont think it should matter but just curious.

You can use the calculator (link on our homepage) to plug in your water temperature and your water pressure - it will show you what you shuould get from your membrane in terms of gpd.

The cost difference between, 24, 36, 50, 7, 100, 150, and 200 gpd is minimal. Considerations other than cost should drive this decision.

Also - there is no "90 gpd" membrane. It is a relabeled 75 gpd membrane.

Russ