Which RODI system to buy?

[Elmareefer]

Getting back into this..... I have a 60 gallon AIO tank coming and I need an RODI system. Preferably on amazon since i have gift cards for it. What RODI system do you recommend? also are filter replacements easy to get?

 

[kfisc]

I had good luck with Spectrapure. Doing it all over again, I'd get the model below. Well worth the money.
Eliminator® 4 RODI Systems w/ Manual Flush - 90GPD-150GPD

 

[wvned]

I dont see a brand I recognize on Amazon. But, what you want is a 4 stage system if you have decent water to start with that looks like this

https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life-Deionization-Filtration-Cartridge/dp/B09MTS1BCM/ref=sr_1_35?crid=3SYX7AT5E3A62&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ByOA7AMOBSh-1xb0elsZ-RlhKyNrdn8FnZDlmnvXMRIKfLkgqlnTfUffnTWg35F0IliGXoByrlX8q0Iu-Nq4USzigDNlVotryF3DQmG0YBO8tMGPYofyVz3JP5w6z_7Gt1MwD2xX_uZV1nrsrh8wJ1he_x8_vZ4OjDzhPWAvBKcFv12TrKa9ms-zptYqIqYbQbzw0sQC-QVzT9WN5VimJB1pm4mIySTWDcvvdiJ5B2Mg0qxYZYgHw2wA-8U7M0oR6TDI9xKyHkgsh-4zwV2VunE7HDKzdU0MZqoz0H8E0K8.9H5EqEot5WsW0mGwvJ5GUTjNk9DrMvE3lBG1D0TA8DY&dib_tag=se&keywords=75gpd+rodi&qid=1767216426&sprefix=75gpd+rodi,aps,122&sr=8-35
One of these takes standard water purification media that looks like this.

RO membrane, sediment filter, DI canister and carbon block. Available on Amazon, eBay or Bulk Reef Supply and anywhere that sells water purification stuff.

2 things that are nice are a pressure gauge and a dual inline TDS meter that reads the water going into the resin and that coming out.
For a 60 gallon tank a 75 or 100 gallon a day is good.

 

[griss]

What is your source water? Well or municipal water company? If municipal water, contact the water company and ask if they use chloramines to treat the water? If they do, you’ll want to use a chloramine removal cartridge before the RO membrane.

 

[Uncle99]

I use geek pure off Amazon to make 25g per week for my 250g system.
Been using is for many years and changed filters twice.
They have replacement filters and easy to change.
Theirs a 3 stage and 4 stage so if you go 3 stage you’ll need to add your own DI cartridge.
Small but effective and inexpensive, attaches right to sink faucet.

 

[Elmareefer]

What is your source water? Well or municipal water company? If municipal water, contact the water company and ask if they use chloramines to treat the water? If they do, you’ll want to use a chloramine removal cartridge before the RO membrane.

City water. Will a 4 or 5 stage take care of that?

 

[Elmareefer]

I found this one at BRS
Not Amazon but looks good?

 

[griss]

City water. Will a 4 or 5 stage take care of that?

You’ll need to ask the water provider if they use chloramines. Some municipalities do (mine included) and some don’t.

If your municipality does not use them, no need to worry. If they do, you’ll want a config like this:
Sediment filter > carbon filter > chloramine cartridge > RO membrane > DI*

DI depending on your water and TDS could mean just a mixed bed or cation followed by anion or cation followed by anion followed by mixed bed.

Missouri American Water uses chloramines, my RODI is custom built and configured as follows:
Sediment
Carbon
Chloramine
Membrane
Cation
Anion
Mixed Bed

 

[griss]

I found this one at BRS
Not Amazon but looks good?

That’s a great basic system, again, as long as there aren’t chloramines in your water. If there are, just add a filter to make the following:
Sediment in the add on filter
Carbon
Chloramine
Membrane
Mixed Bed DI

Another thing to consider, is your water pressure. You want around 60 PSI across the membrane. If you don’t have that, you’ll want a booster pump. Without that pressure, your system will under perform and exhaust DI resin fast.

Lastly, do a search on this forum for TDS creep

 

[wvned]

Lots of angst there but for years I hooked my 4 stage RODI up to the kitchen faucet and made a trashcan of water, did my water change, filled up my make up water and then put it all away.

 

[griss]

Lots of angst there but for years I hooked my 4 stage RODI up to the kitchen faucet and made a trashcan of water, did my water change, filled up my make up water and then put it all away.

To make it simpler, buy the BRS system. See how things go and we can help you add on if needed.

Sorry, I tend to go a bit overboard with RODI stuff as that’s something I really understand in this crazy hobby.. Happy New Year!!!

 

[griss]

@wvned thanks for reigning me in tonight my friend.

 

[wvned]

The parts are all standard, interchangeable and common.

This is the same 4 stage I hooked up in the kitchen. With some additions.

added 2nd inline TDS meter. Placed 2 20 inch resin canisters. Repurposed the original ones to run a second sediment filter and carbon block in series. Added a second 75gpd membrane in series called a water saver upgrade. Added a booster pump and auto flush is done by my Hydros controller as well as turning the entire thing on/off when water is required.

It's like Lego blocks.

Coming soon is 3 100gpd membranes in parallel with a manually adjusted flow restrictor. The stuff is here already.

I have never worried about TDS creep. Yes it is a thing. But to me the 5 seconds it takes a properly maintained filter to go back to 0 TDS output is nothing to worry about.

Dont drink the water made and stored. No it isn't going to dissolve your bones or teeth or kill you. But there is no chlorine in it to kill any pathogens that might get in.

 

[griss]

The parts are all standard, interchangeable and common.

This is the same 4 stage I hooked up in the kitchen. With some additions.View attachment 32415722
added 2nd inline TDS meter. Placed 2 20 inch resin canisters. Repurposed the original ones to run a second sediment filter and carbon block in series. Added a second 75gpd membrane in series called a water saver upgrade. Added a booster pump and auto flush is done by my Hydros controller as well as turning the entire thing on/off when water is required.

It's like Lego blocks.

Coming soon is 3 100gpd membranes in parallel with a manually adjusted flow restrictor. The stuff is here already.

Ned is now officially my brother from another mother when it comes to RODI. You build RODI like I do.

 

[Guygettnby]

I have always used a cheaper kit from purewaterclub.com when they were around and added on a BRS dual DI setup to it. BRS sells a pretty decent budget friendly setup that works. Mine used to be 7 stage, but in the end it is now 6 stage. I still running a 100gpd membrane, but will be switching to a 75gpd when it needs replacing.

In the end, I honestly dont think the housings matter much as long as they do the job. The filters inside are much more important imho

 

[wvned]

I have always used a cheaper kit from purewaterclub.com when they were around and added on a BRS dual DI setup to it. BRS sells a pretty decent budget friendly setup that works. Mine used to be 7 stage, but in the end it is now 6 stage. I still running a 100gpd membrane, but will be switching to a 75gpd when it needs replacing.

In the end, I honestly dont think the housings matter much as long as they do the job. The filters inside are much more important imho

That is true but there are housings that are cheaply made and crack. That is hard to tell from pics on the net.
Mine was a 4 stage from BRS but they were as cheap as anyone back then.

 

[Elmareefer]

I’m building out my tank
I’ll start posting progress once it arrives

I went with this

 

[wvned]

I’m building out my tank
I’ll start posting progress once it arrives

I went with this

That is a good place to start.