Yikes!!

[Spiffyguy]

So I go to change the water on my tanks today. And like good little boy I heat and airate the water for a few hours. I only change 5 gallons so not much to airate. Anyway I check the SG before putting it in the tank and it read 1.048!!!!. I was almost ready to dump it in. So I check the calibration on my refractor, good. I figured maybe it was too hot, it had gotten up to 82. Nope straight out of the container that was 70 it was the same. Bad batch of water from the fish store. So I have decided that everything else must wait and I need to make my OWN water as opposed to trusting someone else to do it.

So I am looking at two RODI units, The Optima Vision from Purely H2O and the TYphoon 3 from airwaterice.com. The Typoon is about 70 bucks more but comes with a TDS meter and is a 5 stage. I only have 2 tanks that are small, 10 and 24, so I don't top off or change large amounts of water. So GPD is not a huge thing for me since I probably won't automate it. But I am plotting to get a larger tank so I am thinking to the future, but that is a different post So here are my questions,

1. Opinions on the two units. I don't mind paying more if that is what i need to do but the Optima seems like it will do just fine for me, except no TDS which I am sure I can buy.

2. I don't know too much about these things. I know they make waste water though. So what is a good way to set these up as far as space and containment. My tanks are in the basement and I don't really want to haul gallons upon gallons of waste water up stairs, but at the same time I don't want to just toss it in the drain.

3. Not to open a can of worms but I will be needing salt too. Recommendations on a brand and good place to buy it?

Thanks

 

[akrimmel]

where did you get the water from that read 1.048

 

[Dert42]

i couldn't say anything for those 2 types. i went with one of the ebay ones. (no problems with it either)
the waste water line, you connect into your sink drain line. then it just takes care of itself. i'm not sure how much waste it makes (i haven't seen a change in my water bill), but i'm guessing it's not something you want to monitor as it fills a bucket.

i did it, and i'm not a very handy guy.

instant ocean salt @ local LFSs is like i wanna say $40ish for a 200g mix box. i've heard negative things about coralife salt.

 

[Spiffyguy]

I am not gonna say where I got it. Don't want to start one of those threads. I am not too ticked about it, but good thing I checked it before putting it in. THe way I look at it is I didn't have to make it so I can't really complain. Like getting food at a drive through, beats cooking, your own fault if it is wrong lol.

I will have to look on ebay to see what is there. I have herad good things about both those models which is why I was looking at them.

 

[hagfish]

My dad has one of those ebay 6 stage models that cost about $100. The output comes to like 15 ppm. My spectrapure 4 stage is 0 ppm (well 2 now, waiting on filter in the mail). It's a little more, but it's worth it IMO. Although you could just get the cheaper housing and get better filters later.

 

[akrimmel]

hagfish do you have the model/name of the one he has?

 

[hagfish]

I don't know what it is for sure. They were pretty common on ebay when he bought it about a year ago. I assume they are still out there. They ran pretty much all the time and cost a little over $100. I'll try to find out the next time I'm over there.

 

[capncapo]

Scott,

You can get a long piece of hose for an icemaker and run your waster water anywhere you like. Mine goes to the floor drain but you could also run it to the washer stand pipe. I prefer not to put any holes in my plumbing.

 

[Spiffyguy]

Well I was thinking, which can be dangerous some times, that I can take some containers, maybe 30 gallons? And build a stand next to my washer. Have on container for RODI and one for waste. Use the waste one to either dump into washer stand pipe if it is full and I need to make water, or use it in the washer. I got a kid so something is always dirty. Not sure space wise if I will have room. I would need to find some containers too. Also I think you can get an adapter to just fit onto the existing plumbing for the washer. No holes in the plumbing.

 

[chadfarmer]

Optima Vision from Purely H2O

 

[panaboy95]

I have an ebay modal from filters direct. I paid about 100 dollars shipped. it works good. 2 stage di.

I would say it wastes about three gallons to one gallon made. I used to save it in a 55 gallon drum and then had a pump in it to fill the washing machine.

I do not do it anymore because the ro unit does not move the water meter. I get all the water free. I am told it is because the water meter in my house has a little propeller on it that spins when water goes through it. that then turns the gear for the meter. well the ro unit does not pump enough volume to spin the propeller in turn the meter does not turn. so free water.

the guy that explained it to me also said that some new meters are made different. so it will measure all the water.

just my 2 cents

 

[Spiffyguy]

Oh I am not worried about paying for the water. I use so little anyway and probably blow more on my lawn every year than I would on my fish tank. I just hate to waste it. i guess it all goes to the same place eventually.

So anyone know of some good container to use to store RODI water and even made up salt water? I would guess you would want it sealed on top and either use a pump or have it up on a stand and put a valve of some sort on the bottom.

 

[ol'saltybastage]

I have the typhoon III and love it. i know a few other people on the board that have it too. maybe they'll chime in. airwaterice has execellent customer service too. my free TDS was bad and they overnighted me another.

 

[Mykayel]

I have one from ebay and I get 0-2 TDS. You don't get the flow they advertise but I don't use that much water.
Item number: 120003785480

 

[DrBDC]

I have an ebay filterdirect also. It's the ro6100+DI with a seperate faucet for ro and a resevoir. I paid about 125 by the time it got to my door. I used to get 2 tds on the ro and 0 after the di but I'm now up to 10 ro and 5 di so I ordered a new filter replacement and ro membrane replacement. That was about 70 bucks for the 5 different ones. But I've used it 2 years and made 32 gallons a week and sometimes more.

 

[Spiffyguy]

here is another silly question. How do these things turn on? are they plugged in? or do you just turn the water on and they start working based on pressure? Once again I will not be automating the thing right off the bat.

Also if I am only making water say once a week do I need to do anything to the unit like flush it out. And if it sits for a week will the first gallon or two need to be tossed so any settled particles will be washed out?

I know bunch of questions.

I think I have narrowed it down to those two units. Ebay stuff may be a bit cheaper but I want a bit of customer service with the unit. Any good suggestions on storage untis around 15-20 gallons?

Thanks

 

[kpc01]

sounds like you have it down to 2 but just wanted to throw this one out there for you because I have one and I love it. Its running great for me and I always see 0ppm. Marc is great to deal with too just my .02 http://melevsreef.com/ro_di.html

As far as storage, depends on how much room you have. You could always do a big 55g trash can, but for your small amount maybe look at a smaller kitchen type rubbermaid trashcan with lid or something along those lines. I have a trash can on wheels from hd that I like becuase I can roll it when its half full...think it holds about 35g or so.

 

[Spiffyguy]

I did take a look at Melev's. I think I am leaning toward the Optima Vision, a bit cheaper and seems like it will do the trick. I will need to get a TDS meter though. I think they sell them too.

I thought about the trash can idea. Wasn't sure how "safe" they were, just a normal can. Wasn't sure if there was a certain type that were food grade safe or whtever. My though, and please let me know if I am whacko, was to put the container up on a 2-2.5 foot stand with a bulkhead or spigot of some sort. Since I use so little water I can transport it to the are where I would do mixing. My concern is how a bulkhead would work with a trash can. I can always do the simple route and stick a power head in there with some line attached.

Do you need to keep the container moving at all times? Since it would be sealed with a lid I wouldn't think it would get stale.

 

[DrBDC]

It's the Brute containers that are the correct type plastic.

 

[dynamitedj]

So the moral of the story is that you can't trust that the water you are paying for from a fish store. In all candor this really bums me out, just another case where some types of companies don't have standards. I mean I was buying this stuff under false-pretenses all along. What about those of us who count on this source? Should I have the water tested before I walk out the door? I find it strange that some of you find this acceptable!