kent VS aqua fx

[Neal358]

witch one is overall the better unit kent ro or the aquaua fx i am looking to spend around 150.00 on it. the aquaFX looks like it comes with a few axtras but all i am realy looking for is witch one pruduces better water and the quality of the unit

 

[Eboman]

I have the AquaFX Barracuda 100gpd.

It rules!!!

I get consistent 0ppm readings from my TDS meter.

I've never used a Kent, but I think the AquaFX is great!! And replacement filters seem pretty reasonable from a cost standpoint.

Great customer service too.

I would go with AquaFX.

Hope that helps,
Eboman

 

[reefaddict1]

I just bought an Aqua FX barracuda from Atlantis Aquatics. It came with a free TDS meter.

I like the unit, but I really like the John Guest quick disconnects at all the tubing fittings. It shows that they went the extra mile making these units....

Only had it a couple of days.. So I do not know it's long term reliability yet.

 

[reefmkr]

I just order dolphin from Aqua/FX. Great customer service(Marianne)and gave me best beal. Also everyone I talk to like Aqua/FX
product.

 

[playnhooky]

i use the aquafx and it kicks ass

good luck

 

[Len]

They're all the same, given equal membrane. They usually source the same/similar parts, assemble it and stamp their names on it.

In other words, doesn't matter much.

 

[jaydse]

aqua fx refers its self to a kent as the same quality i got a kent but the only reason i bought it was because of shipping charges.i got it cheaper.

 

[faztaz]

I would think they are very similar units just a matter of taste. Right now AquaFX appears to be the best priced unit around. I got mine (100GPD Barracuda) with Guest fittings, TDS meter for 210 which included shipping. I will really put it to the test when I will use it to fill my 160g reef system next week.

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Let me give another perspective on this thread: As of having used both, I would say this.

THe AquaFX housing and hardware are the best in the biz, nice clear canisters, great aluminum brackets, comes with nice pressure gauge, flush valve, ALL John guest fittings and ball valves, and a great digital TDS meter too! The Kents housing are kind of plain Jane, no meters, jaco fittings,no included flush kit etc,ball valves etc. BUT, the Kent has a great choice of very high quality carbon blocks and 1 micron floss filters and a great DI resin bed.ANd you cant beat their HI-S RO membranes which are high quality too. The AquaFX's I think is a step down, using an average carbon block and average micron prefilters, your basic generic TFC RO membrane. SO the Kent gets the nod here in the actual filter dept. I ordered the housing kits special from AquaFX myself, used Kent Sediment and Carbon filters, SpectraPure RO membranes and dual stage SPectrapure DI resins for the best bang for the buck combo.

 

[SPC]

R&B, if the Aqua FX tests 0 on a TDS meter then how can the Kent filters be better?
Steve

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Thats quite odd, I had a similiar problem with my original order, Brian just sent me the part($50 retail), and got it within 3 days. You sure you talkin bout the same company?? AquaFX is known to bend over backwards for their customers.

 

[Newreefkeeper]

Those were the days.

Brian, as I was told, was fired for over-committing (bend too much backwards) to the customers, and not following up his committments.

I bought the 100gpd barracuda several months ago, dealing with Brian. There were numerous mistakes in the shipment. I don't want to mention the details here, but the mistakes were so bad that Brian and John promised me a letter allowing me to buy everything from AquaFx half price in the next 12 months.

After waiting for 3 weeks, but no letter, I called to find out that both Brian and John were fired. A TDS meter was given to compensate for all my frustration. End of story.

Up till now, I still question the performance of the DI cartridge. The TDS meter reading is 8, only after making about 30 gallons of DI water. Also, there is a very small leak in the DI cartridge gasket.

I am kind of tired keep calling AquaFx to report problems. I have more other important things to do in life, such as reading this message board.

 

[SPC]

Newreefkeeper, Aqua FX has a forum on RC that you can post questions to, have you tried that yet?
Steve

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

SPC: AquaFX keeps their pricing down by offering generic TFC RO membranes,Carbon blocks,and DI cartridges, you can tell by how long they will last, and initial readings, in which many ppl were reading anywhere from 5-25 ppm. A real good RO membrane such as a Hi-S or Spectrapure should read 0 after a few minutes of run time. And after going through the DI's should still read 0. If this is not the case then the quality of a TFC membrane is in question. Many ppl damage their membranes without even realizing it due to hot water or not changing out their Carbon block and sediment filters often. But AquaFX is not getting the highest grade cartridges to begin with.

 

[faztaz]

What kind of readings are the rest of you getting?? I have a local tap water TDS of 270 an a filtered reading of 7 (9 if its in a plastic container).
_________________
Mercedes Benz Ponton

 

[Anonymous]

I have a 100gpd barracuda. I cannot get my water pressure up to 40psi, so I haven't used it yet.

But: when I got it from AFX, one of the john guest fittings was broken. I had to fill out a claim with FEDEX to get them to send me a new one. It took 3 weeks after Fedex cut them a check to get the 50 cent part.

here is some more info A mildly unhappy Aqua FX customer

Go with kent.

JMHO
B

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

SPC, no hard findings but myself and others at our Fishclub meetings have been finding regular "high" ppm readings with their membranes and premature exhaustion. There are high silicates where I live and the water is loaded with minerals but many people up here have experienced that the AquaFX cartridges wouldnt last more than around 5-600 gallons roughly and many would be reading very high ppm's before reaching that mark or even half way to it. Units were also cross checked with various TDS meters to make sure no false readings were read. But after wards many people switched to the HI-S membranes and resins and SPectrapure products with huge results. THis is about as far as our research has gone, but it was enough for some people to make a switch, and that switch proved to be beneficial for us at least.

 

[SPC]

R&B, my personal experience has been 0 ppm when I originally set my unit up, and after running about 500 gallons through the unit I now read 0 ppm. My water out of the faucet reads 280 ppm. I am not saying that Aqua FX dosen't have the typical problems that go with any manufacturer, but I still wonder where you came up with your data that shows they use inferior membranes and cartriges. If you could post your source for this finding I would like to read it.
Thanks,
Steve