RO/DI Questions

[patm]

Hi everyone, I've got a bunch of questions again

I want to buy an RO or RO/DI unit. First, what is the main difference between the two? I'd like to be conservative and spend under $150, I don't care about the gpd, as all my tanks are relatively small. Any suggestions on what I should get (brand and from what site)? And lastly, do I need special plumbing in order to use it, or can I just attach it to a hose or sink?

Thanks in advance,

Pat

 

[patm]

One more question, what is everyones favorite brand of powerhead?

 

[squeezix]

this is what I have:
http://www.airwaterice.com/5%20%20Stage ... keeper.htm
$139.00 can't be beat for a 5 stage. Reverse Osmosis filters the water, and has a sediment pre-filter. De-Ionozation ( if I am correct ) gives whatever is left over a negative charge to force elements 9primarily phosphate) to drop out of the water. I may be wrong about the DI, but hopefully other more knowledgeable reefers will chime in.

 

[SAT]

I bought from http://www.aquaticreefsystems.com. Their customer service is awesome and I highly recommend them.

An RO/DI system comprises the following components, sometimes with multiples of each:

1. A sediment filter. The main purpose is to prevent the other stages from getting clogged up.

2. An activated carbon block. This removes chlorine, which will damage the reverse osmosis membrane if allowed to pass through, as well as a variety of organic pollutants.

3. A reverse osmosis membrane. The water is forced through the membrane under pressure. Light molecules, like H2O, pass through easily. Heavier molecules, like copper, mostly get left behind. This removes approximately 90% of the dissolved solids.

4. A deionization resin. This removes most of the charged ions that get through the RO phase.

IMO, RO filtration is pretty much mandatory for makeup water and DI is optional.

 

[Tusken]

squeezix

How does that filter connect. Would it be possible to conect to a hose.

thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Kent and it came with an attachment that screws into a hose or outdoor faucet. That way I don't flood our bar (not that I would really do that... )

 

[squeezix]

squeezix

How does that filter connect. Would it be possible to conect to a hose.

thanks

the attachments that came with the unit were saddle valves. They have a needle that pierces your plumbing. These work very well with copper, which your hose's input may be. I put mine under the sink, which had nylon/teflon tubing. Rather than try to pierce such a soft tubing, I teed the unit into my plumbing.

You could hook one up to a hose with the proper adapters. Anyone you buy one of these from should give you the advice you need to do so, if they cannot, RUN. Just make sure there is always pressure to the unit. If they go dry, you will need to replace the mambrane.

 

[reefmack]

i have a kent marine (35?) that i love. i had to buy an attachment that would allow it's "garden hose attachment" to screw into a bathroom faucet (after removing the airator) - and that cost me about 3 bucks.

ps my favorite powerhead is maxijet by far (i use 4x 1200s in my 75 gal for movement).

 

[patm]

Thanks everyone, all this input has greatly helped me. Reefmack, I think you are talking about the unit I am looking at, where did you buy the hose attachment?

Thanks again,

pat

 

[reefmack]

head up to home depot or lowes or a place like that - look for a device that is used to attach a garden hose to a bathroom or kitchen faucet. the best kind come in 2 parts - one that screws into the faucet (after unscrewing and removing the originial aerator) and the other screws into the end of the RO/DI hose attachment (that comes with the kent model i have). the 2 pieces fit together male/female style (snapping together) this 2-part piece is especially useful because you can very easily detatch it from the sink (if you need to use it)... this is a req't for me because i hook up my RO/DI to our guest bathroom and when we have company - wifey starts ragin about it being in there! ha.

i'll email you a picture since i can't figure out how to get one up here without a webserver handy...

[/img]

 

[Tusken]

thanks all for the help. my next purchase will be an R.O. unit.

 

[patm]

Thanks Everyone!!!

I purchased a Kent 35 gal/day RO unit from petsolutions.com on Sunday. To my surprise it arrived Wednesday! I think it may be the one Reefmack reccomended (thanx Reefmack) So now I'm excited because I started it up today and all is going well. Hopefully I'll have enough water tommorrow to fill up my seahorse tank! :mrgreen:

So thanks again for everyone's help,

Pat

 

[Brad]

Anyone know where to get a membrane with >90% rejection rate cheap? Also, if I'm using a 1 micron prefilter and thats fine for filtering, what inexpensive carbon cartridges are around?
Thanks