What is best RO deal going?

Uncle Salty 05 · #1 06/04/2007, 09:01 AM

I am starting my own aquarium maintenance business and I want to get the best deal I can on an RO unit.
The Pinnacles I saw on F&S looked like the fastest producers (100 and 200 gpd).
I want a good unit as this will be an integral part of my business.
Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

AZDesertRat · #2 06/04/2007, 09:28 AM

Most businesses use Spectrapure units.

hypertech · #3 06/04/2007, 09:41 AM

I'm going to buy mine from the filter guys.

Uncle Salty 05 · #4 06/04/2007, 10:00 AM

I just bought a 200 gpd unit from Buckeye Field Supply.
Was best deal I could find.

nemofish2217 · #5 06/04/2007, 10:05 AM

just curious, why doesn't anyone ever talk about the ones you can buy on ebay for like 100 bucks shipped? they are 5 and 6 stage and put out i think around 100 gpd?

Uncle Salty 05 · #6 06/04/2007, 10:13 AM

I have never bought anything from E-bay and never will.
Everyone I have ever spoken that did got screwed.

AZDesertRat · #7 06/04/2007, 10:18 AM

Most of the e bay units are substandard systems that's why they can sell them so cheap. Most use very low quality prefilters and carbons, spme even use granular carbon instead of carbon blocks. Some use nano filters intended for pool and spa use and not RO membranes, which is a huge difference as RO is 10x more effective. Lots of them use cheap knock off components made from low quality plastics and poor moldings and castings, they may look the same visibly buit they don't last. Most use small low capacity horizontal hollow tubes with a little bit of outdated resin bobbing around in them instead of true 24 oz vertical cartridge and canister type DI filters.
With RO/DI you really do get what you pay for and to get a decent system it will start at about $150 and go up to about $350 for the top of the line. $200 gets you a very good system that will live up to its claims.
The number of stages doesn't tell you anything. All you need for reef quality water is 4 stages if they contain the correct cartridges and membrane. They count things like a granular carbon taste and odor cartridge as a "stage" when for a reef you don't even want that piece.

HBtank · #8 06/04/2007, 11:57 AM

^^^ What AZ said.