Recommend a R.O. Unit

[FSOL]

Well I'm getting sick of hauling containers of RO water from the LFS to my house and would like to setup a RO unit at home.

Tank is 180g, and evaporates about 4g/day and I do 30g water change a week, so I need about 10g/day of RO water or more.

LFS told me to look outside of the fish industry where they have better/more efficient RO units but I'm skeptical, only because I've never heard of any reefers using industrial RO units.

So those who have long experience w/ RO units, please lead me in the right direction.

What brand should I look into? I prefer to put good $ upfront and get a respected and efficient unit than buy a cheap one and have it waste 5 gallons of water just to make a gallon of RO water.

Oh and someone please explain if I should get RO unit or RO/DI unit.

Thanks in advance

[ledford1]

Check out the Typhoon III from airwaterice.com. Go with the 75gpd unit. They're great.

I'd go RO/DI if the cost is right for you.

Here is info on RO and RODI:
http://reefcentral.com/modules.php?s=&name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

[chadfarmer]

http://www.purelyh2o.com/

[reg828]

with a little more you can get a very good pure water 99.9 with kent marine

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4453&N=2004+113775

[smleee]

Typhoon III, I just ordered one. Just ask AZDesertRat, the Guru of water treatment. :)

eee

[AZDesertRat]

Look at 5 different vendors. All offer great high quality units at a good price.

www.airwaterice.com (The Typhoon III is my personal favorite)
www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
www.purelyh2o.com
www.thefilterguys.biz
and
www.melevsreef.com

[Pete1399]

I will second www.thefilterguys.biz. Good pricing for good quality.

[jawaiianmon]

what Pete1399 said.

[jgsensor]

I like SpectraPure units great quality and great customer service.

http://www.spectrapure.com

[stros]

I purchased a typhoon III from tony at reef exotics. He is great to deal with. Very good customer service. Very nice ro unit.

[squirmy]

typhoon III

[BeanAnimal]

I prefer the AWI TIII but any of the units AZRat listed are top notch.

Bean

[Ibrakeforreefs]

Not to be too repeatative, but I believe the TYPHOON III is your best overal choice.

~Ibrakeforreefs~

[doox00]

I purchased a typhoon III, but have not used it yet :P

[BeanAnimal]

you will not be disapointed.... and if you are, then something is wrong with the unit and Walter will make sure it gets taken care of. The customer service can not be beat.

[FSOL]

I've decided to go w/ filterguys. their pricing is good and more is offered compared to other brands.

[BeanAnimal]

You did go with the 5 stage and 75GPD correct?

DO NOT ORDER the 100GPD! From anybody.

[JER-Z]

my typhoon III just game in yesterday...This thing is built like a tank! Bigger than i expected, I gotta make sure i hit studs when i mount it to the wall....

I am going to fire it up tonight.

[mcegelsk]

My Typhoon III should be here today!!! Can't wait! Thanks Airwaterice.com!!!

[jgsensor]

Why not orer the 100gpd unit? I have never heard that one before, is there something wrong with them?

[BeanAnimal]

The 100 GPD membranes are not true Reverse Osmosis membranes. They are nano filters, and therefore have a very poor rejection ratio. You will use TONS of resin.

[AZDesertRat]

Most 100 GPD membranes are one of two things. They are either 90% rejection rate(efficiency) or they require 60 to 65 psi to work best. Dow Filmtec 75 GPD membranes are 98% rejection rate and they operate at peak efficiency at only 50 psi. So its not just get a 75 GPD,. its get a Dow Filmtec 75 GPD, not an Applied Membrane constructed with Dow material or a GE Water membrane or one of the Chinese knockoffs.

[jgsensor]

Thanks for the info, I never heard that before. I have a 90gpd from SpectraPure. I don't remember the exact specs, but I believe it is suppose to be 98% also

[AZDesertRat]

Spectrapure is one exception to this rule. They literally hand test certain membranes for efficiency and flows unlike other vendors. I have had this service performed by Premier for one of my membranes that I questioned. You pay more for this service but in a lot of cases it is worth it to know exactly how well your unit is working. Thats why Spectrapure is considered the Cadillac of RO/DI systems, they work excellent especially in unique water conditions.

[FuzzyLogic]

Thats why Spectrapure is considered the Cadillac of RO/DI systems, they work excellent especially in unique water conditions.

Does this mean that the extra cost can only be justified if you have really bad water?

[AZDesertRat]

Thats a decision only you can make. How important is it to you to know your membrane is the very best it can be? With the quality control that Dow Filmtec, Applied Membranes and GE Water and others have its rare to get a completely bad membrane. But they all state that final out could possibly +/- 15% of published data. So you could possibly get a 98% rejection rate membrane that only does 90% or worse or may produce only 50 GPD instead of a claimed 75. I test my water regularlly with a TDS meter and test kits and monitor the life of my DI resin so I don't feel it is needed but you may want greater peace of mind than I do. Its a personal decision.
When I had my last 75 GPD Dow membrane tested it produced right at 93 GPD @ 98% at 77 degrees and 50 psi by the way.