RO/DI Unit Questions

[DataDude]

I hope you'll tolerate some stupid questions from a squid. I just joined The Reef Tank and I'm finding lots of valuable information.

I currently have a 75 gallon FOWLR that I'm preparing for some corals. I understand that water quality is extremely important to corals. Therefore I'm looking at getting a RO/DI unit.

I understand the principles (how they filter the water) of these units from a good bit of reading I've been doing. However, I don't understand the mechanics.

I should also mention that I live in an apartment. I therefore cannot install a unit that is 'permanent' or requires modifications to existing plumbing. I would need a unit that I can disconnect and take with me when I move. I've read that some units can be connected to hose bibs. I see that as a feasible option as I could install it in the laundry room in my apartment and connect it to the water supply and drain for my washer.

My stupid questions:

• Where does the water go once it's passed through the filter canisters?
• Do I need to purchase/provide some type of holding tank or do I only use the unit when I want to fill a container with the purified water (on demand, so to speak)?
• What brand(s) should I consider?
• What capacity should I consider?

Any help you can provide this plumbing-challenged squid would be greatly appreciated.

DD

[dmusser]

From one squid to another:

i just bought a RO/Di system on Ebay for $90 plus shipping. It came with a connector that is removable. I hooked mine up underneath my bathroom sink in about 5 minutes. They had other connectors for your hose or sink also. When i need water i just put the waste water tube in the sink and the RO/DI tube in a 6 gallon bucket and fill it up. When I am done I just put the hoses back underneath the sink and use the water. Be advised that their is a lot of waste water to DI water. Here is the link to the company that I bought it from. http://stores.ebay.com/Filter-Direct...derLinksQQtZkm?

[wharyat]

Originally Posted by DataDude

• Where does the water go once it's passed through the filter canisters? A normal RO unit will produce 1 gallon of filtered water to ever 4-6 that goes down the drain. You can collect the waste water and use it for pretty much anything else.
  
  
  
  
• Do I need to purchase/provide some type of holding tank or do I only use the unit when I want to fill a container with the purified water (on demand, so to speak)? Yes, a water tight plastic garbage can (30-60 gallons) does a very good job at this.
• What brand(s) should I consider? Browse through the sponsors on this site, aquafx.com specifically deals in water filtration.
• What capacity should I consider? The higher the flow the higher the price 75 and 100 gallon is good.

Water is the most important part of our systems, this is usually not a good place to skimp.

[DataDude]

Thanks dmusser and wharyat! You both have helped me to better understand how I can install a RO/DI unit. You've also given me some good sources.

I appreciate your help!

DD

[rachyl756]

Let me recomend start by getting your water tested. I live in an area with high silica so I NEED a high silica system.

When I had my kent unit installed upstairs, I had a little piece that attached to the faucet of the sink and a plastic tube came off of that piece. The sink still functioned normal. To get water to flow to the RO unit, I turned on the water then pulled a little knob on the piece attached to the faucet and it diverted water to the RO unit.

It worked great and was no harder to hook up then unscrew one thing, screw in a differant thing. With an apartment I am assuming that sink gets alot of other usage, so something like that makes flipping water from RO to sink easy.

[DataDude]

Thanks Rachel! I'm starting to feel a good bit more at ease with this undertaking. I am absolutely NOT a plumber. I noticed that many units come with faucet and hose bib connectors. I was thinking I could mount the unit on the wall in my laundry room and feed the RO/DI water into a large, water tight container for storage. I could drain the waste water into the drain my washer uses.

I appreciate all the feedback.

DD