RO or RO/DI? Which is best? Brand? - Page 2

cyberchef · 12-15-2002, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
Don, you're using RO water for drinking water right? and it's filling up the drinking water storage tank.

Shouldn't you have some sort of anti-back flow - check valve thing between them so your tank stays pressurized? Ours does.

Jerel

I don't have one, when I make water it drains the storage tank and then keeps making more if I need it. Then it refills the storage tank once I shut off the valve or drinking faucet. It does start to make more water as soon as the pressure drops below a certain point. Is there a problem with using the water from the storage tank, running it thru the DI filter and then using it for the reef tank? That is how my system is setup. It's nice when I'm making a gallon of makeup water, just takes about 3 minutes to fill the container. I don't make major amounts of water very often so the storage tank doesn't get completely emptied very often and I actually like the fact that the tank gets completely emptied occasionally...

I posted once before about using a "water" storage tank for storing DI water and no one ever responded one way or the other. I've thought about getting another small storage tank so that I can always have 2-3 gallons of DI water available if I need it in a hurry. Like when my 1 1/2 yr old daughter turned off the UPS battery backup and the tank dumped 3 gallons of water in a matter of minutes, under the stand...

Oh well it just meant a few air bubbles in the tank till I could get the last gallon made up.

Spanky · 12-15-2002, 09:18 PM

OK, I think I'm the one that's confused here.

Ours is a RO/DI with the RO part directed to a storage tank and then a small faucet on the sink for drinking/cooking.
The DI part is coming out of a small hose with a cut off valve on the end for filling up buckets.

Is that the way yours is Don?

cyberchef · 12-15-2002, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
OK, I think I'm the one that's confused here.

Ours is a RO/DI with the RO part directed to a storage tank and then a small faucet on the sink for drinking/cooking.
The DI part is coming out of a small hose with a cut off valve on the end for filling up buckets.

Is that the way yours is Don?

Yes it is, but the hose for the RO storage tank does not have a anti backflow valve in it so new RO water as well as the RO storage tank water goes thru the DI filter when you open the valve for the DI water. It's nice if you only need a gallon or two of water, you don't have to wait for the system to "make" the 1-2 gallons, 3-5 minutes and you have it...

But if you make a large quantity of water then the storage tank empties and after your done it takes a couple of hours to completely refill the storage tank. That was part of the reason why I was thinking about getting a second storage tank for DI water, then putting a anti backflow valve on the one storage tank so there would always be drinking/cooking water. Are there any problems you know of in using the RO "storage tank" water for making DI water or for using a water storage tank for DI water so that you always have 2-3 gallons on hand. I like the idea of the storage tank for DI water because it is sealed and no air/contaminates can get to it.

Spanky · 12-15-2002, 09:57 PM

OK I'm with you now. That's the same problem we had when ours was first set up. I called Mr. Gibbs at SpectraPure and he sent me the valve and how to put it in. Seems our plumber hooked the system up wrong or something. Anywho, and don't quote me on this, I think Mr. Gibbs told me that a certain amount of RO water would bypass the DI filter that way and I wasn't getting pure DI out of the DI. Or it was something like I was getting the RO water first and then the DI. Either way, it wasn't right.

I think you need to give your manf a call and explain this to them. See what they have to say.

cyberchef · 12-15-2002, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
OK I'm with you now. That's the same problem we had when ours was first set up. I called Mr. Gibbs at SpectraPure and he sent me the valve and how to put it in. Seems our plumber hooked the system up wrong or something. Anywho, and don't quote me on this, I think Mr. Gibbs told me that a certain amount of RO water would bypass the DI filter that way and I wasn't getting pure DI out of the DI. Or it was something like I was getting the RO water first and then the DI. Either way, it wasn't right.

I think you need to give your manf a call and explain this to them. See what they have to say.

My tube and valve for the DI water comes directly out of the end of DI filter and the water flow to the DI filter goes in at the other end, so any water that comes out of that tube has to go thru the DI filter t get to the tube..

So that should not be a problem. My only concern has been wether or not the storage stank is safe for the reef water. It's safe for drinking water so I don't see any problems with using water from the storage tank for the reef tank, do we still have the tanks straight?

I'm seriously considering getting another water storage tank for storing DI water so I can have a head start when I need DI water.

bfish5150 · 12-15-2002, 11:06 PM

Based on previous posts on this site that I researched as well as overall opinion, I may go with ARS. Just need to narrow it down to what size I need. I received an email from John Allen regarding some questions I had and I think ARS will be very competitive on price. Allen also stated by the way that two carbon filters is unnecessary for most applications and that a higher quality carbon block filter can be installed in an ARS unit to achieve the same RO membrane protection from chlorine. Thanks everybody again for their advice and assistance.

Doug1 · 12-15-2002, 11:43 PM

FWIW you could install a Carbon prefilter from Lowes or the like ahead of the RO setup. Madford water is not that bad , at the time I moved up here they didnt even have to chlorinate it, but that was in the mid 70's

bfish5150 · 12-16-2002, 11:16 PM

I contacted John Allen this morning at ARS and ordered an Oceanus 4-stage RO/DI unit. I added a few bells and whistles like a pre-filter kit, flush kit, adjustable flow restrictor valve, upgraded the DI cartridge to a medical grade unit at John's recommendation, and went with a 100 GPD TFC membrane. The difference between a 100 GPD and 75 GPD was about $5.00 at the time I ordered it. All I have to say is that Mr. Allen did an excellent job in answering my questions and giving me a crash course in RO/DI 101. I am very impressed with ARS and their customer service. They were prompt in returning phone calls and definitely know their products and are willing to negotiate price to stay competitive. Thanks for the advice everybody and I can't wait for my new filter to arrive!

Unresistible Blue · 12-20-2002, 10:04 PM

bfish - that's the same unit I have. Its been very low maintenance - just change the resin/filters periodically and you're good to go. John at ARS IS a good one to talk with!