r/o
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: General Help
Forum Description: The place to ask about pest, problems, hitchhikers, etc.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47178
Printed Date: July 10 2025 at 3:14am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: r/o
Posted By: BnK
Subject: r/o
Date Posted: February 28 2011 at 12:44am
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Will this work fine for a R/O system? http://cgi.ebay.com/Zero-0-ppm-Reef-6st-Reverse-Osmosis-RO-DI-Water-Filters-/110614330211?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item19c120bb63 ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Replies:
Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: February 28 2011 at 7:49am
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It looks like a pretty good unit. I haven't had any experience with this unit specifically but it should do the job. ------------- Burt An equal opportunity reefer, I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping. [email protected] |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: February 28 2011 at 8:44am
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That's a lot more than you need. Are you planning to do an ATO (automatic top-off?) for the tank or to use it in the kitchen with a drinking water kit? If not you won't need the shutoff valve. You won't need the Carbon or the DI modules (the top two pieces). They expire quickly and are expensive to replace, besides being unnecessary. Just within the last month someone here found a good RO units for ~$50. If you can't find that thread, let me know and I'll find it for you. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: February 28 2011 at 11:24am
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no i just want one for fish since i have a filter system on my fridge we use for drinkin at what not. I seen a thread and searched but couldnt find it now lol ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 4:04pm
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^
------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 10:29pm
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I have the same exact unit (just a few years older model)
Will work great as long as your tap water TDS is under 300 ppm
You should have your TDS checked first before buying
Also, check out their website - purewaterclub.com - as you might find a better price there ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 10:34pm
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ok how do you check your ppm? i will check out the website
------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 10:44pm
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most LFS can test it for you ------------- - My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) - * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 11:01pm
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k why do i need to do this? what is tds? Just tryin to learn about all this stuff lol ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: wickedsnowman
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 11:23pm
| TDS means total dissolved solids. It pretty much is a measure of the purity of your water. More TDS= more bad stuff in the water. The reason he suggested getting it tested before you buy a unit is he is saying if your TDS is above 300 this unit might not work for you. |
Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 11:26pm
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ohhh ok so does that kind of determine what stage r/o filter you would need like if your water is good you only need like a 2 stage or so and if it is worse you need a 5 stage?
------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: dodger boy
Date Posted: March 01 2011 at 11:36pm
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Aquarium Masters in Ogden on 12th street sells RO water for .50 a gallon or .75 for ro saltwater, not sure if thats a good deal or not but I have been thinking of going that route for my water changes
------------- Rick Davis 55 gal |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: March 02 2011 at 12:21am
No, Most RO units have 2 or 3 prefilters, a membrane, then a carbon post filter, and some have a DI unit as well. For your aquarium water you could get away with just a 3-4 stage (2-3 filterers, and an RO membrane). If your water pressure is good (over 60psi) then the RO unit should do just fine even if your TDS (total dissolved solids) are high. Mine are over 700, and my RO unit takes it down to just 5-10 (but I boost my pressure to 90 psi). The higher the pressure the better your RO unit will work.
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BnK wrote:Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 02 2011 at 12:43am
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dodger yea I though of that but it is a hassle specially when i get this other tank. i think r/o would just be more convientient for me how do you find out your water pressure? ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 02 2011 at 7:21am
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A 3 stage RO unit is a sediment filter, an AC(activated carbon) filter and the RO Membrane. All additional stages are unnecessary. More is not better. Water pressure of 50 psi or above is usually sufficient for an RO Unit to do it's job. The city can tell you what their typical pressure is and you would need to look and see if there is a pressure reducing valve in your incoming water line. It's usually located near the water shutoff where the water comes into the house. If this is an apartment, ask the landlord/maintenance. Any basic 3 stage RO unit, as described above, can remove enough impurities from the water to make it suitable for our aquariums. Even though the incoming impurities may be 600 ppm on a TDS meter, if there is good water pressure, the purified water coming out of an RO Unit can be 50 ppm and that is totally acceptable. Typically the 3 stage RO unit will deliver water with a TDS of 5-30 ppm and that's great pure water at the best price. Impurities will also be filtered out in the tank. One of the great things about algae is it's amazing ability to filter the water. Algae can eat up and actually grows better with these impurities. When you realize that some pretty nice looking tanks are using tapwater, it should help you see my point. (a million cool algae eating bugs and plenty of snails eat algae - the circle of life  ) The biological filtration, the circle of life, can cope with all kinds of things. Give it time to grow and let it do it's job. BTW, Walmart sells RO water for 30 cents/gallon, Sunflower and Good Earth sell it for 25 cents. Hope this helps.------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 03 2011 at 12:00am
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so would something like this work? there is a bunch of portable ones and not sure what stage this is. http://cgi.ebay.com/PORTABLE-REVERSE-OSMOSIS-WATER-FILTER-SYSTEM-100-GPD-/130474748446?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item1e60e6aa1e ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 03 2011 at 8:16am
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Yes it is an RO unit with a standard looking Membrane housing so that means it probably uses a standard membrane, but consider the replacement costs of those sealed filter cartridges. They are probably $15-25 each. If it were me I'd pay a little more to get the standard housings where the standard filter cartridges can be found at HD or Lowes for $5-10. This is the standard. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/PR-RO50.html?fe_feedid=126 - http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/PR-RO50.html?fe_feedid=126 You can probably find these for less if you are patient and keep looking. The $50 unit that I saw someone found was an individual selling one that was probably used and would soon need a new filters and Membrane. Membranes are about $45. Are you coming to the fun meeting tonight? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 03 2011 at 9:26am
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yes it is my wife and my anniversary date ;)
------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 03 2011 at 9:56am
Happy anniversary birthday. 
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 04 2011 at 12:56am
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http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Stage-Water-Filter-Carbon-Sediment-Reverse-osmosis-/360202848726?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item53ddc349d6 k I found this one but it dont have the big container with it. Do I need that or can I just have it go into a garbage can? And will I need anything else with it? ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: March 04 2011 at 8:55am
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That title is misleading. That is only a 3 stage drinking water filter. It Says Reverse Osmosis but there is no RO Filter in the picture or the description and in the description it states that this is an under counter drinking water filter that can be easily upgraded to a RO unit.
You really have to read these ebay ads closely. ------------- Burt An equal opportunity reefer, I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping. [email protected] |
Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: March 04 2011 at 9:05am
| That first one you posted is not bad. You could sell the DI and post filter. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 04 2011 at 9:17am
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Oh my goodness. Burt caught it. The picture shows no RO at all. That seller ought to be reported. It's horrible to see people taking advantage of other people. 
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 05 2011 at 12:16pm
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^ thanx mark  ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: BnK
Date Posted: March 06 2011 at 7:17pm
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thanx burt that is why im posting on here before just buyin something Since I dont have no experience with this units I would never of known ------------- Brett and Kristine | Layton, UT | Brett's e-mail: [email protected] | Kristine's e-mail: [email protected] |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 08 2011 at 12:37pm
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Hey Brett, this inexpensive "choose your stages" RO system was just posted in another thread. If you ask me, it looks like a good way to go. http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47372 - http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47372 ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: philhender
Date Posted: March 08 2011 at 3:35pm
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I've been eyeing the build your own offered there, however, whenever I build one there, it's more than their pre-configured units. I even built exactly matching what they had and it was about $10 more than what I was looking for, comparing 4 stage RO with no DI. That being said, they're pretty good deals there, about $130 for 4stage RO no DI.. or $160 for the standard 5stage RO/DI 75GPD. My $.02
------------- I asked the Lord for the blessing of Patience... he gave me 6 kids! 125g Reef / 55g Sump-Fuge |
Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: March 08 2011 at 4:25pm
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Yep,
I also looked at that and I think it's pretty much the same everywhere. You generally save on the pre-configured units and pay a little more to configure your own. This is because there is more handling required when you custom configure anything. It may be good if you have some spare parts and don't need everything but generally it's cheaper overall to go pre-configured.
I have been using the BRS RODI unit for a couple years and it has performed great. If you don't want the DI filter just use it for something else. It is just one of their standard filters with DI resin. I used a similar one to make my Kalk Reactor. I like the built in pressure gage Auto Shut Off valve and the TDS meter that are included in the Pre Configured models. ------------- Burt An equal opportunity reefer, I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping. [email protected] |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 09 2011 at 8:44am
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I didn't realize that. Thanks for the update.
------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: March 09 2011 at 8:53am
| True Burt. I wouldn't have a RO unit without the pressure gauge, TDS, and auto shut off. I had to buy the TDS separate, but mine came with the other two. Without a guage and TDS, it is hard to know how your system is working. By the way, I have a spare auto shut off (I replaced mine with an electronic valve). So if anyone needs one... but I am a ways away from most of you.... |