RODI unit questions

Since I have been having water quality problems and buying 20g of water at a time to do water changes is getting pricey, I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy a RODI unit for my apartment. I plan on hooking it up in the laundry room as someone suggested on here. I have a few questions though:

1) What would you recommend to hold the water? I'd prob need something that can hold about 50g... Would a new trashcan work?

2) How long does the break-in take?

3) Once its been filtered, should my pH be ok or will i need to play with it to make it right?

4) What salt would you recommend?

5) How long do the membranes last?

 

I can answer a couple questions...go to homedepot and buy a 50 gallon trash can...they are made by Brute, works great for me.
I dont think the break in takes too long about 30 mins or so
And your PH will usually be fine
This is the salt that I use Seachem Laboratories Reef Salt
not sure how long the membranes last

 

32 gallon Rubbermaid Brute trash cans are very popular for storing water.

You waste the first 3-5 gallons or water through the RO membrane before installing the DI cartridge then waste another gallon or so to rinse up the DI resin. A TDS meter will tell you when its rinsed properly.

RO/DI water is considered neutral, it actually has too few ions left to accurately measure pH. No buffering is needed as RO/DI quickly takes on the characteristics of whatever you add it to or is added to it.

There are many good choices for salt. The old stand by is Instant Ocean but it is more suited to a fish only or FOWLR system since it is not as high in calcium and alkalinity as Reef Crystals, Oceanic, Red Sea and others. I use Oceanic myself and have for about 8 years now.

A membranes life is dependent on your tap water condition, the quality of the sediment and carbon block filters you use, whether you replace the sediment and carbon filters at the recomended 6 month intervals and disinfect the system and how much water you make. In general with lower end systems with mediocre filters you will get 18 months to 3 years. With higher quality systems using lower micron filters the membrane can last 10 years or more, its kind of a pay me now or pay me later, and later, and later thing. The higher quality system may cost you $25-$50 more initially but will reward you with lower operating cost from day one so ends up being cheaper in the long run, usually the payoff is about 18 months.