how do reverse osmosis systems work?

i would like to purchase one, but what i dont understand is how you set them up... do you hook them up to your sink? do you hook them up to the faucet? does it hook up to your aquarium only? when i buy one i dont want to do any drilling, cutting or anything in between...i just want to either fill or attach it to something. i was looking at the coralife pure flo II
Coralife Pure-Flo II - 50 GPD RO System
can you tell me anything about this system? such as how does it hook up, anything i need that isnt offered in this purchase? any other info is welcomed!

 

Most RO systems install into your homes cold water supply at some point, usually under the main sink or in the laundry room, unless you go "whole house" then it's at the main water supply inlet of the home- the choice is yours. To use an RO system for your tank automatically- things get a bit more complicated. You have two choices- an ATO set up (auto top off ) , or, buckets and direct water changes, where by you need not go buy your water- you simply fill or replace what you need manually, or, an ATO does this for you, but requires additional plumbing from the RO systems placement to your tank where the ATO would typically be installed.

IMHO Air water and Ice have the best set ups for the best prices.

Hope this helps.

 

I have the basic understanding that they use fine filtration to remove all particulates. Lets hope AZDesertRat chimes in here as he is who I would ask for help on any issue regarding RO and RODI

 

Dont get that unit you linked, ro only. Will post more when im at computer

 

RO uses pressure and a membrane to perform a reverse version of osmosis, which is the way your cells take in water but leave behind other chemicals in defiance of diffusion.

Since that's probably too technical, just know it pushes water via pressure through a fabric which prevents anything other than water from getting through in large quantity. You don't want that particular unit, because as I said, RO keeps things other than water from getting through "in large quantity", not completely. The usual system is RODI, because RO is good at handling large quantities, while DI is good at getting every last contaminant out of the water. The unit you linked is RO only, and is the 50GPD version of the unit I bought when I first started, with huge regrets because it didn't actually purify the water completely like an RODI does.

I would go with a Spectrapure RODI. I love my MaxCap, and would recommend it to anyone.

 

The FILTERS section of this write up explains what each piece of an RO/DI systems does and why it is there.
GENERAL INFO ON REVERSE OSMOSIS

I also use and recommend Spectrapure systems myself too.
With RO/DI you really do get what you pay for and the Coralife systems are very low end low quality systems which receive a ton of complaints. They are a mass produced import compared to most reef quality systems that are assembled by hand here in the states using only high quality parts and resins.

Others you might look at are www.buckeyefieldsupply.com , www.purelyh2o.com , and www.melevsreef.com . The 75 GPD Premium from Buckeye is a good system as is the Optima Professional or Automated from Purely. Melev is a reef hobbyist himself and has a lot of good information on his site.