Looking for RO and possibly DI unit,..kinda confused/lost, need help deciding

Spectrapure is just way to expensive for me in the long haul.

I was looking at this and it seems that it comes with a 3 years supply of "extras". what do u guys think of this Maximus II System COMBO - $320.89 : Aquasafe Canada ??

 

You are kidding right?

$120 for a Spectrapure MPDI and $59 for a PurelyH2o add on drinking water kit versus $321 for an extremely low end drinking watre system that is bottom of the barrel in quality?

Lets look at that one component by component.
1. An extremely coarse 5 micron no name sediment filter compared to a 0.5 micron absolute rated brand name sediment filter. Strike 1

2. A granular activated carbon cartridge that may last about 300 total gallons (60 treated and 240 waste) that has absolutely no business being in a RO or RO/DI system versus a 0.5 micron near absolute 20,000 gallon (4,000 gallons treated and 16,000 gallons waste) solid carbon block. Strike 2

3. A 1 micron coconut carbon block good for possibly 12,000 total gallons (2400 treated and 9600 waste) IF and ONLY IF it were protected by a sediment filter of the same micron rated or smaller. Remember carbon is made up of billions of tiny pores and if you plug or foul those pores you are done for. That unit not only uses a high micron sediment filter is then sticks some soft granular carbon in front of the block which turns to dust as you well know with usage. Where do you think that dust lodges? Strike 3.

4. A unnamed 100 GPD membrane which is more than likely a 100 GPD Dow Filmtec Nano Filter rated at 90% rejection rate versus a 90 GPD high rejection rate Reverse Osmosis membrane rated at better than 98% rejection. Remember for every 2% you increase the rejection rate you DOUBLE the life of your DI resin. Which system will cost less to own and operate??? Strike 4.

5. Off the shelf prepackaged DI resin of unknown age, manufacturer, freshness or quality versus custom blended reef specific DI resin guaranteed to last 30% longer than any other on the market. Then they cram it in a little horizontal tube that holds about 6 oz of loose resin and short circuits and channels so is horrible. Again, which will cost less in the long run? Even tjough they are supplying you an extra 24 oz of resin thats just one refill with a real vertical refilable DI filter that holds 20 oz of resin when properly packed not the little horizontals that channel and short circuit. Strike 5. And what is "Alkalizing-DeIonization Resin bead Filtration"? Sounds impressive but doesn't mean a hill of beans! DI is DI period and some resin blends are better than others but thats about it.

The 21 spare filters the yare providing are worth about $21 wholesale and I would not install a single one of them in any of my RO or RO/DI systems, thye provide little protection for each other or for the membrane which itself I would not own either.

You might want to evaluate that system a little more and come up with your own conclusions but read up on RO/DI first. From experience I can assure you, it will cost you 3 or 4 times as much to own and operate as the Spectrapure or any other reef quality system almost guaranteed. Look at every piece of the puzzle as you are buying a complete system and every component depends on the quality and performance of the component that precedes it in the line up. You can have the best carbon block in the world but if the sediment filter is about as sffective as a scren door then it is worthless. Same for a membrane or DI resin, if they are not protected and working at their best they don't mean a thing.

Here is another recent thread on RO/DI and the differences in quality.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/filters-pumps-etc/ro-di-suggestions-please-cheap-126627.html

 

Yeah...you might want to listen to AZ..

 

Oh My lord I am lost. The price of spectra pure has gone down hundreds! That is a great deal!

I would pay 500 for a spectrapure unit cuz its cheaper in the long run.

 

All I want to say is I did what I thought was right. Giving you the best information around. Take it or leave it. Az I still think of you as the RO/DI king K+

 

Check out Bulk Reef Supply, they have great products & support.

I have this.. 75 GPD RO/DI 5 Stage *PLUS* System - English


Hope this helps.

 

Then you did right...take info, read, process. but make your decision in the end. Its why these forums exist! Good luck on the purchase, in the end, you have a ton of resources here to help or supply knowledge...;D

 

Their prices have become more competitive over the years as the economy has changed.
When I bought my first MaxCap system 8 or 9 years ago the list price was $389. Today you can get an improved version of that same system for about $250. Thats the Cadillac of the Industry by far about the same price as some of the ebay systems which don't even come close in comparison.

 

Thanks AZDesertRat, for the breakdown, i guess the aquasafe was just a bad idea all together. Im really just looking for a 5-6 stage. I have to to the following conclusion, let me know what u think.

after looking and comparing all those sites, i always need to buy the drinking KIT which adds about another $70 (shipping included) and i also need something to filter the CHLORINE as my city has chlorine in water. and then i wanted the TDS meters HM Digitial DM-2 and float valve, check valve, and the little nick nacks normally after i add all that in a 5 to 6 stage it always comes out around $310 shipped (meters, resevoir, nick nacks and 6 stage unit w filters) and if i got spectrapure its even more. Im thinking BRS.

Do u guys think this will work cause spectrapures website it says the filters are interchangeable with other units... (instead of spending 400+ upfront, i pay around 300 for everything i want, then use spectrapure filters later)
So im thinking if i buy a cheaper 6 stage RO/DI unit and then when i gotta change filter just use the spectrapure ones later? Thats what i am thinking of doing as it will save me money upfront.

 

Forget the word "Stages" exists. That is an Ebay sales gimmic to make a bad system sound like the best thing since sliced bread, making you think more is beter when it really is just the opposite. You do not need or want 5 or 6 stages period. You do want 4 good stages, not 5 or 6 mediocre stages. You need one sediment filter, one good carbon block, one membrane and one vertical DI filter, thats it for 90% of all installations and will outlast and outperform others with 5, 6 or 7 so called "stages".

All RO/DI systems remove chlorine, thats the purpose of the carbon block and good systems like the Spectrapure with its 0.5 micron carbon block and custom reef specific DI resin is also 100% effective on chloramines with no special filters or resins.

The Spectrapure system is $120. A drinking water kit at purelyH2o is $59. You really would be better off with a handheld YDS meter over the dual inlines, theyare more accurate, more versatile since it allows you to test any water like tap, RO only, RO/DI, your ATO reservoir, bottled water, the LFS water, vending mach etc. The inlines are dedicated to only 2 places and cannot be used portable so usually only read RO only and final or RO/DI, thats it and to troubleshoot a RO/DI system you need a minimum of 3 readings, tap water, RO only and RO/DI so you either have to do some plumbing and moving the probes around or have two meters.

The handheld TDS-3 or TDS-4TM also have a built in digital thermometer so serve double duty for $20-$25 at Spectrapure or Buckeye Field Supply.

I do not recommend float valves since they lead to TDS creep issues when used automatically. Solenoid valves and float switches are much better but more expensive initially. They will save money in DI resin replacements though so pay for themselves eventually.

I come up with $120, $59 and $25 plus shipping for those 3 items. If you really do want a float valve they can be had for around $15 and a check valve for $5 so say another $20 or a total of $224 plus shipping, thats a far cry from $400.

BRS offers nothing special, cost saving or unique, its all normal off the shelf untested components. No treated and tested high rejection rate RO membranes for longer DI life, no 0.5 micron sediment filters for longer carbon life, no custom blended DI resins for longer DI life and better water quality, no capillary tube flow restrictors for longer membrabne life and less water waste and associated cost etc.