Need your input please

I have narrowed it down to these three

Reverse Osmosis RO REEF 6 Stage DI Water Filter NEW - eBay (item 390127382550 end time Dec-07-09 12:30:16 PST)

or

REEF RO DI WATER FILTER 75GPD AQUARIUM REVERSE OSMOSIS - eBay (item 290373142254 end time Dec-22-09 10:57:36 PST)

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/Reef-Water-Reve...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19b5693925

 

for about the same money I would listen to the advice AZDesertRat gave you in your other thread... i'll repost it below

CHECK OUT THIS POST

Nothing comes close to Spectrapure when it comes to reef quality RO/DI systems.
SpectraPure Customer Appreciation SALE! 20% - 50% off

The Pro Plus at $149 is a steal and the MaxCap is the Cadillac of the industry all others try to imitate. I've tried them all and would never use anything else again.

RO/DI gives you consistency which is something not found in tap water.

On the main 3 Reef page, go down towards the bottom to the Sponsors forums and read the Sticky Posts at the top of the Spectrapure page, they will answer a ton of questions you may have and make you a more informed buyer.

 

it coems out to about 180 with shipping...im just trying to save a little money

 

I hear ya, but when you spend another $50 in 6 months for replacement cartriges that did not last as long as expected you did not really save anything.

but if you insist then the 3rd link you posted was the best option of the 3

 

Definite NO on the first one. It uses an unspecified RO membrane which usually means its not one that you would want. If they don't tell you right up front what they use, look somewhere else. It also uses very small horizontal throw away DI filters that only do a mediocre job, have a low capacity and get very expensive to replace in a hurry. Your cost savings gets wiped away in a montho or two at most. A 25 micron prefilter? Thats about like a screen door as far as effectiveness.

The second one is from PurelyH2o which sells on all the reef forums. Its similar to the Pro Plus as far as it goes but still lacks the TDS meter, capillary tube flow restrictor, custom blended reef specific SilicaBuster DI resin and tested and treated RO membrane which will be much more efficient thus even further cost savings in DI. OK but not nearly the value and will cost more after the first 6-8 months in DI replacements.

The last one gives up the inline pressure gauge, TDS meter, capillary tube flow restrictor, SilicaBuster DI resin and tested and treated membrane so is even less of a value.

You have to look at the whole picture and also long trem opereating cost. Replacement DI resins get expensive especially when the RO is not very efficient. Add up the cost a several DI refills or cartridges plus shipping and it exceeds the cost of the better unit which is very probably still operating on its original DI fill. My DI life went from 150 gallons per DI cartridge with all other resins I tried (all name brand and from reputable vendors here on the reef forums)to over 830 gallons on my very first Spectrapure DI replacement and has improved since then as they have further improved their DI blends.

 

ok ok ok desert rat ill go on the website and pick up the spectrapure....that is a pretty good point i didnt think of that...thanks

 

On their website under the FAQ section and I believe on their Sponsors Forum here on 3 Reef, they have some good information on whay their membranes are different than others and why that is important. The biggest thing is removal efficiency or rejection rate. For every 2% you increase the membranes efficiency you DOUBLE the life of your DI resin. Myself personally I believe they are conservative on this as I have seen much better DI life than that in my units.