Question about RO water

I'm just starting up a new 75 gal tank. I was just going to buy one gallon jugs of water at the store. Or either used tap water with a conditioner in it. Then I was looking at RO water machines. The Coralife Pure-Flo II RO Unit is only $140. How often do you have to change the filters on those things? Doesn't make sense to buy a RO machine, it would pay for itself in like a month. Or am I just crazy.

Tell me what you guys do or use for water?

Thanks,
Clancy

 

Sounds like it would get expensive buying water. I would say my filters would last about a year or more. I'm going on 5 months and need about 100 gallons a month for water changes and evap. Plus the initial 200 gallons or so to get it going and my TDS is still only 5. When it get's to about 20 I'll get new filters. My tap TDS is about 200.. it's recommended to change filters when TDS get's to about 10% of the Tap.

 

So it's worth it buy a RO unit?

 

If you are going to do regular water changes on a 75g, then yes it is. I do not have one myself. I have a 90g system.....but I do not do water changes. I have several 6 and 7 gallon water jugs that I go to the store with and get water for 35 cents/gallon out of a machine. Then I go home, and dump it into a 30g garbage can. I keep other water jugs for top off water and use the garbage can water for the addition of bicarb, Ca and Mg. So that's what I do.......

Edit: Also, if you get one, look into one of our sponsors here AirWaterIce.com. Great customer service.

 

Clancy I just purchased the unit you are talking about. I had to make an additional purchase of a dual inline TDS meter because it is pointless to use the water unless you know if the cartridges are spent or not. How long the cartridges will last seems to depend on how bad your water is initially.

Prior to this I also purchased RO water from the store, tho relatively inexpensive, it is a hassle to the carry water, and I was never sure when their filters were last maintained.

I'm sure BC219 will chime in here, she got a good deal on a system that included TDS meters and pressure gauge.

Personally, I vote for get a unit to start the tank, then you won't have to go thru the process of changing out the water later (what I am doing right now).

 

Since you mentioned me, I'll chime in
It is way worth it to buy an RO/DI, it will save you a ton of money and headache in the end. Until you get everything to where you don't have to do water changes like PharmaJohn (he seems uber experienced) you'll probably be doing water changes. I think I spent at least $150, maybe $200 on water in the first 9 months I had my tank (75gal), plus all the hassle of dragging the water around town.

If you do what I did and wait a year till you get one you may also have a hair algae outbreak you will wish you would have bought it sooner. I also think it's very convenient to go to the basement and make some water instead of going to the store.

Here's where I got mine, RO/DI Systems I got the $199 one because I almost bought the $160 one but realized there were things I needed to buy with it, which came with the $199 one and it was cheaper to go that route. The people are very helpful and informative and will spend time answering any questions you have before you buy. I had no idea what I was looking at when I called them, then when it arrived I felt like I knew it all. The best customer service I've ever experienced on anything I've ever bought.

 

i would say its worth it to get a ro/di system, unless you need the exercise of carrying 5 gallon buckets. and if so i will tell you the gym is more fun.

 

I think thats the worst thing about having tanks. If I lived right beside a store that made my water than I would not worry about it. But I had to buy at least 30 -40 gal for top off and water changes. R/O is about the best investment you will make for yourself.

 

I bought one of these when I set up my tank 15 months ago. KMD eCommerce Crop.
I'm extremely happy with it. I've only had to replace the DI resin so far. Mine did not come with the float valve at the time. At $88 it is a great deal.
My TDS in is 300. It's still only about 3-5 out of the RO and 0 out of the DI. You'll eventually need to get a dual TDS meter. Monitor the DI input and output to know when to replace it. The DI resin will eventually get spent and actually start degrading your water quality.

 

may not be the cheapest , but the typhoon at airwaterice.com has made me happy.
ReefKeeper Water | Aquarium Water | RODI Water | Reverse Osmosis Reefkeepers
The 75 GPD and 100 GPD are the same price.
If you get one that is 100 remember the higher the output per day the lower the rejection rate.. which means it rejects more water to waste and creates more product water in the same amount of time. In order for it to do this the water is less pure. .. it's a trade off. 75GPD makes more pure water but since it rejects more water your water bill may be higher.

Also I've heard some Ebay systems advertise a certain gallon per day but it doesn't really do that much unless you have a pump to get the pressure higher than normal household pressure.