RO Unit Help

When I had my nano tank I had just been buying water from my LFS, but now that I have a 55G tank that is really a pain and I have been mixing it 50/50 with tap and its still getting expensive.

I want to buy an RO unit but have no idea what to get, I saw a Coralife 24GPD model that looks pretty simple and it hooks up to the faucet...it costs online around $110-125 depending where you find it. It doesnt have the DI chamber and only has 2 media compartments...one for the membrane and one for carbon. My house already has a water purification system...its a large carbon container that looks similar to one of the RO chambers. Do you think the 24GPD model would be fine? I only need about 8-10 gallons a week to do a WC and top off.

If this one isnt sufficient can someone recommend a unit that hooks up to my faucet, my parents probably wouldnt like me doing any kind of plumbing for a fish tank related item. Also I am a poor college student so I have a budget of no more than $150 for the unit.

Thanks

 

I got this one 6 months ago, and I highly recommand. You can order it online.

http://www.reefsolution.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=393

Pepere

 

This would be a good place to start and would be in your budget:

MAXPURE RO SYSTEM

When you get a little more available cash you can purchase a DI unit:

DI ADD-ON KITS

 

I forgot to add, you can get various fittings to hook the unit up to a garden hose or sink faucet:

PLUMBING ACCESSORIES FOR RO

 

Thanks Could I add the DI you posted to that Coralife model? Sorry for all the dumb questions.

 

Yes, you can.

 

There are many RO/DI systems availible in your price range and they all can be used with a hose or faucet addapter if nesessary.Check out AWI,Bulk Reef Supply,or Buckeye Field Supply.

 

Spectrapure has their reef quality ProPlus on sale for $100 off right now. You can't do any better and it even includes a TDS meter, pressure gauge and full size vertical DI filled with SilicaBuster DI resin.
SpectraPure Customer Appreciation SALE! 20% - 50% off

Coralife is very low end and you surely don't want to wait around for a couple days to make water. Theirs is 24 GPD at 65 psi so makes less than a gallon an hour on average. You can realistically expect to see 2 to 3 quarts an hour and even then you have to add a DI and TDS meter to it.

 

A lot of us use a unit from these guys; RO/DI Systems

I have the 2nd one down which gives 75 gpd. I get 7 gal. in about 1 1/2 hours. The TDS meter is $35 but if you change the 3 large filters every 6 mos. and the DI resin as needed you don't have to worry about the TDS. Call them, you will probably get Jim. Very good guy that will take time to talk to you.

 

Its foolish to own a RO or RO/DI and not have a TDS meter, its the only way you know the condition of your system and water. Changing the first 2 or 3 filters has absolutely nothing to do with TDS, they are there to protect the membrane from TSS or suspended solids, big stuff not TDS or dissolved solids which is the work of the RO membrane and DI. Never rely on color changings resins eithe ras they are just an indicator, like a test strip, not accurate and usually too far gone before turning colors. Use a TDS meter.