Used RODI

Somehow I found myself at the LFS today and I saw this used RODI unit on the floor for $50. It's a fairly large unit with 3 large canisters underneath, 1 canister on top, and another canister for DI on top of that. I am unsure of the brand as it does not have stickers of any sort for identifying on it. Here are some pics:







Does anybody know what type of unit this is? I know I need to get a TDS meter to see if the water is any good, are there meters I can install directly into the line? I plan on hooking this up in my water heater closet behind my fish tank and turn that into my little sump room. I even plan on moving my sump into there and hard piping my plumbing directly through the wall eventually.

Anyway any suggestions on what else I should buy for this? Did I make a bad move by purchasing it for $50? Also I would really like to know what brand and type of filters I should get when replacing them. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

If it was me I would spend the extra money and get a new unit from spectrapure. They can be had for $120 and are much better quality units. Also the horizontal DI units are much lower quality than the vertical units.
At $50 if you have to replace any filters (do you know how old they are? or how much water has been through them?) then you will be right around the cost of a new unit anyway.

That's just my 2 cents.

 

Yeah that about figures, guess I've blown $50 on worse though.

Now that I have this unit, shouldn't I just go ahead and replace the filters and use it? Even if the one you referred to is only $120 before shipping and tax and what not, by that point I would have spent $170+ and have a unit that I am not even using.

So, my question, what type of filters should I be looking at, and what other accessories might I need. If you tell me that all the things I will need for this to function properly will add up to more then $170 then I will go ahead and just buy a new unit as you suggested.

 

I think it was free shipping. But I'm really sorry I misread the original post, I didn't realize you already had it.
For filters and a TDS, still check out spectrapure, you'll find them on the sponsors page here. They have top notch replacement filters and membranes, second to none and all pretested and gaurenteed. And great customer service.

If you want down the road you can switch to the vertical DI etc.. You didn't do bad for $50, you won't lose on it.
Grab a TDS if you're getting 0 TDS water from the unit you're good to go. Or have LFS test it that way you can order everything at once and save on shipping costs.

 

I'd go to BRS and grab a filter replacement kit for it with a vertical DI resin chamber with a refillable cartridge! Prob $50! And a Tds meter!

 

Well that does make me feel slightly better, thank you. I will pickup a TDS meter, the filters inside look very clean and the water inside looks clear, I know you can't tell by just looking though.

So any filter will work? Do I need a specific brand of filter? Just unsure since there is no branding on the unit. Any idea how many GPD it is just by looking at the pics?

 

No, ya have to know what membrane is in it! Get the 4 pack with resin 1 micron filters! And the vertical add on with refillable cartridge! I'm truly guessing at prices but shouldn't be bad!

 

I would guess 75 GPD, but no way to know for sure, if you find you need a new membrane (testing with TDS meter will tell you), then you can order one and a flow restrictor at the same time so no worries.

Most RO/DI accept the same size cartridges. But you may want to measure the length of your just to be sure. That being said, when buying new ones, there are different quality of replacements available, like I said I recommend spectrapure, but BRS is good too.

 

Oh ans you'll want to test the waste water ratio, it's really easy just make some water and collect the waste water in one measuring cup and the clean water in another, you should have 4 times as much waste water as clean.

 

Ok cool. Will I need a pump or anything for this you think? My plan is to just tap into the plumbing to my water heater, but I am unsure of where I will run the drain. You mentioned a flow restrictor, I imagine that would be used to keep from making too much water? Would you install that in front of the unit?