Zero Water TV advertisment

[ClamFan]

Hi all. Very glad to see yall are still going strong. Although my new job keeps me on the road ALL the time I am still always planning, wishing and researching my way to a completely automated reef aquarium system. In my studies I have come across a water system that I think is just too good to be true.

So I give you the experts, a chance to chime in and tell me if Im right or wrong. http://www.zerowater.com/promo/main.html

This system claims to give you 0 TDS. For the price something like this seems good for my dogs and personal use, but could something like this ever be inexpensive enough, much less work to our standards, as well as the higher dollar systems we all love and enjoy?

Im dying to hear this discussion, and look forward to your input. I currently do not have a running system, but would use this on a fish only 50 gal. system.

[rocketeer]

I couldn't find the price of the cartridges. I would use a pair every two weeks.

I like the fact that is releases no wastewater.

Jack

[ClamFan]

The waste water was a plus for me as well and when they return my email I will tell everyonehow much those mysterious refill cart.s cost.

[erikharrison]

I'll be willing to try it once I move into my new apt. PLEASE put the price of the cartridges. The only thing is that they don't have to guarantee the amount of use you get per filter change since water levels vary from place to place. Currently, I use tap water with Prime for dechlorination. For those of you that want more info on TDS look here: http://www.tdsmeter.com/print_abouttds.html

[erikharrison]

I FOUND A PROBLEM... http://www.tdsmeter.com/abouttds_aquaculture.html It states that Marine fish need to have a high TDS...

A level of 400ppm or less is recommended for most freshwater fish although many softwater fish demand a significantly lower level. Conversely, saltwater fish require a very high level of anywhere from 5000 to 50,000 ppm. Total Dissolved Solids are also important for proper osmotic regulation, which is the relationship of water versus dissolved solids in the cells and the external environment. The greater the amount of solids in the water versus the solids in the tissue of the fish will result in a fluid loss via the gills. ³

[Bill S]

I hate to say this, but this has NO CHANCE of being cost effective with RO/DI... It's a filtration system that only lasts 70 gallons - in a typical environment, not San Antonio's rock hardwater.

Erik, marine fish get that level from the salt mix...

[captexas]

Duh . . .If you put saltwater fish straight into 0 TDS water of course they aren't going to do well, they will die as it's straight freshwater. Test your saltwater with a TDS meter and of course there will be a lot in it due to the salt mix. And if you test it on an established tank there will be even more with all kinds of other natural particles mixed in with it (food, fish waste, etc.). It's not necessarily about getting 0 TDS, the real issue is what those dissolved solids are.

[don-n-sa]

One other thing about this thing as well...from what I have learned is that we should not drink water that is Zero TDS as it is too pure and is harmfull to drink long term. RO water is what one should use for drinking water.

[caferacermike]

I once posted a question about the KoldSteril brand of filters. Got really shot down. They as well claim a zero-3 TDS with zero waste. Problem was the units needed a lot of replacement filters. You could easily rent DI canisters from a water source like culligans that waste no water and allow for normal water pressures. Imagine filling a 50g tub in 4 minutes. Wouldn't that be nice? Except I heard they are very expensive.

[captexas]

One thing I noticed is that it doesn't tell you if the amount of contaminants it can remove is per day or just for the life of the filter. The one page says it can filter up to 70gallons. Doesn't really clarify if that is all those filters will handle before they have to be repalced or if that is 70gallons a day until you get the 6ppm and have to replace them.

Yeah, I've heard that as well Don. I've heard that you shouldn't drink pure water as it is missing many of the trace elements our bodies need. It also tastes bad in my opinion. Some of the good RO filter systems actually filter the water and then have a cartridge at the end that adds something back to the water to make it tase better.

[LoneStar]

most of the bottle water you buy (drinking water, not purified) has minerals added in the ingredients

[Bill S]

Hyponatremia from RO/DI is a myth - a typical internet myth. There isn't enought Na in tap water to make a difference. RO/DI is absolutely safe to drink.

[captexas]

No one said it would kill you or anything and sure didn't say anything about hyponatremia. Just said it's probably not the best thing to drink, as the above mentioned water filter seems to focus on. To me it tastes bad and seems to make my mouth feel dry after drinking it.

[Bill S]

We've been drinking it for years. Great with a squeeze of lime. And, it makes crystal clear ice cubes! I did hear that a whole bunch of bottled water companies got notices from the EPA that their water didn't meet "clean water standards"!

[caferacermike]

I make Koolaid from RO/DI. And yes it does freeze well. No air bubbles. My favorite myth was that it won;t freeze.

[Bill S]

Yes, but DO remember that RO/DI CAN be superheated in a microwave, with explosive results. But, it takes a VERY clean container (not in our house...), and very pure water.

[LoneStar]

You know Penn & Teller's BS show on Showtime did a episode on bottled water. VERY Informative.

[Bill S]

Yeah, I think it's Ozarka water that says: "Source: Houston Municipal Water Supply"

[LoneStar]

Yeah and on that BS show, they aired Everest Water down in Corpus! We all know how good the municipal water in Corpus tastes ;)

[erikharrison]

Duh . . .If you put saltwater fish straight into 0 TDS water of course they aren't going to do well, they will die as it's straight freshwater. Test your saltwater with a TDS meter and of course there will be a lot in it due to the salt mix. And if you test it on an established tank there will be even more with all kinds of other natural particles mixed in with it (food, fish waste, etc.). It's not necessarily about getting 0 TDS, the real issue is what those dissolved solids are.
wow is there any reason youre being rude? I hate people that belittle others. I am sorry I only started saltwater a couple months ago and I am not a GENIUS like you CAPT. Why don't you leave your rude comments to yourself. Isn't that common sense? DUH

[alton]

DI removes beneficial minerals that the human body needs to survive. That was the response I received when I contacted Kent Engineering Department several years ago and asked them the question "Can I use my RO/DI system for drinking water?" They said to bypass the DI part for drinking water use.

[captexas]

wow is there any reason youre being rude? I hate people that belittle others. I am sorry I only started saltwater a couple months ago and I am not a GENIUS like you CAPT. Why don't you leave your rude comments to yourself. Isn't that common sense? DUH


Eric - lighten up buddy. This is not the first thread that you seem to be a bit too sensitive or misinterpret what people post. The "duh" was not meant in reference to you, but the information that had been quoted. I'll admit after I had posted I thought the "duh" was a bit much, but again, it was not meant to offend you. I apologize if it did.

[erikharrison]

Point being, never once will you catch me in a thread being rude. If you do, plesae enlighten me. I am used to people that respect each others opinions, not slam their ideas or any information that they may have found. I did research, found out that marine fish need high TDS, and posted. It doesn't constitute one being cynical or rude.

[captexas]

I'm sorry, but someone saying "duh" doesn't constitue being rude and it's not worth getting my pants in a wad over. Again, it was not meant to be rude towards you so let it go Erik. It was more sarcasm about the TDS information related to proper fish keeping than anything else. If you aren't familiar with sarcasm or people joking around (which is very common on here as it's a very comfortable/open environment) then I'm afraid you will continue to be unhappy.

Again, let it go buddy. This thread has been side tracked enough and you already started your other little thread to make yourself feel better, so smile and have a great day.

[brewercm]

Yeah, I think it's Ozarka water that says: "Source: Houston Municipal Water Supply"

I know that we had bought some of the small bottles of water at one point and I did a TDS test on it and it came out to be very low, somewhere around 2 to 3. I was actually surprised that it was that low when I tested it. At the time we were living in Bandera and I'd get my water from one of the machines outside our local Safeway. It's TDS ran in the same area and I used it until I bought my own unit. If you test water coming out of the RO unit and then again after one of the post drinking water filters the TDS goes from near 0 to around 14. I believe those cartridges are nothing more than some sort of filter that puts stuff back into the water that you just cleaned out, I'd just like to know what it is.

I have my system set up to put straight RO water into our holding tank under the sink. From there I have a T in the line that runs into the garage and through a rechargable DI cartridge prior to my Kent float valve auto top off. Seams to work for me fine and haven't had any problems with it yet that way. You can definately tell the difference when making tea with RO water as opposed to regular tap also, much clearer.

I know what you are talking about though Chris with the dry taste that water leaves in your mouth. Some bottled waters do the same thing with me. Maybe too many years of drinking water straight from the garden hose. :D

[captexas]

Too many years of drinking water out of the old water fountains in public schools! LOL

It would be great if something like this device worked though, producing no waste water. I got a Spectrapure RO/DI system and as part of setting it up it has you measure the amount of clean water vs. dirty water it produces to make adjustments. I was really surprised at how much water the RO wastes to produce clean water.

[caferacermike]

Yeah around 4g to 1 clean gallon. That was my largest worry about setting one up then one day I saw a 300GPD unit from GreenMako and had to have it.


[quote=bstreep]



I believe those cartridges are nothing more than some sort of filter that puts stuff back into the water that you just cleaned out, I'd just like to know what it is.


:D

I believe it to be crack cocaine. Keeps you coming back and buying more of their filters.


I found a good use for my waste water. I bought about 100' of tubing and run my discharge to my freshwater tank. I drain off about 90g of water out of the 125g and proceed to make about 30g of RO/DI (My restrictor valve is set for 3:1) and refill the freshwater tank with water that is cleaner than tap water treated with chemicals. No chemicals to add and a TDS of about 100TDS instead of the 320TDS coming from the tap. It takes about 5 hours to do it this way so there is little shock to the fish as well.

[aprilmayjune]

Water from the garden hose is the best!