RO/DI purchase help please

[drgnbttrfly]

Okay...hubby and I were talking and we have four containers that can hold 26 gallons all together and he is going for water at least three days a week. He HATES it. Its 25 cents a gallon so you figure 6.50 everytime he fills up and 19.50 a week.

Thats 78 bucks a month. Thats not counting when I need extra. Don't get me wrong...when I am not in the middle of a QT I don't use this much...but we are at the point its time to buy.

Here are some constraints. I can't mount it. I live in shall we say a rental? Mounting it could cost me more than it would save me when I move out. If I have to have one that is making water all the time how to I keep it on without taking over my sink?

Do any of these models work outside off of an outdoor faucet then you could plumb it into a trashcan with a lid?

I am just trying to think of anything. I just want something that isn't intrusive. Otherwise I want something that is going to make water quickly and then I can put it away.

We want RO/DI right? No? Why? What brand? Where can I get it cheap? What do I not buy.

Thanks for the input...want to have some rounded opinions before I buy something else that is a dud.

Speaking of duds I found someone who took my fission nano off my hands today...I gave it to her...I am not a butt. :bigsmile:

[LoneStar]

You can get a garden hose attachment for the unit. Thats what I used for years with no problem. Do you have a garage? You can get a splitter for the outdoor faucet and then run the water line through a vent into the garage to the unit. Then set it on a shelf and let the water drain into a garbage can (new one).

As for units, check out our sponsors section. We seem to have a good variety that sell RO/DI units.

[aquasport24]

Try airwater&ice ,they should have evrything you need and they are one of our sponsor too.

[tony]

feel free to post any questions you have in one of the sponsors forums as well. thats what they are here for and i am sure would be glad to help you out!

[drgnbttrfly]

I would be happy too...would LOVE some brand recommendations from members though...not people trying to sell me something...while I trust some stores I have been steered wrong in the past which is why I am asking.

[ismvel]

I own a compact reefkeeper (RODI) unit from Air Water Ice and love it. They do have hose/faucet attachments. I have mine connected to the faucet that feeds my washing machine. I will be purchasing a drinking water attachment in the near future as well. I love my unit. I have one that produces 75 gph...when i do my 25 gallon water change I fill my gallon throughout the day (I have a float valve that shuts if off when it is full) and when I come home after work it is filled up and i add the salt....i think it is fairly quick. I can fill a 5 gallon bucket for my top off in about an hour...

[leliataylor]

I also have the Air, Water and Ice reefers unit and love it. I have mine sitting on the floor of my sun room, no mounting required. You can get it with a hose attachment or faucet attachment. I am also planning on adding the pressure tank for drinking water. I turn it on when I go to bed at night and off in the morning. It will fill a 55 gal barrel in that time. With what you're paying for water right now, it would pay for itself in less that 3 months. I bought mine from seahorsesource.com. Check out their price on the unit.

[ErikH]

Buckeye! :)

[JimD]

+1 for www.buckeyfieldsupply.com (http://www.buckeyfieldsupply.com) Nothing against AWI, Im sure theyre a terrific company, Ive just always used Buckeye in the past with good results.

[ACE]

+1 for www.buckeyfieldsupply.com (http://www.buckeyfieldsupply.com) Nothing against AWI, Im sure theyre a terrific company, Ive just always used Buckeye in the past with good results.

Buckeye is great. I called him to explain what I wanted and how I wanted to hook the RO into my house's plumbing. he walked me through everything and how to order all of the parts needed from his site. Great company and excellent customer service!!!!!!

[aquasport24]

Well, just flip a coin...Head for Airwaterice and tail for Buckeye. Since they both are good vendors.

[SABOB]

Another vote for Buckeye.I love my unit (100 gpd),have a splitter to cold water for washer machine.Get a RO/DI unit not just RO.The DI stage removes the last TDS that RO alone doesn't.

[barderer]

buckey is a winner in my book. Get the overflow kit as you WILL forget to turn your unit off.

[BuckeyeHydro]

If you have questions feel free to post them here or give us a call.

Russ

[demodiki]

Buckeye has the best customer service I have ever seen in this trade.

[JimD]

All of our sponsors have great customer service, thats why it makes it so difficult to decide on which one to use!

[BIGBIRD123]

I tell you what, It's hard to make choices sometimes. I love having conversations with Russ @ BFS and now I am impressed with the new owners of AWI. The previous owners were a little hard to deal with and sometimes rude. Cliff and Kristin seem to be good people. My only suggestion is to use a Maast sponsor, we chose the people for a good reason and they want to be a part of OUR family. So let's keep it in the family...

Steve

[drgnbttrfly]

So...for our spons..

Is there an "easy" way to set up a unit in a "rental" where if you flood or put holes in the plumbing and walls your gonna pay BIG?

We have a garage..but no real way to have a good drainline or really run water except by hose..and there is no vent on the door.

I can do the laundry room...I do have the room ...but DIY...scares me a bit...how idiot proof is it?

I really like the idea of being able to use RO bypass for filling up water jugs...but is that even safe? I kind of thought that if your using it for an aquarium...you use it just for that.

Are there storage containers (more than 3 gallons!) that you can get that hook up to the system...float installed at a size of say 30 gallons?

If so...how expensive are we talking...and how easy is it to dispense water into buckets for salt mixing? Am I gonna need another pump?

I am reading these systems rely on a certain pressure...how do you know where your pressure is? Is there a gauge?

K...thats all I got for now!

Totally love both brands...thanks for all the recommendations!

Now to figure out which one isn't me-proof:bigsmile:

[BuckeyeHydro]

Sounds like the laundary room is the best place for you - actually that is an ideal location.

You can tap into your home's plumbing with a hose bib splitter and a hose bib adapter (pictures attached) - these two just screw on - no plumbing skills needed.

The waste water tube from the system you can run to the laundary tub, or if its easier, just stick it down the drain tube into which your washing machine drains.

The RO bypass is safe - no problem there.

If you want to run the DI water to a container with a float (pic attached) - you can use just about any plastic (HDPE) container - they come in any number of sizes and shapes - many people use brute trash cans. I use three 5 gallon buckets plumbed together. I have these placed on a shelf up near the ceiling of the basement so they can gravity feed to a float valve in the sump. If you can't elevate the storage container, a maxijet and some vinyl tubing works well - no need for a larger pump unless you want water really fast.

(Note: if you hook the system up and run the DI water to a float, AND you want the system to turn itself off when the float indicates the storage container is full, you'll also want to add a quick connect check valve and an automatic shut off valve - together these will stop the flow of waste water when the float stops the flow of purified water.)

Our Premium Series systems (which are our best sellers) (pic attached) come with a pressure gauge, or we have pressure gauge add on kits as well.

You might find that a 5 minute phone call would help you think through how to set the system up - feel free to call us at 513-312-2343.

Russ

[drgnbttrfly]

Wow! All those questions must have made sense!

Thanks! I definately think we will be going with one that shuts off the waste water too.

Gotta talk it over with the household six...but soon.

THANKS!!!

[BuckeyeHydro]

The auto shut off valves needed to do that can be added to any system...

[the CL poster]

intetesting read. im planning on adding a ro/di unit as well.