8 Stage Dual RO & Dual DI System

[SoLiD]

I copied this information from my post in Buckeye's Sponsor Forum because I believe this is where it truly belongs.

Corpus Christi Municipal City Water is just plain horrible. My last RO/DI setup only lasted 2 years before the city water KILLED it DEAD. Between the city installing new infrastructure pipes which keep breaking up sediment and rust and sending it down the line (brown and yellow water sometimes... yuk! ), and my initial TDS always hovering around 625ppm; I decided to get a little proactive. This is the $875 beast that I came up with. I also use it for drinking and ice making water which justified the expense with the wife. She is also a nut when it comes to having clean water to drink. This unit should last me at least 5-10 years, and yes the TDS readings are Zero and the end of the line.

I know what you all are thinking, "He's Crazy", but I can make about 200 gallons per day @ 80psi when I'm in a pinch... Also that $875 included all of the housings and brackets, the initial filters, 30 feet of each 4 different color coded line tubing, a ridiculous amount of quick connect fittings, over a dozen quick connect valves, 3.5 gallon pressurized water storage tank, and all the maintenance filters for the next 3 years.

It was bought in separate pieces which made this project take longer than I thought. I should have just elaborated on a Pre-Configured RO System, but instead I went completely custom. It took me a week just to figure out how the heck I was going to put it all together. I had some great input from Russ but it was ultimately up to me to connect it all up and make it work. Here is what it looks like and how the set up is plumbed.

Custom Buckeye Field Supply:
8 Stage Dual Reverse Osmosis & Dual DI Water Filtration System
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd285/SoLiDST33L/8StageDualRODualDIWaterFiltrationSy.jpg

Initial Reading - TDS = 625+ PPM

Pressure Gauge -> 10 Micron Sediment Filter -> 5 Micron Sediment Filter -> Pressure Gauge -> 8800 Aquatec Booster Pump -> TDS Meter -> Liquid Filled Pressure Gauge -> Catalytic GAC Cartridge -> 1 Micron Sediment Filter -> Matrikx 1 Chlorine Guzzler Carbon Block -> TDS Meter -> Pressure Gauge -> 2 Filmtec 75GPD RO Membranes -> TDS Meter -> DI Resin -> Silica Trap DI Resin Cartridge -> TDS Meter

End Reading - TDS = 0 PPM

[TexasTodd]

Um, isn't that actually a NINE stage David? I don't think it's crazy at all. Have you seen what the whole house RO systems cost?!

I ran 6 stage in cluding dual DI when I had the big tank. IME dual DI is super important.

VERY NICE...always smart to tie it in to "better healthy drinking water too" :)


How much would that setup be without the pump and JUST one RO filter?

Todd

[mikedelgado]

I dont think your crazy at all. After seeing what low quality water did to my sps recently I am kinda worried about what this water is doing to me. how did you get the thing plumbed to your icemaker and how do you integrate the water storage tank for drinking water? I would like to drink and use the ice made fom my ro unit.I dont know about drinking the di water though.

[Mr_Cool]

I see how the the water flows through the system, but does the line split so that there is a different line going to each membrane? I'm guessing that's how it would go. Also, did you splice the TDS meters's wires so that they get power from the booster pump's power pack? (I can only see 2 meters. The other one must be on the bracket so that the membranes hide it, huh?)

I love the idea of mounting everything on the board! No holes in the wall!

[SoLiD]

Um, isn't that actually a NINE stage David? I don't think it's crazy at all. Have you seen what the whole house RO systems cost?!

I ran 6 stage in cluding dual DI when I had the big tank. IME dual DI is super important.

VERY NICE...always smart to tie it in to "better healthy drinking water too" :)


How much would that setup be without the pump and JUST one RO filter?

Todd

To answer the first question, I really don't know. Both of the RO Membranes work side by side. They are plumbed to work like One 150GPD membrane would. Kind of a double team, with each one handling its own load. That's why I count them as One Stage. I could be wrong though.

Second Question: To add another RO Membrane, Housing, & fittings was only about $70 more. So I figured, why not. I did pay about $80 to ship all that stuff. It came in 8 boxes through UPS. And that was the actual shipping cost straight from UPS with a $0 mark up from Buckeye Field Supply.

[SoLiD]

I dont think your crazy at all. After seeing what low quality water did to my sps recently I am kinda worried about what this water is doing to me. how did you get the thing plumbed to your icemaker and how do you integrate the water storage tank for drinking water? I would like to drink and use the ice made fom my ro unit.I dont know about drinking the di water though.

Before the water gets to the DI chambers it Tee's off and goes through a Check Valve and then is directed to a 3.5 Gallon Pressurized Storage Tank under the Kitchen sink. The Check Valve insures that the pressurized tank stays full of clean drinking water. It fills up pretty quick with the 2 membranes working together. Then it goes through an additional In Line Carbon Block and Tee's off. One line runs to the Filter Water Spigot on the Kitchen Sink and the other runs to the Refrigerator make up water.

[SoLiD]

I see how the the water flows through the system, but does the line split so that there is a different line going to each membrane? I'm guessing that's how it would go. Also, did you splice the TDS meters's wires so that they get power from the booster pump's power pack? (I can only see 2 meters. The other one must be on the bracket so that the membranes hide it, huh?)

I love the idea of mounting everything on the board! No holes in the wall!

Yes the water is is split between the 2 membranes and then joined back together after it is cleaned. The 2 "Dual" TDS Meters have their own internal batteries and don't require an out side power source. The extra lines you see tied into the left TDS Meter are actually for the Booster Pumps Auto Shut Off Pressure Switch.

[greenmako]

wow killer setup, I was looking at something similar for our drinking water so I can stop buying ozarka.

[TexasTodd]

Is DI water bad to drink?

David, how much do YOU charge for an install! :)

Todd

[DrMark]

Thats a heck of a set up. My system from buckeye is a standard reef premium system with the add on silica trap di canister, so 5 stage I guess. I dont use it for drinking water. My final TDS is 0. Without the booster pump, I can make about 60 gallons in 24 hours.
Looked like a lot of fun putting it together.
mark

[SoLiD]

wow killer setup, I was looking at something similar for our drinking water so I can stop buying ozarka.

I may just put a diagram together soon so that anyone could build one or modify my plans to fit their needs.

[SoLiD]

Is DI water bad to drink?

David, how much do YOU charge for an install! :)

Todd

No, DI water is not bad to drink. The DI filtered water has a distinct taste though. The best way I can describe it is that it has "twangy" taste. Almost like a slight electric current is running through it. Like distilled water, most people don't like the taste.

Are you serious? Do you really want me to build you a filtration system, Todd??? :wink_smile:

[SoLiD]

Thats a heck of a set up. My system from buckeye is a standard reef premium system with the add on silica trap di canister, so 5 stage I guess. I dont use it for drinking water. My final TDS is 0. Without the booster pump, I can make about 60 gallons in 24 hours.
Looked like a lot of fun putting it together.
mark

Yeah, Mark. It was truly a labor of love. :)

[SoLiD]

How much would that setup be without the pump and JUST one RO filter?

Todd

I totally missed the boat on answering your question the first time. I'm Sorry about that. Now, finally, I will try to answer your initial questions:

Without Extra Pump, Pump Hardware, & Gauge: ~ -$175

Without Extra RO Housing, Membrane, & Fittings ~ -$100

So without both of those options it would save you about $275.

Keep in mind that my total price also included 6 of each Sediment and Carbon Filters. That also increased the total price. Changing them out at every six months would mean those filters will last me 3 years.

[glennr1978]

Wow David, that's some serious water filtration you've got there. When do we get to see a pic or two of the tank this beast is hooked up to?

[ErikH]

That setup is bananas, b-na-na-na-na-nas.

I spent the entire day reconfiguring for my two new T5s, and I was about to pull my hair out. Here you are with a debacle that you would need visio to map out, lol. Next time you come to fish mysis out of Jeremy's tanks, tell him to call me! I still owe you 25 dollars from 2 years ago!!! :D Maybe I could work it off shrimpin'. LOL

Seriously, bananas, water so clear it makes normal water opaque at best. ;)