WTB RO/DI system

[Agent Jones]

As the title says looking to buy a RO/DI system.

Thanks!!!!

[mharmon]

You will probably find that many people, if not most, will point you to Buckeye Field Supply:

http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/

I recently bought one from them and I'm very happy with it.

Mark

[Agent Jones]

Thanks, i have been told about them but i was looking to save some money buying a used one that someone wanted to get rid of or someone that is gonna be upgrading soon.

[Bill S]

Thanks, i have been told about them but i was looking to save some money buying a used one that someone wanted to get rid of or someone that is gonna be upgrading soon.

You have heard the cliche "penny wise and pound foolish" right? If you want to start at zero really cheap, there's a used piece o' carp sitting on my garage floor you can cart away. You'll spend more than Russ at Buckeye wants for a brand new one, fixing it up.

FOR EVERY DECENT RO/DI UNIT SOLD FOR REEF SYSTEMS, THERE ARE 50 SOLD THAT ARE JUNK. Seriously. I have 2 working RO/DI units running my systems, and I've owned the following other units:

Coralife (sitting on the garage floor)
Fleabay Reef unit purchased on the world's fleamarket.

If you don't mind killing fish and coral, go for it.

Unlike most every other application for RO/DI, reef units need to consistently supply 0-1ppm TDS of water. That's very difficult here in Central Texas.

[Agent Jones]

I looked at new ones there but i dont have enough money for them there. the only ones in my price range are

1.a used WORKING unit. Im not looking for a piece of junk just a used one that someone what upgraded from to a better unit or someone that has gotten out of the hobby and wants to sell. Not looking for a freebie just a system that is a little less than the new ones but working.

or

2. just using regluar water from water softener. the water will be soft but will have all the metals and other stuff.

[mharmon]

Keep in mind that, unless you are experienced with plumbing installs and RO/DI units, many used systems will be somewhat more difficult to install and you probably won't have anyone to help you with problems.

I was sitting on the floor installing the unit under my kitchen sink with Russ from Buckeye Field Supply on the phone walking me through all the steps I was not sure about.

If you get a unit cheap, you may find that the filter cannisters may not have much life left on them and you'll have to buy new ones soon anyway. Might as well buy new and save yourself the headaches.

I was in the same situation as you are a few months ago. I rapidly discovered the folly of my ways and wised up with help from the good folks here. It cost more than I wanted to spend, but I'm completely convinced it was worth it. A few months after the purchase, you'll forget how much it cost and you'll love how well it works.

Thanks for listening. Good luck!

Mark

[Agent Jones]

Keep in mind that, unless you are experienced with plumbing installs and RO/DI units, many used systems will be somewhat more difficult to install and you probably won't have anyone to help you with problems.

I was sitting on the floor installing the unit under my kitchen sink with Russ from Buckeye Field Supply on the phone walking me through all the steps I was not sure about.

If you get a unit cheap, you may find that the filter cannisters may not have much life left on them and you'll have to buy new ones soon anyway. Might as well buy new and save yourself the headaches.

I was in the same situation as you are a few months ago. I rapidly discovered the folly of my ways and wised up with help from the good folks here. It cost more than I wanted to spend, but I'm completely convinced it was worth it. A few months after the purchase, you'll forget how much it cost and you'll love how well it works.

Thanks for listening. Good luck!

Mark

I have no problem making it work. Im not a "expert" but i am quite handy in plumbing. I have switched out quite a few sink, faucets, plumbing, etc so i have all the tools needed. The filters i can get for a little of nothing cause i have a friend that sells water supplies but cant help me get an RO/DI cause he only sells large units. Whole house systems. Cost 1k wholesale and 2k and up retail. I just paid 1.5k for a water softerner systems so the problem is not forgeting how much i paid for it, its having it be in my budget so i can get it. I have seen reef tanks starteed with tap water and they are fulll of algae so a used one is better than nothing.

Thanks!

[Bill S]

If you plan on using "soft water" for your tank, you will crash and burn. Just being honest. What's $190 for a decent unit from Buckeye, compared with killing a bunch of livestock?

If you paid $1500 for a water softener, either 1) you paid too much or 2) you bought a heck of a unit and can afford a decent RO/DI unit.

People don't "upgrade" their RO/DI units. If they are exiting the hobby, they might sell them. If they are buying a new one, chances are the old one was junk. These things either work right, or they don't work right. And, filters/canisters, etc. for a REEF system, are not necessarily the same as for "normal" RO/DI systems people put under their sinks. If you buy a used one, chances are it will need a new membrane too.

A used one isn't better than nothing - because you will likely waste money on it.

Now, you can ignore the advice here - but seriously: do you THINK I've bought FOUR RO/DI systems in the last 4 years because I like wasting money? I'm just trying to save you from my own mistakes, that's all. And, no. I'm not a complete idiot - I just play one on TV.

[Agent Jones]

If you plan on using "soft water" for your tank, you will crash and burn. Just being honest. What's $190 for a decent unit from Buckeye, compared with killing a bunch of livestock?

If you paid $1500 for a water softener, either 1) you paid too much or 2) you bought a heck of a unit and can afford a decent RO/DI unit.

People don't "upgrade" their RO/DI units. If they are exiting the hobby, they might sell them. If they are buying a new one, chances are the old one was junk. These things either work right, or they don't work right. And, filters/canisters, etc. for a REEF system, are not necessarily the same as for "normal" RO/DI systems people put under their sinks. If you buy a used one, chances are it will need a new membrane too.

A used one isn't better than nothing - because you will likely waste money on it.

Now, you can ignore the advice here - but seriously: do you THINK I've bought FOUR RO/DI systems in the last 4 years because I like wasting money? I'm just trying to save you from my own mistakes, that's all. And, no. I'm not a complete idiot - I just play one on TV.

I paid 1500 for a 48,000 grain unit. Also, that included install and plumbing. i wasnt pre-plumbed so it was alot of work to install. 1500 is a steal compared to what a unit that size goes for when it needs to be installed to a home thats not preplumbed.

If i cant get one from someone whos upgrading since you say that doesnt happen, im hoping to find one from someone exiting the hobby then. either way i have seen them for sale and the price of the used ones fit my budget

yes 190 is too much. i dont plan on putting alot of live stock. most of it i am getting from my fathers tank. also i was told to run soft water through the RO/DI because its will last longer and give better water.

[JimD]

I agree 100%, I bought my unit for well over $200 back 7 years ago and havent looked back. Back then it was pretty much 'state of the art', dont be afraid to shell out the bucks for a unit that you can rule oput as being a source for an unexplained problem, that is IF you keep up with maintanence like knowing your TDS reading and replacing filters/DI/RO when necessary...

[Agent Jones]

i apprecite all your guys input however i have to keep in mind my budget. This is my second hobby. my main hobby is my mustang. So if i get it wrong, by under budgeting then i will accept my downfalls. I got the tank at such a steal if i messed up one time and figured out this wasnt for me, i could sell everything and recoup 95% of my money

[Bill S]

Yes, soft water is easier on an RO/DI unit - especially here in SA. But, your incoming TDS is still very, very high, for reef inhabitants. Also yes, installing a water softener in a house not pre-plumbed can be anything from "not too bad" to "what was I thinking!".

If you have some patience, decent units do occasionally show up. But, most experiences show you will throw money at a used unit. Rarely do they show up with "just changed the membrane and filters!" in the ad!

[Agent Jones]

Yes, soft water is easier on an RO/DI unit - especially here in SA. But, your incoming TDS is still very, very high, for reef inhabitants. Also yes, installing a water softener in a house not pre-plumbed can be anything from "not too bad" to "what was I thinking!".

If you have some patience, decent units do occasionally show up. But, most experiences show you will throw money at a used unit. Rarely do they show up with "just changed the membrane and filters!" in the ad!

yeah ours was "what was i thinking". they had to run pipes underground around the whole house because the water line and softener were on opposite sides of the drive way. They tried to go underneath the drive way but that didnt work.

also, so once i do get a RO/DI unit, do i run hard or soft water through the RO/DI when putting water in the aquarium? The water softner i had installed has a shut off valve so i can do either one.

[mharmon]

You want to run soft water through your RO/DI unit.

[Agent Jones]

You want to run soft water through your RO/DI unit.


ok thanks,

thats what i figured but one person said "If you plan on using "soft water" for your tank, you will crash and burn. Just being honest.?"

i know RO/DI is best but just because you dont use one doesnt mean it waill "crash and burn" i have seen a couple of different reef tanks using just regular tap water.

[JimD]

Whats your source TDS?

[Bill S]

i know RO/DI is best but just because you dont use one doesnt mean it waill "crash and burn" i have seen a couple of different reef tanks using just regular tap water.

Really? I'd like to see photos. Fish Only? Maybe. But stony corals? No way.

[brewercm]

There you go getting Bill and Jim all riled up again. JK
There are probably very few if any long term "reef" tanks that are kept up without RO/DI water.
Remember that the passion about all this is because this site is really for sharing experience and knowledge much before buying and selling.
That being said I bought a unit off of Ebay many years ago that I've been very pleased with, bought another for my in-laws house that was nothing but a disaster. So be careful what you get.

[Gseclipse02]

i bought a BFS one about 2 weeks ago and i finally set it up but my tds from my tap water is 247 and my DI water is 0 .... i love it !!!! and i dont have to leave my house any more !!!

go with there value series its like 129 or so ....

[seamonkey2]

dude you paid $1500 for a water softener???? you got robbed big time, I got a pretty big one I think is 72,000 grains, with an extra large holding tank for $500 last fall.

I know is hard to spend the money, but I know most of the guys here that have given you advice and listen to them, they are just helping you from their own experience.

good luck.

Jose

[danny]

dude you paid $1500 for a water softener???? you got robbed big time, I got a pretty big one I think is 72,000 grains, with an extra large holding tank for $500 last fall.

I know is hard to spend the money, but I know most of the guys here that have given you advice and listen to them, they are just helping you from their own experience.

good luck.

Jose

+1

[Agent Jones]

dude you paid $1500 for a water softener???? you got robbed big time, I got a pretty big one I think is 72,000 grains, with an extra large holding tank for $500 last fall.

I know is hard to spend the money, but I know most of the guys here that have given you advice and listen to them, they are just helping you from their own experience.

good luck.

Jose

dude you have to count install also. I wastn preplumed and they had to run a pipe ALL THE WAY AROUND MY HOUSE. also its not the basic model. It has the new type of brain that monitors everything and its also a water conditioner not just softner. Also 10 year warranty. I know i could have just gone to sears or homedepot and pick up a cheapo for 400-600 bucks.

like i said before i appreciate everyones advice but im not looking for advice right now. I just want a used ro/di lol. not tying to be rude cause im glad everyones trying to help but thats just no in my budget for a new one right now. Again this isnt my main hobby and if i mess it up, oh well ill tear it down and recoup my money.

[Agent Jones]

Really? I'd like to see photos. Fish Only? Maybe. But stony corals? No way.

i dont want stony corals. and yes the tanks without the Ro/di is, liverock, fish, and some soft coral. which is exactly what i want to run. I understand the used one is not the best but its better than regular tap water which is my other choice

[Agent Jones]

got one. thanks guys, can lock this one up.