RO System Setups

[opium89]

I've been investigating various R/O systems getting ready to change my freshwater tank over. I guess ideally, I'd like to have at least 20 gallons of R/O water available once a week. How in the world do you do this without having a $1000 membrane tank to store it in? Not that I even have the space to store a tank that size anyway. Please share some of your setups. Thanks!

[stoneroller]

I have a small GE 11 gpd unit from HD. It has a 3.5 gallon tank under the kitchen sink. I ran a line through the wall to use for filling up my top-off container; it's also plumbed to a little faucet for drinking and making ice. When I need lots of water I hook my line up to a 15 gal mixing barrel; it has a float valve to prevent spills.

[opium89]

So you just let it run for a day or two into a barrel for your big water changes?

I have a small GE 11 gpd unit from HD. It has a 3.5 gallon tank under the kitchen sink. I ran a line through the wall to use for filling up my top-off container; it's also plumbed to a little faucet for drinking and making ice. When I need lots of water I hook my line up to a 15 gal mixing barrel; it has a float valve to prevent spills.

[rz1a]

i bought the ocean reef+1 from the filter guys. i think if psi is like 60-70 you make 5 gallons in 1 hr or so. i let it run and store water in those 5gallon water jugs then mix them in a large container with salt when i need to. some people have them connected to large containers where they store the water then pump the water into another container to mix the salt

[opium89]

How long will water keep in a good old plastic container before it's unusable? We've been hauling R/O water from HEB for my wife's amazon tank for the past few months but it's only 10 gallons at a time, once a month or so.

[apedroza]

I store my top off water in a 30gal rubbermaid container from walmart. My salt is stored in a rubbermaid brute can. Water is usaully used up in ~2wks for fresh and 1mo for salt. I would invest in a good ro/di unit with a shutoff valve installed so you turn it on and off as you please.

[stoneroller]

So you just let it run for a day or two into a barrel for your big water changes?

I let it run overnight, comes out to about 10 gallons.

[jroescher]

I use a 55 gal plastic barrel to store about 30 gallons at a time. Have a powerhead and heater in the bottom of the barrel that I turn on the day before a water change when I add salt. Use it up every 2-3 weeks.

[opium89]

So here's my thought..I could install the the R/O system in my extra bathroom where I have been previously doing water changes. Fill my 40 gallon plastic tub (I've been filling it in the bathtub with my freshwater tank previously) use a float valve to shut the thing off the night before a water change. Prepare the water in the tub and then pump it to the tank the same way I was doing before. The only problem I have had with this so far is I hate dragging a garden hose across my living room!

[Bill S]

Do you have room under the tank for a storage tank? I bought one made for RVs and it works GREAT. It was a 40g, and it holds about 37 gallons. They come in all sorts of sizes. I have 2 RO/DI units, one in the kitchen, and one for my big tank, and it's located in the wet bar next to the tank.