Choice between Bulk Reef Supply RO/DI, Spectrapure RO/DI, or Buckeye Hydro

[devildog1986]

Im down to these three for a Ro/DI filter, and need some help.

Pros and Cons with experience and quality of equipment would be great.

Also. How often do you change filters.

Looking into the Chloramine Models.

Thanks Guys

[SABOB]

Had a Buckeye Hydro RODI for years....change filters about every 6 months,DI resin when I get above 1 on TDS meter.Russ is awesome to deal with(if needed).Dont have Chloramines but they have those filters available.Heard good things about Spectrapure models also.


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[FarmerTy]

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the models. The utility is more in the filters, membranes, and resin from that point since hardware should all be similar.

We have to run a chloramine filter in Austin as the City occasionally decides to flush with chloramines if bacterial counts are high.

The only difference is just buying a chloramine filter along with my sediment filter. So I run a 5-micron sediment filter in the first chamber, a carbon filter in the 2nd, and a chloramine filter in the 3rd, followed by my membrane and then DI resin.

[devildog1986]

Thanks FarmerTY,

Where I live water sucks. I already have a culligan full house filter and softener. Im thinking of installing the RO/DI. In the out feed of the softener and use the same drain. Just to save on filter replacements. they pump chloramines year round here.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the models. The utility is more in the filters, membranes, and resin from that point since hardware should all be similar.

We have to run a chloramine filter in Austin as the City occasionally decides to flush with chloramines if bacterial counts are high.

The only difference is just buying a chloramine filter along with my sediment filter. So I run a 5-micron sediment filter in the first chamber, a carbon filter in the 2nd, and a chloramine filter in the 3rd, followed by my membrane and then DI resin.

[devildog1986]

Thanks SABOB,

I originally had a Buckeye Hydro. somehow it was misplaced. don't ask me how, Been through several arguments over it with the wife. Im mainly caring about the filters used in either of the 3 systems. thats what it comes down to. Thanks for the reply.

Had a BuckeyeHydro RODI for years....change filters about every 6 months,DI resin when I get above 1 on TDS meter.Russ is awesome to deal with(if needed).Dont have Chloramines but they have those filters available.Heard good things about Spectrapure models also.


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[FarmerTy]

Thanks FarmerTY,

Where I live water sucks. I already have a culligan full house filter and softener. Im thinking of installing the RO/DI. In the out feed of the softener and use the same drain. Just to save on filter replacements. they pump chloramines year round here.

I'd have a chat with the crew at BRS. They might be able to help you decide which filters are best for the amount of chloramines in your system. I know they sell something of much higher capacity than my regular filter cartridge. I only need the filter cartridge because they only flush with chloramines and don't use them full-time. If your system always has it present, you may need their higher volume solution.

[JimH]

I've been very happy with my Buckeye Hydro 'chloramine special' unit. They are very helpful and have answered every question promptly and will sell me the smallest little replacement part even if not on their website.

[alton]

devil dog you must be on Green Valley? I run two sediment, two chloramine, sediment, booster pump, membrane, and finish with two DI. All my filters come from Russ at Buckeye. Because of all the unknowns in our water I change out my membrane every year. DI last forever, membranes don't. I quit guessing why and just change it.

[FarmerTy]

devil dog you must be on Green Valley? I run two sediment, two chloramine, sediment, booster pump, membrane, and finish with two DI. All my filters come from Russ at Buckeye. Because of all the unknowns in our water I change out my membrane every year. DI last forever, membranes don't. I quit guessing why and just change it.

Maybe I misunderstood Alton but membranes should generally last you 3-5 years with proper prefiltering, which on your setup, you are prefiltering way more than most so you're even more protected than the average user. I don't see why you would need to replace your membrane annually.

Have you tested your TDS going into the membrane and then tested going out of the membrane to see if you're still getting a proper rejection rate of 95% or greater? If you are, there is no need to replace the membrane.

For DI resin, it'll typically exhaust way faster than your membrane. My resin will exhaust after 8-10 months. I still have the same membrane from 5 years ago and its still giving me > 95% rejection rate.

If you guys do have higher chloramines in your water, chloramines will actually eat up your membrane so perhaps that's why you have to replace the membrane more often? I'd test the TDS going in/out like mentioned above just to make sure either way.

[alton]

This started a few years ago when I started losing Membranes very fast, I actually contacted Russ and he couldn't figure it out so I got a little mad and ordered the best from Spectrapure and bam 1 ppm before DI awesome! And then slowly it went up to 8. At the time with my 300 and and other three tanks I was going through probably 40 gallons a week minimum. So I went back to Russ for a new membrane along with new Chloramine and sediment filters. Like I said I am not sure what is in our water that eats membranes because the TDS is like 110. The booster pump was the best thing I ever added to my RO setup. My water pressure at its best was like 50 psi.