Good R/O units?

[ShadowBass]

Generally homes have 150-400TDS out of the tap. The amount of TDS doesn't affect the flow too much, but it will affect how long between changing filters. If they weren't getting the amount rated, or even close, then they are very weak on water pressure. RO pumps can be purchased that will fix this problem.

The water generals are great RO units, I've used them, and like them quite a bit.

Thanks, I'll be sure to mention that to them also.

The TDS in general around here is 500+.
I've had a couple of species of fish that just would NOT stay alive in my water and I couldn't figure it out until I checked the TDS and realized it was probably intolerable for them. That's also part of the reason I want to get an R/O unit, so I can keep some of those species. I had a group of spotted headstanders that I really liked and they started dropping off one by one even with under 10ppm nitrates and 0 ammonia,0 nitrites and stable pH. All I could figure is it was my TDS since it was the whole group, they were eating well, none appeared sick and they prefer softer water. I'd really like to see if I have any luck with these type of fish if I can lower the TDS.

 

[Wolf3101]

You definatly need to invest in a TDS meter. I have a handheld for checking the tanks and a twin probe unit (before & after) on the RO/DI filter itself.

The system we use is one I built myself and has a 6 stage pre-filter feeding twin 150 GPD membranes and then 3 refillable 10" DI cannisters. I average about 250 GPD of 0 TDS water at 45lbs pressure at the tap. (I have a booster pump set up but have yet to need it.) I also installed a tap just after the pre-filters for much higher production filtered (but not RO/DI) water.

We shopped around and baught most of the cannisters...hardware and plumming...used and then baught new membranes and filter cartrages. All together we have about $300.00 in a unit it would take close to a grand to duplicate.

 

[WyldFya]

You definatly need to invest in a TDS meter. I have a handheld for checking the tanks and a twin probe unit (before & after) on the RO/DI filter itself.

The system we use is one I built myself and has a 6 stage pre-filter feeding twin 150 GPD membranes and then 3 refillable 10" DI cannisters. I average about 250 GPD of 0 TDS water at 45lbs pressure at the tap. (I have a booster pump set up but have yet to need it.) I also installed a tap just after the pre-filters for much higher production filtered (but not RO/DI) water.

We shopped around and baught most of the cannisters...hardware and plumming...used and then baught new membranes and filter cartrages. All together we have about $300.00 in a unit it would take close to a grand to duplicate.

Now thats what I'm talking about! 250GPD at only 45 lbs of pressure! YOU MUST PUT THE PUMP ON! I want to know what your system if capable of at optimum pressure.

 

[ShadowBass]

You definatly need to invest in a TDS meter. I have a handheld for checking the tanks and a twin probe unit (before & after) on the RO/DI filter itself.

The system we use is one I built myself and has a 6 stage pre-filter feeding twin 150 GPD membranes and then 3 refillable 10" DI cannisters. I average about 250 GPD of 0 TDS water at 45lbs pressure at the tap. (I have a booster pump set up but have yet to need it.) I also installed a tap just after the pre-filters for much higher production filtered (but not RO/DI) water.

We shopped around and baught most of the cannisters...hardware and plumming...used and then baught new membranes and filter cartrages. All together we have about $300.00 in a unit it would take close to a grand to duplicate.

That's nuts.

Now I'm gonna have to get my husband to research this stuff with me, because I'd love to build something like that. I really don't wanna mess with doing it while we're renting this house because we're gonna buy within the next year anyway, but it sounds like a good future project.

I will definately invest in a TDS meter, I didn't even know about them until I saw you mention one a couple days ago in another thread. Yeah, I do all this fish research and something simple like that I don't even know about .
I'd like to know how much it fluctuates since I know my pH does go up and down periodically, not in huge swings, but it's not a constant, especially this summer for some reason. My water is really good about no ammonia, nitrates or anything like that luckily, but I'm sure I'd benefit from closely monitoring the TDS.

 

[Wolf3101]

I've noticed that it varies a great deal. Our tanks are usually well below 300 TDS. when they get past 400 I schedule a water change. Tanks with a lot of evaporation seem to climb a LOT faster than the others. The TDS reading also has very little relationship with the other test readings...the Nitrates can be 10 ppm and the TDS 598...

 

[ShadowBass]

I want to emphasize that I meant I have gradual pH swings in my tapwater, not in my tanks, lol. If I was having pH swings in my tanks I would flip.

I'm sure the TDS rises significantly in my tanks with the most evaporation which is why I keep trying to top off daily with distilled. It's getting difficult to buy that much distilled though and I'm sure a TDS meter would help out with me making sure I have good water quality. Even topping off with distilled I bet the TDS are slowly rising and I'm really paranoid about old tank syndrome.

 

[Wolf3101]

Some people blindly use tap water and rely on massive water changes for healthy aquariums but I'm definatly not one of them. As your finding out...the quality of tap water changes almost daily in ALL areas...even the good places... I like knowing whats going into my tanks. A Good solid RO/DI system is WELL worth the expence...and I'll let you in on another little secret...

At first the system looks complicated to all of us but after operating one for a while you get the hang of it.

I run the 'waste' water hose into buckets and use it to water the plants rather than pipe it into the drain. Eventually I'd like to eliminate the buckets but that wont be until we move.

I'm curious how this thing will do with the pump as well...One of the membranes is a used one and the other is new but that dosn't seem to be a problem the way I have it plumbed.

 

[vfc]

Wolf3101,
You state you have ~250G of 0 TDS water production each day. How much waste water does your RO/DI set up generate per day?