What is the best whole house water filter?

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knobhill

Redtail Catfish
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May 2, 2007
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I have grown tired of using my little 50gpd RO/DI filter for water changes. It takes too long to fill a 55g drum that use to make weekly changes on my 175g. I also hate the fact the waste water is....well...wasted. A few years back I visited Rich at Infinite Aquatics and saw that he uses an Aquasana Rhino filter for his water changes and that he doesn't have to age the water. Filtered water coming out at garden hose levels. I want one!

I live in southern California with the wonderful workers of the water company putting in chlorine, chlorimines, and who knows what else into the water supply. Anyone have suggestions on a whole house filter from their research and experience?

Was hoping to get one and set up a drip system and water delivery system for larger water changes.
Thanks
 
why not buy a bottle of prime and call it a day. I have really high chloramines and my fish do great. I just pour a little in the tank before refilling with a hose straight from the faucet.
 
The whole house filters are often 4.5 x 20" units. They're just upsized versions of regular reverse osmosis filters with similar ratios.

If you want better product:waste ratios you should look at the Spectrapure ultra-high efficiency units. There's a 400 gpd 2.5 x 20" version for $1700 or so. Their ratios are 1:1 or better. There's also the Bulk Reef Supply 300 gpd water spartan which is also 2.5 x 20". I've been researching these the past few days. I just got a booster pump which sped up production dramatically with my current setup. They're pretty much a requirement if you want a good product:waste ratio and high production rate (all of the aforementioned units have or require booster pumps).

Waste water isn't really wasted. The energy for reverse osmosis or any type of filtration has to come from somewhere since. Filtration adds order to the universe which, due to entropy, requires the input of energy. The boosted RO systems simply trade the use of electricity for less use of water.

I've been redirecting the waste water to my washing machine and other uses.

Most users of drip systems probably use a lot of water. I don't think it's particularly efficient since you're draining out new clean water along with old dirty water. I think of them as a lot of small water changes. A bigger, less frequent water change is almost always going to result in the cleanest water with the lowest water usage.

I also use a ~50 gal drum to store water from my RO unit. Your 50 gpd unit should be able to keep up with the demands of weekly water changes. Even at 25 gpd, it would produce 175 gal in a week, allowing you to do a 100% water change if you so desired. Maybe you just need to anticipate your water changes and start the RO a day or two before them? I usually have the drum filled a few days before waterchange day.
 
Squint--I have a similar routine for filling up my 55g drum. I also have spare 5g jugs if I need a collection. A friend of mine says there is also an RO unit that has its waste line feed back into hot water line...i'm going to do some more research and let you know what I find.
However, my goal is filtered water on demand (not stored in a drum)
 
You might consider a drip system that directs the "waste" water to irrigate your landscaping thereby eliminating waste all together.
 
dawnmarie;4008278; said:
You might consider a drip system that directs the "waste" water to irrigate your landscaping thereby eliminating waste all together.

That's what I always planned to do w/ it.
 
knobhill;4008256; said:
Squint--I have a similar routine for filling up my 55g drum. I also have spare 5g jugs if I need a collection. A friend of mine says there is also an RO unit that has its waste line feed back into hot water line...i'm going to do some more research and let you know what I find.
However, my goal is filtered water on demand (not stored in a drum)

I've heard that it has an excruciatingly slow rate of production. In fact, I'm not even sure how it works at all since it puts the waste water back against the mains pressure.

While no water is technically wasted, it still has a waste line and likely a poor product:waste ratio. That means more water is going through the sediment and carbon filters, exhausting them sooner.

I don't see really see what the problem is if you have a 55 gal drum. Just plan ahead and you'll always have water. It's not a good idea to add the replacement water too rapidly anyway.

Another issue is that removal of chlorine by carbon requires a certain dwell time. The faster water is produced, the more carbon you need. If you have chloramines then you need activated carbon and then DI to deal with the resulting ammonia. That process also doesn't lend itself to high flow rates.
 
squint;4009205; said:
I've heard that it has an excruciatingly slow rate of production. In fact, I'm not even sure how it works at all since it puts the waste water back against the mains pressure.

While no water is technically wasted, it still has a waste line and likely a poor product:waste ratio. That means more water is going through the sediment and carbon filters, exhausting them sooner.

I don't see really see what the problem is if you have a 55 gal drum. Just plan ahead and you'll always have water. It's not a good idea to add the replacement water too rapidly anyway.

Another issue is that removal of chlorine by carbon requires a certain dwell time. The faster water is produced, the more carbon you need. If you have chloramines then you need activated carbon and then DI to deal with the resulting ammonia. That process also doesn't lend itself to high flow rates.


Points well taken.

The R.O. waste line does go to my garden. I may just route the waste line to water various zones around the house....this way, it doesn't water one place the whole time.

For my situation, it is a matter of distance. The tank is in the living room while my drum is in the garage. I have to roll the drum (it is on a dolly) up a somewhat steep driveway, then run tubing and power from the drum to the tank and pump in the water.

I think the RO situation is good, it is the delivery method to the tank. Maybe I will get a bigger pump for the drum and plumb it directly to the tank...this will require some serious digging, plumbing, a bigger pump, and running an electrical switch....Lots of work but much easier in the long run!:screwy:
 
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