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Kati Ani vs RO/DI
- Thread starter Dave
- Start date
Yeah contact Bruce (he is Kati Ani). But here the quick answer; most RO/DI use a filtering membrane and then a what's called a "mixed bed" DI (deioninzing resins). The Kati Ani system just seprates the "mixed bed" into 2 separate chambers and has no filtering membrane. This makes it possible to recharge the resisns after they have been used up.
I guess I am looking for the pros and the cons of both.
Kati Ani sounds like in the long term it will save you money and eliminates water waste.
However, most people use RO/DI.
I have to believe there is a reason behind that.
I will talk to Bruce, but I was hoping to receive input from others experiences.
Kati Ani sounds like in the long term it will save you money and eliminates water waste.
However, most people use RO/DI.
I have to believe there is a reason behind that.
I will talk to Bruce, but I was hoping to receive input from others experiences.
I've only used RO/DI and I did some looking into the Kold-Sterile unit. Kati Ani wasn't around or I wasn't aware of it when I bought my setup.
If your tap water has a low hardness reading then you're a good candidate for using Kati-Ani. Otherwise you'll burn through the resin and need to recharge more often. I think most people use RO/DI because it is easy, cheap and "disposable". The better solution is definitely kati-ani if it is in your budget and you are comfortable with the recharge process. I'm sure Malulu, who has used the system or Bruce can explain that to you better.
Here's a thread from a while back that might be of some useful reading: http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=6505.0
I can't quote his pricing, but I was going to get a 100gpd RO/DI unit. The KA 100gpd was about the same price. You'll have to talk to Bruce on the exact pricing tho.
The reason most of us aren't using it yet is because we have a perfectly good working RO/DI unit. So spending the money for a KA is not an option at this point until our RO/DI craps out. I can assure you that my next unit will be a KA.
The reason most of us aren't using it yet is because we have a perfectly good working RO/DI unit. So spending the money for a KA is not an option at this point until our RO/DI craps out. I can assure you that my next unit will be a KA.
malulu
NJRC Member
using Cati-Ani
pros:
- save water (no waste)
- make clean water fast! output rate 12 gals per hour
cons:
- you need to deal with chemicals (muriatic acid and Sodium Hydroxide - Food Grade), need to wear protection gear (for eye and hand), not really a big deal, but with small children around, need to really really pay super extra attention...
note:
(1)
- like Phyl mentioned, if you have high GH (general water hardness) and TDS input - no good!!
- i have the cati-ani unit 5, it is rated for 6,000g for GH=1.
- I was estimate to recharge every 6 months! and due to my high GH=34+ (normal is in 5 to 7) and TDS near 600, i end up with recharge for less than 100g output!
- for the past 6 months, may be someone else complained, the input was down to TDS=220+ (i did not re-measure the GH), i now can last about 3 months per charge (about 600g).
(2)
your current setup may need to be change - you can not use the RO/DI hookup to just connect it to the Cati-Ani unit, details can be find in the below thread: (and yes, i supposed to updated with the latest, and may be i will some time soon...) :-[
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=8973.0;topicseen
pros:
- save water (no waste)
- make clean water fast! output rate 12 gals per hour
cons:
- you need to deal with chemicals (muriatic acid and Sodium Hydroxide - Food Grade), need to wear protection gear (for eye and hand), not really a big deal, but with small children around, need to really really pay super extra attention...
note:
(1)
- like Phyl mentioned, if you have high GH (general water hardness) and TDS input - no good!!
- i have the cati-ani unit 5, it is rated for 6,000g for GH=1.
- I was estimate to recharge every 6 months! and due to my high GH=34+ (normal is in 5 to 7) and TDS near 600, i end up with recharge for less than 100g output!
- for the past 6 months, may be someone else complained, the input was down to TDS=220+ (i did not re-measure the GH), i now can last about 3 months per charge (about 600g).
(2)
your current setup may need to be change - you can not use the RO/DI hookup to just connect it to the Cati-Ani unit, details can be find in the below thread: (and yes, i supposed to updated with the latest, and may be i will some time soon...) :-[
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=8973.0;topicseen
I"ll add a little here.....The Kati Ani is much more popular in Europe where water waste is taboo. In the US, RO systems were often used in home water filtration, whereas DI was used in labs. To create pure water for reefs, people turned to what they were familiar with - RO. RO/DI vs KA DI both produce similar purity since the final "polishing" stage in both is DI. I consider the initial costs similar. The basic Kati Ani costs $227 and purifies almost 400 gallons per day. The increased model sizes only reduce the frequency of regeneration, they all purify at the same rate. But, the ongoing costs to produce was are very different. For my personal water conditions and costs, the ongoing costs for RO/DI would be over $.07 per gallons whereas the KA DI costs less than half a cent per gallon.
Phyllis was correct in stating that the harder the water, the more often you need to regenerate. But, also the more often you need to replace items in the RO/DI scenario as well. David has the highest TDS of any customer I have and he initially gave the KA back to me due to the frequent regenerations. Then he wanted it back. The owner of the plant in Germany that makes Kati Ani says there is a place in Switzerland that has at least 750 TDS and the only purification that anyone uses in that area is Kati Ani. Hope this helps.
Phyllis was correct in stating that the harder the water, the more often you need to regenerate. But, also the more often you need to replace items in the RO/DI scenario as well. David has the highest TDS of any customer I have and he initially gave the KA back to me due to the frequent regenerations. Then he wanted it back. The owner of the plant in Germany that makes Kati Ani says there is a place in Switzerland that has at least 750 TDS and the only purification that anyone uses in that area is Kati Ani. Hope this helps.
malulu
NJRC Member
Bruce K said:
yes, that is correct! and i am now a happy customer.
by the way, it is about time for me to recharge the unit, may be this coming Sunday Oct 4th. (you can tell by looking at the media inside the unit, and/or by using a TDS meter to check the output, no guessing required.)
Dave, if you are interested to see what/how i connected it as of now, you are welcome to stop by to take a look (Green Brook, NJ 08812), just PM me your contact info, i will reply with my cell# or call you to arrange a time, we may be able to work out a schedule to see how i did the regeneration. (about 3 hours total time)