I'm looking for an RO/DI unit that can also supply us with drinking water. I'm so confused as to whether I want 3, 4 or 5 stage??? Anyone have a quick synopsis of the advantages?
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RO/DO Units - how many stages do I want/need?
- Thread starter BryanDuggan
- Start date
I would go for a 6 stage if you're looking for drinking water too. first 3 stages would be your sediment filters, 4 stage would be the RO, 5th stage would be your di resin (tank), and 6th stage would be teed off from the output of the ro stage to a carbon filter to polish up any weird tastes.
Lostinthedark
NJRC Member
I have the AWI Typhoon Extreme III 5 stage, It comes with a "t" before the Di resin for drinking water. I use a 3 1/2 gal holding tank plumbed into the refrigerator. I also added the permeate pump to increase the efficiency as well as the water pressure. Water taste great and the filters last over a year where I live giving me 1 tds before the DI.
Bulk Reef Supply only has 5 stage systems for drinking water. Is there another MFR I should look at?
Reading now that RO/DI water shouldn't be drank by people? The DI part? Anyone know why? Sorry if this is basic, I've googled the topic but I didn't find any great sites on the subject.
This is from spectrapures FAQ.
IS DRINKING DI WATER OK?
When it comes to drinking DI water, there are many different thoughts on it. First thing you should understand is that DI water has all minerals removed. If ALL you were drinking was DI water and you did not eat anything, it would be harmful. Cells in the body need electrolytes (salts) to stay active and produce more cells. So, if you are not replenishing the electrolytes, the cells could not survive. To better illustrate this: Imagine that you have two batteries. One batter is connected to a glass container filled with tap water, the other is filled with DI water. Tap water is able to conduct the electricity through it because of the minerals. DI water cannot because the lack of minerals. It is only when you add salt to the DI water, that you would be able to conduct electricity.
DI water does not necessarily harm your health unless it is the only thing that you are putting into your body. We would not recommend drinking it because of its flat taste and because DI resins are not made of food grade approved material.
IS DRINKING DI WATER OK?
When it comes to drinking DI water, there are many different thoughts on it. First thing you should understand is that DI water has all minerals removed. If ALL you were drinking was DI water and you did not eat anything, it would be harmful. Cells in the body need electrolytes (salts) to stay active and produce more cells. So, if you are not replenishing the electrolytes, the cells could not survive. To better illustrate this: Imagine that you have two batteries. One batter is connected to a glass container filled with tap water, the other is filled with DI water. Tap water is able to conduct the electricity through it because of the minerals. DI water cannot because the lack of minerals. It is only when you add salt to the DI water, that you would be able to conduct electricity.
DI water does not necessarily harm your health unless it is the only thing that you are putting into your body. We would not recommend drinking it because of its flat taste and because DI resins are not made of food grade approved material.
Why don't you test your waters TS. I have a three stage unit excluding the Ro membrane. Works just fine and never had the need to pay for more. Hell, I even have well water and you have seen my tank! If you want 2 carbon units the first is a 5 micron filter and the second a 3 micron filter. Waste of carbon on the second unless your water is coming from a superfund site.JMO.
How many GPD are you looking to get and what is your incoming TDS?
I have the 180GPD spectrapure and it is really nice. Since it is 180GPD is has two RO cartridges and two DI cartridges. Check on the chloramines, my town just went to it not too long ago and it is annoying. A normal carbon filter is like 8 bucks and the chloramine is over double that.
I have the 180GPD spectrapure and it is really nice. Since it is 180GPD is has two RO cartridges and two DI cartridges. Check on the chloramines, my town just went to it not too long ago and it is annoying. A normal carbon filter is like 8 bucks and the chloramine is over double that.
I can’t count stages, but I’d use, as a minimum
1. Sediment filter
2. Carbon block
3. Carbon block (or chloramines, if needed)
4. RO membrane
At this point, I’m in agreement with Lostinthedark…….I would put in a Tee and send one line to the DI unit (to be used for the fish tank), and the second line to a carbon “finishing” filter, before going into a three gallon reservoir tank (for drinking water.)
There is no need to run drinking water through DI….a waste of DI.
1. Sediment filter
2. Carbon block
3. Carbon block (or chloramines, if needed)
4. RO membrane
At this point, I’m in agreement with Lostinthedark…….I would put in a Tee and send one line to the DI unit (to be used for the fish tank), and the second line to a carbon “finishing” filter, before going into a three gallon reservoir tank (for drinking water.)
There is no need to run drinking water through DI….a waste of DI.
This is a lot to take in but very helpful. I'll pull up the report for Flemington, I'm moving there on Friday. I understand now why you'd T off before the DI. I'm sure I'm going to have more questions.
Hopefully the water is a bit better over there than it is in Clinton. My water has like 300-400TDS and I went through my last DI cartridge in like 3-4 months. I think everyone pretty much covered your question here, but this is what I have: A 4 stage Spectrapure system that can do 90GPD. It's a sediment filter, carbon block, RO, DI. I was thinking about upgrading to add another DI cartridge as I get like 14-18TDS into my DI right now and I go through it pretty quick, even though I only make about 10 gallons per week.
Anyways, welcome to the neighborhood. FYI: The closest LFS is Fish and Pets Plus, which is behind the Shoprite on 31. Pretty limited selection, but all the tanks look clean and the owner seems fairly knowledgeable. Not a ton of coral, but he's got a little frag tank there.
This all helps a great deal thank you all. It's a bit daunting when you first get into it but I understand better now.
I'll check out pets plus this weekend too.
I'll check out pets plus this weekend too.