Water for the small user

[SAW39]

I'm not small, my fishtank is.

I have one 45 gallon tank, so my water needs are small, except for when I'm doing large water changes. Generally, I need 5-10 gallons a week, with an occasional need for up to 20 gallons a week. I'm tired of going to Wal-Mart for my filtered water. I'd like to get a water purification system, and expect that I would hook it up to the garden hose spigot when I need to make water.

I've looked at the Air, Water & Ice web site and see the "Mighty-Mite" and the "Compact Reefkeeper". Besides the $40 difference in price, what are the differences that would recommend one over the other, considering how little water I need and how I plan to use it?

[the_h2o_guru]

Hi ,

The Mighty Mite is our effort at providing a real reverse osmosis system
three stage to the budget user . It basically is a very straight forward
device . A faucet adaptor (diverter valve) is connected at the sink .
Pulling on the diverter knob sends water to the Mighty Mite . You do not
need to disconnect the Mighty Mite since water flows normally the sink until
you divert it .
The Mighty Mite is truly superior to other bare bones systems and can be
converted to in the future to a full size pre-filtered R.O. system . The
Compact has our ASOV and is full size with what are actually cheaper
pre-filters . The Compact is a very real R.O.D.I. system capable of handling
about 80 % the reefkeepers out there.
So to sum up very basic R.O. vs. . Compact full featured R.O.

Regards,

Walter

[SAW39]

Thank you, Walter, for your prompt and clear reply.
I think I'm going to go with the Compact!

[jonathan]

thanks for asking the question saw39, i've been contemplating purchasing a smaller RO unit also. this model would be perfect for my nano reef.

[the_h2o_guru]

Originally Posted by jonathan

thanks for asking the question saw39, i've been contemplating purchasing a smaller RO unit also. this model would be perfect for my nano reef.

Actually we were told years ago that building a small R.O. for Nano reefs would be a good idea , so we can't take credit for the idea . We started building the Mighty Mite before nano really took off, sales were really slow .Now that nano is really moving up in the reef world the Mighty Mite is taking off.
Thank you for your interest and best of Nano luck to you .
Walter

[SAW39]

Follow-up on my Compact Reefkeeper RO/DI filter: I'm really happy with the Compact. After 5 months, the output still has 0-to-1 TDS.

I have noticed a slight decrease in water ouput -- from 3 gal per hour to 2-2.5 gph. Is there any maintenance that I should be doing, considering that I'm only using it once a week, hooked to my outdoor faucet? Of course, because it is winter, my tap water may be colder than it was in October, reducing the flow rate.

[the_h2o_guru]

Hi , Thanks for the question . We think of the Mighty Mite
as a portable unit or one for the apartment renter.
The Compact now has a fast flush valve and it comes with the hand held TDS meter . The filters are much larger and are actually much cheaper per gallon of capacity than our the Mighty Mite filters.
Funny thing is the Compact has become one of our best sellers since we put clear filter housings on it .

Just a note to reefers !
There is a new rush to use Catalytic carbon filters in systems with only two pre-filter stages. Which is OK , the only problem I see with this new practice is that the GAC filter should not be in the last pre-filter stage . Carbon fines fromthe GAC filter may foul the user's membrane. The GAC filter ought to be the first filter followed up by at least a (5) micron filter.

Walter

[SAW39]

I don't think you answered my question.
Is there any maintenance that I should be doing to my Compact Reefkeeper RO/DI filter, considering that I'm only using it once a week, hooked to my outdoor faucet? I've had it for 6 months.

[the_h2o_guru]

Originally Posted by SAW39

Follow-up on my Compact Reefkeeper RO/DI filter: I'm really happy with the Compact. After 5 months, the output still has 0-to-1 TDS.

I have noticed a slight decrease in water ouput -- from 3 gal per hour to 2-2.5 gph. Is there any maintenance that I should be doing, considering that I'm only using it once a week, hooked to my outdoor faucet? Of course, because it is winter, my tap water may be colder than it was in October, reducing the flow rate.

High mineral content, dirty filters, lower water pressure are causes that are possibilities . Using the unit once a week is not great, do you have a fast flush valve? If yes flush for one minute per day of storage prior to using . If not, remove the flow restrictor and let her blow water for about half a minute per day of storage . Did that help?

Walter

[the_h2o_guru]

Originally Posted by SAW39

I don't think you answered my question.
Is there any maintenance that I should be doing to my Compact Reefkeeper RO/DI filter, considering that I'm only using it once a week, hooked to my outdoor faucet? I've had it for 6 months.

We ask you to change the pre-filters at least annually.
Membranes normally last (3-5) years.
Change the DI at between (5-15) ppm . Keep in mind that the tds from the membrane may be lower than (15) ppm . The DI reading should never be greater than the Ro water reading. If you are making (10) ppm water with your membrane than the Di is exhausted when it is making 10 ppm water .

Thanks for the question.
The H2O Guru WALTER