DI/RO unit on Ebay

[skennelly]

I didn't buy a TDS meter with it, but I plan on getting one soon. I would like to hook it up tonight, but I might be stuck for time. I would like to do a water change this weekend.

I'll keep ya posted
Sean

[Jay]

Who do I get in touch with to change my DI filter to the kind so I dont have to use those beads? I want the drop in DI cartridge. Birdlady? Did you say this is what you did to yours?

Thanks
Jay

[skennelly]

Well, I hooked up the RO unit for a test run lastnight. I was going to hook it directly to my cold water feed, but after thinking about it more I decided to go the faucet adaptor method. My faucet has always had a small leak its pretty old and I noticed lastnight if I let it run for a long time the floor gets all wet >. So I was only able to make about 5 gallons of water. I will be off to HD tonight for a new faucet that hopefully won't leak this anymore.

Oh yeah, I purchased a TDS meter yesterday from EBAY. Its an inline unit like the one sold at airwaterice.com it measures the TDS of the tap water coming in and the TDS of the RO water. It was $40 shipped.

[skennelly]

Pic of the TDS meter.

[geologeek]

just to get my two pence worth in.... i have a di unit that you need to fill with the little balls, but i contacted a pharmasist and got a massive bag for £10 (~$19). so i can change mine every three months at little cost, and it is simply a matter of unscrewing the unit, emptying the beads into the bin, dip it in the bag to refill and then conect again!

but hey each to their own..

Skennelly.... i like that TDS meter.....i want one!

levi

[skennelly]

Thanks! I opted for the DI units that you change the entire cartridge rather than the the refillable type. I've heard and read negative feedback about the refillable cartridges. But there are plenty of those units out there and people are happy with them.

I can't wait to get the meter and see what my tap water is to begin with.

Sean

[Plan2Build]

Skennelly,

Thanks for the link. I purchased this same unit after seeing your posted the link. The unit should be fine for the purposes of aquarium maintenance. I manage an analytical chemistry lab where we have an RO/DI system. That system costs $30K and puts out 18Mohm, less than 1/3uSiemen conductivity, 0 TOC, 0 TDS. When I recieve the unit I will do a comparison of the water quality. Would it not be ironic if both units produce the same water?! (I am betting they are different!)

With the laboratory system we need to change the resin beds every 3-6 months and the polisher every 6 months. A 12 month expiration seems unlikely, especially with a 100gpd flow (see next paragraph)

I also do have a hard time believing that a $69 system can put out 100 gallons per day of pure water. The $30K system can only put out about 40 liters (just over 10 gallons) per day. The limitation is in the reverse osmosis process....its just not that fast and you need very large units to process large volumes of water. So with such a small system I am skeptical.

However I do believe that the water quality should be very fine for aquarium purposes. I am interested to do the comparison, and so I bought the unit. Once I recieve it, I will do a laboratory comparison and will post it in this thread.

FYI....I did buy the 4 gallon holding tank. It is almost a necessity to have a reserve tank both in the lab and for the aquarium rather than waiting for your container to fill...just my $0.02

Karma to you.....

P2B

[Birdlady]

Jay, sorry I have been kindof MIA! LOL!

To replace the beads, you need to find a DI cartridge that fits your DI canister. I did not change mine, I ordered one that way.

[Plan2Build]

Sean,

Did you get your meter and is your water system working? Mine got shipped today.....

P2B

[skennelly]

P2B,
I just got the meter today so I will hook it up when I get home from work. I will post results tonight or tomorrow.

Sean