RODI suggestions?

[jbaker]

OK guys, I've got a challenge for you. I understand what an RODI unit does, it purifies your water and that's a good thing. Can someone please explain to me how to decide which unit I need. Colorful pics and small words would help. I'm finally in a position to buy one and want to make the best choice. How many gallons per day do I need, how many stages, etc, etc. My wife wants to be able to have drinking water from it, I want it for my 110 gallon tank. Right now the water we drink goes through a filter in the fridge. I was looking at the dual home reef system advertised by Fire, Water, Ice - a 3reef sponsor, but then I saw the Typhon systems they have. I'm now confused and am looking for suggestions. You guys have always given great advice. Thanks in advance.

[jbaker]

Sorry about screwing up the name of the 3reef sponsor, it's actually Air, Water, Ice. I had a duh moment.

[glblguy]

Just purchased one. I bought mine on eBay, 100GPD unit for 61.99+shipping.
It's a 5-stage unit with a single DI filter.

[lunatik_69]

I think it all depends on a number of factors like, what is your evaporation rate, is it going to be hooked up to a ATO system, are you going to use it as a fresh water replacement(evaporation) or as both, fresh and salt mixes?

[jbaker]

I'm losing about 5 gallons per week from evaporation. What's an ATO? I'll use it to replace evap'd water as well as to mix change water. I need about 10 gallons a week for water changes and replacement. Thanks

[lunatik_69]

ATO= automatic top off system
together with a float

[lunatik_69]

To answer your 1st Q, if I where in your shoes, I would get a 50-75 gpd R/O unit. My ER(evaporation rate) is about the same as yours, about 5gals per week. I have a 13gpd R/O system and thats enough for my 120g system(IMO). I have read that the slower the GPD the better.

[jbaker]

Thanks lunatik. That answers that question. So my understanding then is to place a purified water line into some type of holding tank which has an ATO in it. The holding tank stays full without overflowing and I use that water for changes and top off. As far as plumbing goes, does the purified water line also have a "T" in it so it runs to the fridge (for the ice maker and water) supplying both the fridge and holding tank?

[lunatik_69]

I have also read that you shouldnt drink to much of the water that comes out of the R/O system b/c it removes all the minerals that your body needs. In other words, dead water. If you take notice of any refrig. that has a filter for the water, it only has one filter and I think its the carbon filter. The R/O with DI units have like 5-6 stages of filtering. Im not crazy about those ATO systems only b/c I've heard stories about the float switch going bad and it kept on pumping water to the DT, flooding the floor with water, Lowering the SG in the tank and killing almost everything. Not to mention, I dont have the space for the holding tank. I always keep 10gals of R/O water on hand in (2) 5gal red containers. I'm assuming you could attach a T so one of the lines can go to the fridge. If you do this, you might need a bigger GPD unit to accommodate both the tank and the fridge.

[jbaker]

OK, thanks again.