few questions about RO/DI

Twan013 · 07-23-2007, 10:30 PM

ok guys, sorry if this has been asked, and i know it has, but i never got an answer, so here we go again... i have 2 questions about RO/DI...

1) it is considered a permanent installation? as in, if i install it now and decide to move out in a couple of years, will i be able to unplug/disconnect everything and take it with me?

2) does it require a professional installation? or would i be able to do it with basic handtools, and an electric drill?

3) where should it "ideally" be installed? better yet, does it have its own faucet or whatever? all i've been able to see is the 2-5 canisters attached, with a bunch of tiny tubes sticking out of each one...

the closest i've ever been to seeing one of these units is at my church... they have something similar connected to the ice machine... it only has a single canister, and i think a single copper line going in, and another going out...

the reason i'm asking these questions is because i've recently had to tear down my 55 gallon because i was using the gallons of distilled water from wal-mart (our store doesn't have the RO/DI dispenser units)... anyway, it got to where i couldn't keep up with buying x amount of water each week, time consuming, a waste of money and gas, and each time i went and bought the water, i had a room full of cardboard boxes and empty jugs...

so the answers to these questions will determine whether or not i setup my aquarium for saltwater... right now, however, i'm looking hard into a south american amazon biotope...

lunatik_69 · 07-24-2007, 03:05 AM

Hey twan, question 1, it can be if you leave it there, but no you can take it with you. question 2, no, I installed mine outside, you could install it in or outside very easy to set up. question 3 Im not a pro at ro/di units, but I think the best place for it would be indoors only b/c the water temp would be the same as the tank and the unit would be in better ship sheltered from the elements outside. For me, I had no choice to install it outside. It is saving me $$$ and time from going to the LFS and carrying all of those containers.

Otty · 07-24-2007, 03:54 AM

They are not permanent, if I ever go to move mine is coming with me. When you are ready to move just pull out the T you put in the supply line to run it and add a coupling to put the hoses back together. Very simple set up, I think once you see how easy it is your gonna feel pretty silly.

Check out Air Water & Ice they have great customer service and they are a 3reef sponsor. Its the home of the H2O Guru and he is very helpful, I bought all my stuff from him.

Does this mean you are staying on the dark side.........

the_h2o_guru · 07-24-2007, 07:51 AM

Hello,

A RO/DI unit is not permanent at all. In fact, you can buy a faucet adaptor or a garden hose adaptor so that you don't have to tap into any plumbing lines.

The best place to install a unit is indoors. However, a RO unit can be installed either indoors or outdoors without any problems.

Twan013 · 07-24-2007, 11:36 PM

ok, all answers look good.. but what i meant about where it should "ideally" be located is should it be run pretty close to the aquarium, or the nearest water outlet (which in my case would be the bathroom sink).. i thought the only place to install it would be in my utility room, because that's where the water heater is (and where i thought the only exposed water lines were).. but i just took a look under the bathroom sink, and realized the lines down there... so i'm thinking i could mount it under there (in the cabinet), cut the line somewhere down there, tee it off, and its good to go... right?

but that leads me to another question... i've been told that RO/DI water tastes nasty because all the minerals and stuff has been removed... will this pose a problem with brushing teeth or whatever? or is there a way to turn the flow through the unit on and off? someone said that the units have a valve so you can turn the water on and off.. i just want to know exactly what's gonna happen before i buy one... its sounding easier and easier as i learn more, but if the taste will be an issue, its gonna be a pain in the butt because i have to get down on the ground, reach back to turn the valve, get up, do my business about water change, topoff, whatever, get back down on the ground turn it off, and then i'm done... that's why it would be great if i could have a faucet in my room, just above the aquarium, so i could just turn it on and off when i needed water... pour directly into the tank, simple as pie..

oh, by the way, i feel really stupid because i think i'm making it harder than it is...

glampka · 07-25-2007, 05:21 AM

This isn't that difficult. Ideally you want it located someplace close to your water supply & a drain & someplace where you have room for your storage container. I keep mine in the basement since I store my filtered water in a 15 gallon drum. You could keep it in the kitchen, bathroom, utility room, wherever.
The filtered water does not come rushing out of the filter. It takes time to get it since for every gallon of RO/DI water you get 3 gallons of "waste" water. The faucet adapter allows you to just send water to the filter or use the faucet without filtering the water.

the_h2o_guru · 07-25-2007, 01:57 PM

No, RO/DI water doesn't really have a taste. Besides, dentists use DI water for cleaning your mouth to begin with. Brushing your teeth will be no big deal. Some people actually like to drink RO/DI water. It's a matter of opinion.