ro/di unit recommendations

So I'm moving at the end of the month. At the new place I'll have the space for an ro/di unit.

The thing is... I know pretty much nothing about them!

Does anyone have any recommendations on what brand to get, or have any tips on them?

Anything is helpful, as I said, I know nothing!

 

Spectrapure is a great name in rodi, go to their website. They usually have nice refurbished units on sale... I have a 90gpd refurbished unit and couldn't be happier

 

I will second Spectrapure. Having owned 6 different RO and RO/DI systems over the last 20+ years I can say they are by far the best of the bunch.

 

+3

 

I've never heard a bad thing about spectapure, but I've never owned one. I've used a BRS model and I bought a used Buckeye Hydro. Both units have been solid.

I suggest reading/following the maintenance. The unit will only be as good as you take care of it.

And this was one of my best purchases in this hobby.

 

+4

While most will produce zero TDS water, the quality of Spectrapure filters are second to none, allowing them to last much longer than other brands.

 

Ok. Seems like everyone favors spectrapure...

Any specific model I should get, or any things I should look for in the one I get?

I've seen one for 179, and one for 229. Is the more expensive one worth getting? They're both 90gpd.

 

does one have more stages?

 

The most important thing is the filters. If your water has chloramine instead of treated with just chlorine, then I'd get one chlorplus filter with one canister of catalytic carbon in front of it. I'd get a pressure gauge with the system so you know what the water pressure is. I shoot for 60 psi or more. If it's too low then a booster pump should be considered. I also have a tds meter hooked up to make sure I'm also getting zero tds. If it goes above zero then I know the DI resin needs replacing or something else is wrong. Last, I prefer dual DI canisters. I personally have a Air, Water, Ice Typhoon I've had for almost 8 years. I replace the filters with BRS filters typically. Spectrapure is popular, but again, it's the filters. Not sure what they are using. I'd probably buy a BRS system if I needed a new one since you can pick the filters and options you want easily. I also like the GE Rosave z sediment filter that BRS sells for a few more bucks. Here are some videos and there are a few more if you look on youtube for BRS:

 

Tested my 'WaterGeneralManufacturing' TDS's today.
It was a 5 stage Ebay special, with seperate lines for my RO-(drinking tap- split to ice maker),
and RO/DI- ( a valved line under the sink- and a line valved and on a float for my DIT ATO in the basement)

I even brewed a 5g batch of a really nice, hoppy Pale Ale,, and used RO water, and RO ice in the wort (batch) to cool and bring the volume up to proper levels!

I changed all the filter and resin a few months ago:

RO only- 0 TDS
RO/DI- 0 TDS
Tap today- 124 TDS

The first change in about 3 years! It was still putting out 0TDS too!
The sediment filter is clear housing- it was brown/rust colored in there, was nasty when I cleaned/changed it too- and still pt out 0 TDS on the RO only side.

With all I just said, If and when I would get another whole system- I'd go with Spectrapure.