Best bang 4 the buck RO/DI unit?

What about the Vertex Puratek 100 GPD?

Hey guys,

I've been lurking and reading this thread with interest as I am shopping for an rodi system as well. I am wondering about Vertex's Puratek 100 GPD system that has the built in booster pump and advertises close to 1:1 pure water vs waste output? I have quite pure water from a well at my house and use no softener as the hardness is not too bad. However, I suffer from the same scenario of low water pressure less than 50 psi as most well systems do. That's of course why the Vertex looks attractive with the built in pump and other nice features. One con I can see is the DI portion is a cartridge which means I can't bulk fill it, right? Anyway, I have gotten a quote from a supplier of $285 with free freight. Seems fairly reasonable for all you get. On the other hand, I too have been eyeballing Spectrapure's ProPlus system for $149. I could also buy a pump on sale now to come up to the Vertex for about the same price. What do you guys recommend? Oh, I have a 65 gal lps(for now) tank. Thanks for reading and hopefully responding to a first time poster on this forum.

 

I would be very cautious with the Vertex unit. It scares me with thing like 120v AC solenoid valves instead of much safer DC solenoid valves.
I can just about guarantee you it will not perfrom well for long nor wil the membrane last. Basically all it is is a normal RO unit with a flush kit using tap water that is automated. First off I have yet to see any documented evidence flush kits do anything at all besides lighten your wallet and secondly, you sure don't want to flush something with the very tap water you are trying to filter in the first place! I don't expect that unit will be around long.

Adding the Aquatec 8800 booster to the Pro Plus would give you a better unit than the Vertex. Adding it to the MaxCap would give you a killer unit!

If waste is an issue check out the Spectrapure MaxCap UHE. Its expensive but it has years research and engineering behind it and is proven to work as advertised. It uses safe DC power for the valves and pump, uses DI water to flush the membrane and has the MaxCap and SilicaBuster dual DI that works so well.
Maybe if enough people express interest we could talk them into putting it on their Customer Appreciation Sale they have advertised in their Sponsors Forum here on 3Reef