BRS 5 Stage+ 75GPD RODI Unit Questions

I'm planning on getting this 75 GPD RO/DI 5 Stage *PLUS* System - English next month, and am wondering if the water saver 150 GPD upgrade is worth it.
The upgrade adds a 2nd 75GPD membrane and is supposed to increase production while decreasing waste water.

Also can I add the DI bypass later, I'm getting my overflow finished and the rock as well so the DI bypass will have to wait.

 

I suppose it comes down to how much water you need to make, and how quickly you want to make it.

75 gallons per day = 3.125 gallons per hour
150 gallons per day = 6.25 gallons per hour

I just bought the 75 GPD 5 stage PLUS system, and it works perfectly (0ppm TDS after DI). The install was a breeze. However I only need to make ~10 gallons per week or less for water changes and top-offs.

 

Thanks.
I was looking at the time for initial filling and my daily topoffs (on my 46 gal is maybe a gal a day or so).
I'm getting a 113 gal. put together, also I was looking at the 50% savings in waste water, though I'm not on a meter now I'm hoping to buy a house sometime within the next few years and may end up with one that's metered.

 

Those who advertise dual membrane systems as water savers are doing you an injustice. Talk to folks who have been testing and selling RO and RO/DI systems for decades, it does not work long term.
All membranes must be flushed. This is the purpose of the flow restrictor and the 4:1 waste ratio recommended by the membrane manufacturers. If you reduce the waste rate you adversely shorten the life of the RO membranes since you do not have the volume or velocity of water to keep the membrane fabric clean. The TDS or dissolved solids begin to solidfy or form a crust on the membranes surface eventually leading to failure.
Years and years of testing has gone in to the flushing of membranes and many vendors who have no tbeen around for long have not picked up on this.

If it were really that easy don't you think every RO and RO/DI manufacturer and vendor would be selling boat loads of systems like that? It sounds easy but really is not.

If you do want a dual membrane system, I owned one myself for several years, stick with the 4:1 waste ratio if you expect any life out of the membranes. Think about it, you are taking the brine, waste or concentrated TDS from the first membrane and putting it in the second membrane then slowing the waste ratio and expecting it to survive? i really wish it were that easy, it would have saved me a bundle on my current real low waste system, the MaxCap UHE which does work with low waste but is completely different in that it uses stored DI water to flush the system and pickle it versus tap water or concentrated waste.

Talk to others in the business before investing in something like that, it may save you some headaches and money.

 

Thanks a bunch, I'll use the money to get the DI bipass instead. I like the system in that it's inexpensive for what you get...dual TDS, fush kit and auto stop(a float valve) plus all the different connections.

 

For what it sells for, you might look at the MaxCap on sale towards the bottom of the page here:
Untitled Document

For $70 more you get a 0.5 micron absolute rated sediment filter as opposed to a 5.0 micron nominal rated filter, a 0.5 micron near absolute 20,000 gallon carbon block, a specially treated and individually hand tested and guaranteed 98+% high rejection rate 90 GPD RO membrane, two dual inline TDS meters, an inline presure gauge and best of all dual DI filters filled with MaxCap and SilicaBuster DI resins bleneded specifically for reef use and will last at least 3.5x longer than any other resin on the market.

This thread might explain some of the differences more clearly:
Whats so different about the MaxCap RO/DI System?? - Reef Central Online Community

The savings in DI resins alone will justify the difference in the first year alone.


They are also a long time 3Reef sponsor and have a forum here with answers to many common questions too:
SpectraPure - 3reef Forums

Nothing wrong with the BRS system, its just not the same and will cost you more to own over the years. It only takes a few DI replacements to recoup the difference. I am at 18 months on my second MaxCap DI and 36 months on the original SilicaBuster cartridge and its still 0 TDS after over 3 years now, thats in Phoenix with a tap TDS of 630 or higher!

 

I was looking at thier systems first since from all I've read they seem to be the best, but the cost is higher so I was debating on the other system.
If I can get the one in the link I will since it seems the maintenance cost will be far cheaper.

 

The Spectrapure systems on average are 30% or more to own and operate due to the extended membrane and DI life. The normal life of most membranes is 3 years, Spectrapure membranes can go 10 documented years since they are protected better if you use the recommended replacements. Their DI resins will last anywhere from 30% to 350% longer or more, my old Typhoon III got 150 gallons per cartridge, my MaxCap gets over 1000 gallons per cartridge. Huge savings in DI costs alone.

 

I think you meant 30% less to own....lol.

Dang that's a huge difference.