RO+DI Opinions please.

[2sybs]

Is this a good deal? and if not, why.
I'm on a very limited budget at the moment and was going to hold off on an RO System till I could afford it but if this is a good deal I may just bite the bullet.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...t&isfrommerc=1

I've got my tanks for aging water and getting ready to set it up and was planning to just use tap water till I could afford RO.

[Rinlor]

Looks good to me and a really nice price.

[Polar_Bear]

The real question is "why do you need RO water, much less RO/DI water?".

[RandalB]

Caveat Emptor that one... Typical Ebay POS.

You'll wind up paying more for water and parts in the long run.

Plenty of better units out there for $30-50 more.

RandalB

[Don Trinko]

What is your tap water like? If your tap is ok you don't need ro or di.
There is very little difference between ro and di. I would not bother with di. I use 50/50 tap/ro mostly because our tap leaves white deposits on the filters and hoods. My tap is softened by the city. This raises the TDS to 500 to 750. Typicaly my tap is: PH 7.8 to 8.2, DH 7, KH 22 no nitrates, TDS 500 to 750. When I mix 50/50 it is PH 7.6 to 7.8, DH 3, KH 11, no nitrates and TDS 300 to 400.
Don T.

[2sybs]

Out of the tap my water is 0 nitrates, GH 75, KH 120 & PH 7.2. PH goes up to around 7.5. I don't have any way to test the tds at the moment and probably won't bother if I skip the RO unit.
My original thought was to go with 50/50 tap and RO. But the more I think about it since i am now acclimating my discus to the ph of my tap water there really is no reason to go with RO. Just need to get that aging tank set up and plumbed.
Another question, just how much of a fluctuation in PH can they handle comfortably? Since my PH comes out of the tap at 7.2 then goes up will they be ok at least till I get that tank done?

Thanks to all you guys for your expertise and input.
Ray

[Don Trinko]

My tap goes from ph of 7.6 up to 8.0 as the gasses in the water disipate. If your DH is 75 you have hard water! and with a KH of 120 you would have a very hard time changing the ph. Don T.

[Polar_Bear]

I am very confused by your numbers... Do you actually mean your GH is 75 PPM, and your KH is 120 ppm? If so your water is not that bad for discus in any case since it would then really be about 4 GH, and 6 KH.

[2sybs]

I am very confused by your numbers... Do you actually mean your GH is 75 PPM, and your KH is 120 ppm? If so your water is not that bad for discus in any case since it would then really be about 4 GH, and 6 KH.

Sorry for the confusion, Yes that is Total Hardness (GH) = 75 ppm and Total Alkalinity (KH) = 120 ppm.
So it would be 4 GH & 6 KH? now I'm the one that is confused.

[White Worm]

You dont need RO. Straight from the tap to the tank with some conditioner just in case would be fine and you could even breed in that water.

[2sybs]

no need for RO

OK, That I understand. I am going to set up an aging tank/barrel but will still use a conditioner.
Thanks
Ray