need a decent RO system

[jkratzwald]

I need a decent RO system, but the more I look, the more I get confused. Too much information out there.

Looking on ebay I see a lot of stuff that comes with a faucet, etc. I just want something for fish tanks. looking for something simple that will do 25-50 gallons per day, no faucet assemblies, etc. Can someone make some recommendations and pass along advice in what to look for and what to avoid. (as in should I avoid anything with metal fittings or valves?)

Any help would be much appreciated.

TIA

[Akili]

May this may work for you http://www.marinedepot.com/Kent_Marine_Maxxima_50_GPD_RO_DI_System_50_to_75_G allons_Per_Day_RO_DI_Water_Filter_Systems-Kent_Marine-KM1411-FIRORDFS-KM1413-vi.html

[Akili]

Kent Marine has one with a TDS meter built in so you may want to look into that http://www.kentmarine.com/products/ro/

[delta5]

I'm using the 100GPD RO Buddie system. My tap is over 300ppm, lots of calcium and it puts out 8ppm ro water.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=AK01016&child=AK01017&utm_source=adwordsfroogle&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=adwordsfroogle&utm_content=AK01017&gclid=CjwKEAiAi4a2BRCu_eXo3O_k3hUSJABmN9N1_JOQZf_0 At43GL90gMG5MbdPW1-YSyaQg8mLciwIehoCLezw_wcB

[Wes]

Just got the Typhoon III extreme there is a bunch of guys here that use them and recommended it to me. http://theh2oguru.com/typhoon-iii-extreme-150.html

[Cosmo]

I was just going to post theh20guru but Wes beat me to it :p A great source for both RO units and replacement filters. I started with a 50gpd Maxxima years ago, good unit but the TDS meter broke fairly quickly. I morphed it into a 300gpd unit by adding additional filters and pressure tubes.

Keep in mind you will get at best 50% of the rated output unles everything is PERFECT - water temp, water pressure being the two that affect it most. You should consider buying a pressure pump to increase your output and decrease your TDS. A 50gpd unit would use an Aquatec 6800 series pump while anything over 100gpd you'd want an Aquatec 8800 series. You can call Aquatec and talk to Bill in tech support and he can guide you to what you need - nice guy.

Don't forget to flush your membranes very often to keep crap from building up and blocking the pores, thereby reducing your output.

[LizStreithorst]

Jim dear, please tell me how one can flush one's ro unit if it doesn't have a back flush valve.

[nc0gnet0]

Jim dear, please tell me how one can flush one's ro unit if it doesn't have a back flush valve.

Where is your backflow regulator at?

[LizStreithorst]

As far as I know, I don't have one. I'm not smart about about everything like you are, Rick. Besides I was asking my friend, Jim. He will 'splain it to me without making me feel stupid.

[Cosmo]

Jim dear, please tell me how one can flush one's ro unit if it doesn't have a back flush valve.

Liz my love :) Not being familiar with your unit it's difficult to answer. I always plumb in a loop allowing the water to bypass the flow restrictor on the reject water line using John Guest type fittings - below is a pic of mine .
The flow restrictor is in the lower tube with the white cover. When the valve is closed the reject water is forced through the flow restrictor (which is what creates the pressure on your membrane), when the valve is open the water seeks the path of least resistence and flows through the top tube around the restrictor allowing water to rush over the membrane and flushing any builtup debrie. Having said all that, if you have a high output unit that does not use a flow restrictor... I don't know how you would do it, though I'd think there must be a way? :P

[LizStreithorst]

Thank you, sweetheart. I'll take a pic of my unit and PM it to you over the week end. If I need this thing I will make one.

[Cosmo]

Thank you, sweetheart. I'll take a pic of my unit and PM it to you over the week end. If I need this thing I will make one.

If you send me a pic and the specs of your unit, I'll make one for you if it's possible. Unless you have a super high output unit that doesn't use metal pressure tubes it should be doable my darling :)

[LizStreithorst]

Dearest, I took it out of it's saddle for this pic so you could see the tubing better.

[Keith Perkins]

Just got the Typhoon III extreme there is a bunch of guys here that use them and recommended it to me. http://theh2oguru.com/typhoon-iii-extreme-150.html

I'd be one of them and I really like the unit. I don't use my unit heavily, but I do use it regularly and have flushed it very infrequently. I got 5 years out of the first membrane with a tap TDS in excess of 300.

[RogueDiscus]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-4-stage-value-ro-di-system-75gpd-2.html

I got this one from Bulk Reef Supply.

[nc0gnet0]

Liz, it looks like your restrictor valve might be between the waste water line and the waste water output fitting on the membrane, but to be sure Cosmo would need to see a better picture of your waste water line as it leaves the membrane.

here is an example of one type of flow restrictor that I think you have:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdgT_LBiYyg

There is a second type of flow restrictor, one that does not fit inside the waste water line (like a needle valve) it would look like this and be on the outside of your waste water line.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BB9APK/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687582&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0054QQJIW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0YDE3HDDNGCCQA3MKWT6

if you had this second type of restrictor the waste water line would come off your membrane, then connect to the exterior restrictor, then another line would come out the other end.

In either case it is possible to flush your membrane without adding a flush kit like Cosmo has shown you (however adding the flush kit makes it much easier and less time consuming). But, we have to make sure which type of restrictor you have first.

[LizStreithorst]

A big thanks to my sweetheart, Cosmo. The flush valve is in place. The silly thing that I was so afraid of doing turned out to be a piece of cake.

[farebox]

Recommend the Bulk Reef Supply unit, got one a few yrs ago, and it has worked flawless. Also comes with all the hardware to make connections to an water supply and instruction video on their website.