High Tide Aquatics

RODI System Recommendations and Considerations (and which ones not to buy)

Alexander1312

Alexander1312

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Looks like I am in the business of buying a new RODI system since the membranes no longer work in my system (seperate thread: https://www.bareefers.org/forum/thr...embrane-replacement-issues.37971/#post-543926)

I was never a huge fan of the aquatic life RODI but it always producted good water as per regular ICP testing of the RODI water specifically.

Over the last year, I collected a couple of potential vendors:

airwaterice.com

Saltwater Aquarium Reefkeepers RODI Systems for ZERO TDS

Reverse Osmosis Deionization (RODI) systems for ReefKeeping, Saltwater Fish, Fish Stores, Aquariums, Plants, Cleaning, Dentist Office, Gardening, Spot-Free Car Wash, Window Washing, Orchids, Semiconductors, Sanitation, Pet Stores, BrewMaking & More! Since 1982 we have built systems using the...
airwaterice.com airwaterice.com


The water where I live comes in at 30 TDS. With the new system, I would prefer less water waste and quicker water production (currently 100GPD). I am in need of approx 150-200 gallon of water per month. Anything I should know about 5+ stage systems, benefits of more expensive units, etc?
 
I have a brs 6 stage + dual membrane. It works acceptably fast and the two holders for DI is convenient for changing media. I got it used for a great deal, would recommend considering what I paid

If you want RO, I recommend you get 2 lower-gpd membranes than 1 higher-gpd membrane. Having 2 membranes significantly reduces water waste. Also, usually higher gpd membranes have a lower rejection rate, meaning your DI resin is saturated quicker, and more plastic waste is produced.

You can also just do only DI which produces no water waste, but again resin consumption will increase
 
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It’s been a while since I researched ro/di stuff. But here’s what I remember off the top of my head.
All systems are the same. I’ve had eBay ones, Spectorpure, Kent, etc. they are all 10” pre filters and same ro containers. Only difference is what’s cartridges you use. I always use Dow. Dunno. Just that’s what I used back in the day.
75 gallon per day is supposed to be the most efficient with a secondary chamber. I’ve never gone to the 3 stage di but I thought about it. Dunno if it’s worth it.
60+ psi is the sweet spot for in coming water pressure.
Jake Adam’s said di set up is better than ro/di if you have low tds. That’s what he uses at his studio. Mine was too high. You have pretty low tds. Might want to look into that.
 
Ive had the typhoon lll extreme two 150gpd back to back for 200gpd from Air Water & Ice for a few years no issues which going to add two more Di canisters.Customer service is astounding calling or texting if need. Have run Spectrapures & Brs all seem to run fine and mostly identical Depends on ur water also which most around the bay is pretty good my Tds are averaging 80.. I do use it for drinking/cooking also which the typhoon has an additional line for RO drinking water..
Alot more options now which people who have high tds are also running single stages of different resins then a mixed resin bed on the tail. Supposed to be more economical using less resin that way ..
 
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Turkeysammich said:
It’s been a while since I researched ro/di stuff. But here’s what I remember off the top of my head.
All systems are the same. I’ve had eBay ones, Spectorpure, Kent, etc. they are all 10” pre filters and same ro containers. Only difference is what’s cartridges you use. I always use Dow. Dunno. Just that’s what I used back in the day.
75 gallon per day is supposed to be the most efficient with a secondary chamber. I’ve never gone to the 3 stage di but I thought about it. Dunno if it’s worth it.
60+ psi is the sweet spot for in coming water pressure.
Jake Adam’s said di set up is better than ro/di if you have low tds. That’s what he uses at his studio. Mine was too high. You have pretty low tds. Might want to look into that.
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Interesting thought re DI only. The concern I would have with this is that there is no effective chloramine removal unless I misunderstand the setup.
 
I use the BRS stuff, and like it. As said above, they are all pretty similar, so long as you are using the same form factor. Not a big fan of the ro buddy or other small units. Jealous of the bigger ones, but feel it is overkill given my water consumption.

I noticed a big different on DI resin consumption when I went to the "pro" anion, cation, mixed bed separate resins. Dual RO is always good, I would think anything above 100tds incoming (pulled that number out of my old house water being 200+ and my new house water being 400+tds) and you'd want dual RO. Mike used triple RO and I don't hate that idea, but I feel my tds is so high here, it wouldn't be great. Also he is the only one I have seen do it, but he is super experienced so I take his recommendation seriously.
 
H2OPlayar said:
Jealous of the bigger ones, but feel it is overkill given my water consumption.
Click to expand...

You know you want one...

Screenshot_20250225_110643_Messages.jpg
 
Does anyone know a place to buy a two-membrane RODI system in the Bay Area? This is now getting urgent and I am not able to fix my current system. Looks like we made a mistake with setting the ASOs when installing the RODI 2 years ago, so despite efforts to rebuild this now, the new membrane does not seem to let water through - the old membrane appears to have been always bypassed, still 0 TDS :).
 
Alexander1312 said:
Does anyone know a place to buy a two-membrane RODI system in the Bay Area? This is now getting urgent and I am not able to fix my current system. Looks like we made a mistake with setting the ASOs when installing the RODI 2 years ago, so despite efforts to rebuild this now, the new membrane does not seem to let water through - the old membrane appears to have been always bypassed, still 0 TDS :).
Click to expand...
Someone prob has one in their garage. For a 2 membrane system i think it’s as simple as adding a extra one to it. Not sure it’s worth spending crazy amount of money buying one that comes with 2, when u can grab a membrane and housing for like $25 or less.
 
Alexander1312 said:
Does anyone know a place to buy a two-membrane RODI system in the Bay Area? This is now getting urgent and I am not able to fix my current system. Looks like we made a mistake with setting the ASOs when installing the RODI 2 years ago, so despite efforts to rebuild this now, the new membrane does not seem to let water through - the old membrane appears to have been always bypassed, still 0 TDS :).
Click to expand...
You are in Walnut Creek if I recall? I won't be home until late tonight - but around all day tomorrow. If you need RODI water you are welcome to swing by - I have a 200GPD that cranks it out pretty fast!

But if you need it literally right now/immediately, Cali-Kid is probably your best option, either buys you time to find a replacement system though!
 
MichaelB said:
Someone prob has one in their garage.
Click to expand...
yosemiteclimber said:
OH WAIT! I do have an aquatic life (4 stage) in my garage!
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Hahaha, what a great club.

One of the lfs's should have what you need too. Call around, some of them don't carry this stuff in house because it is bulky though. I would bite the bullet and order the brs or swa one to get standard parts going for future replacements. Buy once, cry once.
 
I remember when I was 12 or 14 and the bay switched from chlorine to chloramine, and we couldn't figure out why my aquatic frogs got really jumpy, then really still, for way too long...

That should have been an announcement to everyone, and maybe there was but we didn't know at the time what was going on.

I think chloramine is somewhat standard now in many water treatment facilities.
 
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