Best Budget friendly RO/DI unit?

[19Mateo83]

What is everyone’s thoughts and recommendations on quality and affordable RO/DI units? May manufacturers I should be on the look out for?

 

[Scratch08]

Really depends on your idea of “budget friendly”… there are several places that sell relatively inexpensive units that will get the job done… just depends on what you want to spend

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

If you're not concerned with bells and whistles ie. back flush, tds sensors, booster pump etc then there's no difference from the ones off Amazon and the ones made specifically for the hobby.

 

[19Mateo83]

I guess I’m looking for the most bang for your buck so to speak.

 

[EricR]

No specific brand recommendations but I'd say, unless you're really space limited or something, at least get one that uses standard 10" chambers/filters (for the non-RO stages),,, although that's just my personal opinion.

 

[PotatoPig]

I guess I’m looking for the most bang for your buck so to speak.

Most bang for your buck is probably wait for a BRS sale and pick up an appropriate level system for your local water.

 

[19Mateo83]

No specific brand recommendations but I'd say, unless you're really space limited or something, at least get one that uses standard 10" chambers/filters (for the non-RO stages),,, although that's just my personal opinion.

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you

 

[EricR]

Most bang for your buck is probably wait for a BRS sale and pick up an appropriate level system for your local water.

Coincidentally, I see BRS website is showing %15 off RODI units for Father's Day right now. Not massive discount, but something.

FWIW, I use a BRS 6 stage unit and am happy with it.

 

[19Mateo83]

I’ve been looking at this one, my city water is light on chlorine and only has 200tds

 

[paragrouper]

I guess I’m looking for the most bang for your buck so to speak.

Yeah, me too.

I need to sort this myself. I checked my TDS (209) and my water pressure (60 psi) Then asked a sales rep at aquashella. he said I should get This high-end spectrapure system, but he could not explain why I needed all this RODI for a 32 Gallon tank. A TDS of 209 is pretty bad—I guess.

let me know what you come up with.

 

[19Mateo83]

Yeah, me too.

I need to sort this myself. I checked my TDS (209) and my water pressure (60 psi) Then asked a sales rep at aquashella. he said I should get This high-end spectrapure system, but he could not explain why I needed all this RODI for a 32 Gallon tank. A TDS of 209 is pretty bad—I guess.

let me know what you come up with.

I had a unit similar to this one a decade ago with my first reef and it worked like a champ. 0tds water all day. More than likely I will be ordering this one. I wish they had it in a 50 gpd model as my current tank I’m setting up is only 50 gallons.

 

[Dom]

What is everyone’s thoughts and recommendations on quality and affordable RO/DI units? May manufacturers I should be on the look out for?

You could buy one used and just replace the filters.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I’ve been looking at this one, my city water is light on chlorine and only has 200tds

If you want to give brs your money, by all means. You can get the same thing off Amazon all day long for less. I found this 100gpd with an additional inline tds for $175

 

[19Mateo83]

If you want to give brs your money, by all means. You can get the same thing off Amazon all day long for less. I found this 100gpd with an additional inline tds for $175

That’s what I’m talking about! Thank you! I’ll check into it. If it has a flush kit I’m sold

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I’ve been looking at this one, my city water is light on chlorine and only has 200tds

Imho, for what you get, BRS setups are the best bang for the buck, and they can grow with you. For a few dollars more you can get a 5 stage.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

That’s what I’m talking about! Thank you! I’ll check into it. If it has a flush kit I’m sold

It's a manual one, I'm sure the same as brs

AQUATICLIFE 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Deionization System, RO/DI Filter Unit 100 GPD https://a.co/d/iqAbhZI

 

[TrottingReef]

I also started with Aquaticlife RO Buddie from Amazon. Worked well for me. Used it for a year before I upgraded. Good unit for $70. But you can get even better at coralvue.com in their open box outlet they have a real nice IceKap 100GPD for like $100. Unit is new damaged box. Or for $150 the 200GPD double membrane. Its a great unit. Its what I upgraded to.

Amazon product ASIN B00204CQF6

Looks like they sold out of the 150gpd unit and only have the 200gpd like I got.
https://www.coralvue.com/icecap-200gpd-ro-di-system-open-box

The non openbox units
https://www.coralvue.com/icecap-4-stage-ro-di-systems

 

[19Mateo83]

I also started with Aquaticlife RO Buddie from Amazon. Worked well for me. Used it for a year before I upgraded. Good unit for $70. But you can get even better at coralvue.com in their open box outlet they have a real nice IceKap 100GPD for like $100. Unit is new damaged box. Or for $150 the 200GPD double membrane. Its a great unit. Its what I upgraded to.

Amazon product ASIN B00204CQF6

Looks like they sold out of the 150gpd unit and only have the 200gpd like I got.
https://www.coralvue.com/icecap-200gpd-ro-di-system-open-box

The non openbox units
https://www.coralvue.com/icecap-4-stage-ro-di-systems

WOW! That 200gpd icecap one looks like a winner for that price. Thank you for the link!

 

[19Mateo83]

Yeah, me too.

I need to sort this myself. I checked my TDS (209) and my water pressure (60 psi) Then asked a sales rep at aquashella. he said I should get This high-end spectrapure system, but he could not explain why I needed all this RODI for a 32 Gallon tank. A TDS of 209 is pretty bad—I guess.

let me know what you come up with.

I just ordered one of the open box Icecap 200 gpd model from the coralvue outlet.

 

[TrottingReef]

Great choice. Mine works awesome. I did add dual in/out TDS meter and auto on off solinoid with float kit from Amazon.