First ro system.

[_sludgefactory]

So my buddy got a new higher gpd output unit and gave me his old 2 stage. Would it be necessary to add a di unit? I was thinking about buying the extra stuff and a new bracket cause i could probably do it for life 50 bucks. The unit was basically free. Gave him a couple colonies of Zs and Ps i didn't want.



Tank thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81000

LG P999 EaglesBlood 2.8, Trinity ELPmax

 

[pgr11]

Yes if your making your own water make it the best you can di for sure

 

[_sludgefactory]

But is it absolutely necessary, like i can still use it for now until i get a di for it right? I have a grocery store right across the street that has good water, but I'm moving in less than a month. And my license is suspended so i need a new reliable water source.



Tank thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81000

LG P999 EaglesBlood 2.8, Trinity ELPmax

 

[pgr11]

Its better then tap. yes you can use it but your tds will be high and you will most likely battle phosphate.

 

[HealthyTanks]

Adding DI will make your tank maintenance much easier.
Don

 

[_sludgefactory]

Ok, another question. As of right now i can't use it at all because he kept some parts he needed for his new system. Right now there is still old water left in the chambers. Should i drain out the old water? Would it hurt if it was drained and fried out? The filters maybe have 100 gallons of use and i don't want to have to buy all new.



Tank thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81000

LG P999 EaglesBlood 2.8, Trinity ELPmax

 

[_sludgefactory]

Bump



Tank thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81000

LG P999 EaglesBlood 2.8, Trinity ELPmax

 

[AZDesertRat]

Before investing any money in what you have, make sure it works correctly and will do what you need or you could be throwing good money away.

You say 2 stages? Does it just have a carbon block which serves as both a sediment and carbon/chlrorine removal filter and a membrane? If so this is not very efficient since onse the carbon gets dirty from all the particulates, sediment and colloidal materials it loses its ability to adsorb chlorine which should be its sole purpose in life.

Beg, borrow or steal a handheld TDS meter (they are only $20-$25 new and totally necessary to troubleshoot a RO or RO/DI system and it cannot be done without it) and test your tap water TDS and the treated RO TDS. If its not removing at least 95-96% of the incoming TDS then don't spend any money on it as it is not efficient and would quickly eat DI resin if you sere to add DI.

DO NOT drain the filters, a RO membrane MUST stay wetted after it has been used as does DI resin or they go bad quickly.

The reason I say it may be more cost effective to buy a new system is a reef quality RO/DI system including a full size 10" replacable 0.5 micron absolute rated sediment filter in a 10" vertical clear housing, a full size 10" 0.5 micron 20,000 gallon carbon block in a 10" clear housing, a 90 GPD specially treated and batch tested high rejection rate RO membrane (usually better than 98% efficient so longer DI life), a full sized 10" refillable 20 oz SilicaBuster reef specific DI canister and cartridge, an inline pressure gauge and a capillary tube flow restrictor is only $128 on sale. By the time you get a replacement sediment/carbon or whatever it is yours has, possibly replace the membrane and flow restrictor at $40-$75, add an add on DI for $40-$60, and add a pressure gauge so you can monitor the filter condition and head loss due to dirty filters, your total will be close to the same money or more and you will not have nearly the same system, the same GPD or the same water quality.

Buying, bartering or inheriting a used system is often not what its cracked up to be. I have helped many many people upgrade systems and rebuild them so they perform well and it gets pretty expensive compared to buying new. I went down that road 20 years ago with my first RO system which I later converted to a 75 GPD RO/DI. I had a ton invested and should have started over.