London nitrates

[BumblePrime]

As a London native who is a veteran of the battle against our awful out of the tap parameters. I can say with some degree of confidence, purigen isn't going to address your issue. I was watching that a program on C4 about how our food is made (sorry I can't recall the name) and a brewer let out a trade tib bit about our water. Each glass of water from the tap has been recycled over 10 times already so those impurities are there to make it safe.

I just recently got a RO water installed. And there is no greater joy than seeing several algae types die out and dissapear over the course of a few weeks. Or being able to dictate what your own parameters... Or being nitrate free.

 

[AilyNC]

As a London native who is a veteran of the battle against our awful out of the tap parameters. I can say with some degree of confidence, purigen isn't going to address your issue. I was watching that a program on C4 about how our food is made (sorry I can't recall the name) and a brewer let out a trade tib bit about our water. Each glass of water from the tap has been recycled over 10 times already so those impurities are there to make it safe.

I just recently got a RO water installed. And there is no greater joy than seeing several algae types die out and dissapear over the course of a few weeks. Or being able to dictate what your own parameters... Or being nitrate free.

Is the RO nice as drinking water? As in would you happily drink it instead if bottled water?

 

[AbbeysDad]

Sorry for coming late. Here are a couple of links that I feel would help you:
My Nitrate Fight
Lowering Aquarium Nitrates
The trouble with inline nitrate filters (for source water) is that they are often short lived and typically not rechargeable. I continue to use API Nitrazorb having recharged it countless times with ordinary salt water. The DIY filter I describe in 'My Nitrate Fight' has had over 11,000 gallons processed and still going strong!

 

[BumblePrime]

Is the RO nice as drinking water? As in would you happily drink it instead if bottled water?

It's not good for drinking.
Because essentially it is mineral free so it has to be re-mineralized. You no longer need dechlorinator but you will need to add minerals before adding it to your tank.

 

[seangee]

Is the RO nice as drinking water? As in would you happily drink it instead if bottled water?

Guess its personal preference. I drink a couple of litres a day and have a bottle in front of me right now. I even treated myself to a sodastream so I can have sparkling water. Added bonus is I never have to descale the kettle, coffee machine or iron. No minerals is not a problem as there are plenty in the food we eat. It would only be an issue if we tried to live on water alone.

Quite partial to a pint of the black stuff too, but that tastes much nicer on your island than on ours

 

[AilyNC]

Guess its personal preference. I drink a couple of litres a day and have a bottle in front of me right now. I even treated myself to a sodastream so I can have sparkling water. Added bonus is I never have to descale the kettle, coffee machine or iron. No minerals is not a problem as there are plenty in the food we eat. It would only be an issue if we tried to live on water alone.

Quite partial to a pint of the black stuff too, but that tastes much nicer on your island than on ours

I've never drank guinness I'm really leaning towards RO unit next to the softener. Sick of the punt of plastic bottles we go through.

 

[mhancock]

As a London native who is a veteran of the battle against our awful out of the tap parameters. I can say with some degree of confidence, purigen isn't going to address your issue. I was watching that a program on C4 about how our food is made (sorry I can't recall the name) and a brewer let out a trade tib bit about our water. Each glass of water from the tap has been recycled over 10 times already so those impurities are there to make it safe.

I just recently got a RO water installed. And there is no greater joy than seeing several algae types die out and dissapear over the course of a few weeks. Or being able to dictate what your own parameters... Or being nitrate free.

How much does it really cost to install and maintain RO?

The option I was looking at, chlorine and nitrate filters only, was about £80 initially (plus some pipes) then £30 every six months to replace the filters.

 

[seangee]

Guess it depends how much you want to spend. You could do this https://www.directwaterfilters.co.u...-ro-system-unit-with-di-resin-75-200-gpd.html (they have cheaper too)

Mine is more like this https://www.directwaterfilters.co.u...d-reverse-osmosis-pumped-system-with-lcd.html - different brand and quite a bit cheaper without the fancy LCD display. I need mine to be pumped and wanted the separate tank so I can fill the kettle without waiting, and the post filter because it (apparently) removes any bad taste left in the RO.

I am toying with upgrading mine to direct flow like this https://www.directwaterfilters.co.u...direct-flow-reverse-osmosis-pumped-system-LCD

Edit: Filters around £30 every 6 months and membranes at a similar price every 12-24 months. They do waste a lot of water, that's why I would choose the triple membrane as it wastes less.

 

[mhancock]

Guess it depends how much you want to spend. You could do this https://www.directwaterfilters.co.u...-ro-system-unit-with-di-resin-75-200-gpd.html (they have cheaper too)

Mine is more like this https://www.directwaterfilters.co.u...d-reverse-osmosis-pumped-system-with-lcd.html - different brand and quite a bit cheaper without the fancy LCD display. I need mine to be pumped and wanted the separate tank so I can fill the kettle without waiting, and the post filter because it (apparently) removes any bad taste left in the RO.

I am toying with upgrading mine to direct flow like this https://www.directwaterfilters.co.u...direct-flow-reverse-osmosis-pumped-system-LCD

Edit: Filters around £30 every 6 months and membranes at a similar price every 12-24 months. They do waste a lot of water, that's why I would choose the triple membrane as it wastes less.

The cheapest is only £36, if it lasts six months that could be good. If only being used once per week it may even last longer. Certainly at that price I'm tempted to give it a try.

Does it matter how many stages?

 

[seangee]

The cheapest is only £36, if it lasts six months that could be good. If only being used once per week it may even last longer. Certainly at that price I'm tempted to give it a try.

Does it matter how many stages?

Not really. You need carbon to get rid of the chlorine (which destroys RO membranes. The sediment filter up front just means the carbon filter won't get clogged so quickly. You will be truly horrified at what comes out of the sediment filter the first time you replace it. If you have sufficient water pressure you may want to upgrade the membrane. My 100GPD unit takes 40 minutes to produce 10 litres of RO water.

 

[BumblePrime]

How much does it really cost to install and maintain RO?

The option I was looking at, chlorine and nitrate filters only, was about £80 initially (plus some pipes) then £30 every six months to replace the filters.

I'm using a 3 stage RODI system from finerfilters

UK Home of Water Filter Systems and Replacement Filters

www.finerfilters.co.uk

The cost was about £130 and I had a local plumber instal it for about £80

 

[AbbeysDad]

I thought of RO or RO/DI but decided against it. First, there's the cost - good systems aren't cheap. Then you need a minimum of 50psi to force water through the membrane. My well system is on a 20/40 relay so I'd need an additional pump. Then there's about 4 gallons of waste water for every gallon of filtered water. My water is mid-range for hardness so I never see calcium deposits in/on anything. Last, for all but acidic soft water fish, there's the additive cost to put minerals back. So for me, as in my post, the best solution was to simply remove nitrates with the Nitra-Zorb resin.

 

[BumblePrime]

I thought of RO or RO/DI but decided against it. First, there's the cost - good systems aren't cheap. Then you need a minimum of 50psi to force water through the membrane. My well system is on a 20/40 relay so I'd need an additional pump. Then there's about 4 gallons of waste water for every gallon of filtered water. My water is mid-range for hardness so I never see calcium deposits in/on anything. Last, for all but acidic soft water fish, there's the additive cost to put minerals back. So for me, as in my post, the best solution was to simply remove nitrates with the Nitra-Zorb resin.

Mine shipped with a tap to adjust the pressure. I get it to 55psi by simply opening up the tap. Considering how thin the actual line in I always thought the pressure build up was natural. I'm using this tap BTW

 

[AbbeysDad]

@BumblePrime - I don't know about the UK, but most municipal water systems here in the US are around 80psi. Rural home well systems are much less.

 

[jonnyc88]

Sorry for coming late. Here are a couple of links that I feel would help you:
My Nitrate Fight
Lowering Aquarium Nitrates
The trouble with inline nitrate filters (for source water) is that they are often short lived and typically not rechargeable. I continue to use API Nitrazorb having recharged it countless times with ordinary salt water. The DIY filter I describe in 'My Nitrate Fight' has had over 11,000 gallons processed and still going strong!

Other 2 options on my radar are Seachem Matrix and Denitrate. Good reviews and doesn't need constant recharging.