R O Units, Can Someone Please Tell Me...

[fishywatcher]

I've been thinking about getting one for ages. I've looked at the various units available, but still can't figure out exactly how they are installed. I mean, I know they are plumbed into the mains water supply (which I can do), but where does the filtered water go, and what about the waste water? Also, what do you do if you don't want a continuous supply of filtered water? Can they be turned off til you need to use it again?

 

[Mowbz]

Depends on the Unit, some are standalong that you can fill and it produces 10gal or so, some can be plumbed in line with the fresh and waste water supplies to carry out water changes for you.

The only problem with RO is having to add the minierals back in. Have you looked into this at all?

 

[fishywatcher]

No, not really. My husband is thinking about keeping Discus, and the tap water round here is unsuitable. A lot to research before we take the plunge.

OK, so the plumbed in units work continuously? Sorry if I'm being dumb, but again, what happens if you don't want a continuous supply?

I don't think I've seen the units you fill, only the mains supply ones.

 

[Mowbz]

Depends on the model, you would need to do some research on what models are currently available, what SIZE, and what you need from it.

I dont have a huge deal of experience (mostly what ive learned from here) with RO, but there are some people on here that have much more. Stick around and wait for replies on here. Might be worth checking in the mornings or late at night, as its an international forum, so some members are on at silly o clock in the morning.

Hope this helps

 

[betta fish]

I have an RO unit as I keep marines, it is fitted to the water supply by a self piercing valve into the mains as long as the house is your own it should be ok! I have ball valves on the main feed line to the machine as well as the waste water line and the RO production line that is 3 in total, each one is turned off after RO production to keep the unit pressuried with water, first turn off RO then waste then lastly the feed this will keep water in the system but stop total production so the unit is switched off but still under pressure just like turning a tap on and off really.
The waste water can either be saved in a large tub for the garden or car washing etc or allowed to drain straight down the sink, the filtered water is what you use for your tank, be aware that the ratio of waste to filtered is around 4:1 depending on your mains pressure ours was dismal at around 30psi so now we have a booster pump and its around 80psi and I'm getting my filtered water much quicker, it now takes an hour to get 10 litres as opposed to the 3 hours it took before

 

[fishywatcher]

Thanks for your help Mowbz.

Betta Fish - that's exactly what I wanted to know, thank you

 

[Mowbz]

Told you

 

[TwoTankAmin]

RO/DI units come in all shapes and sizes. The trick is in finding the right one for your needs. I am space constrained so use a portable 3 stage RO/DI. But I have well water and I am only looking to use the unit to control TDS for spawning purposes mostly. My unit will hook to a garden hose size input. I also could not plumb it into a line and needed to stow it when not in use or it would be in the way. Here is the unit I use for which I pair $100 delivered.

The red hose connects to a garden hose size connector, the blue hose is your good ro/di out and the yellow hose is the waste water. When I need more RO, I take out the unit, hook it up and run it to fill a 20 gal can- about 10-12 hours and then I store the waterun til needed. I should note that my fish space utility sink has a garden hose threaded connector on the faucet. This not only allows me to hook the RO/DI unit to it, but also to connect a hose for filling buckets and tanks..

More info on the unit can be found here http/www.afwfilters.com/store/ro---portable-reverse-osmosis/mikro-omega-3-stage-portable-aquarium-rodi-system-212.html

If you need a bigger system folsk I know use the GE Merlin systems.

 

[mishmash]

This is a good site to find out more....

RO MAN


You can get ones that are permanently plumbed (usually using a saddle type tap that wraps around the cold water supply by your kitchen tap and self taps into the pipe, but you can also get a compression connector for about £8 that connects into the cold supply and has a suitable output to connect to the RO feed hose). Most NEW and some older RO units now can be turned on and off at will. As long as the membrane is kept wet then they are ok. I seem to think that some now don't even need that, but don't quote me on it. The waste water comes out of another hose from the RO system and can be connected into your waste pipe or just poked into a drain depending on where you have it located.. You could even offer your spare RO water to other local fishkeepers. A lot of LFS's sell RO water so why not do the same, LOL. Or be generous.... Oh and as someone else also mentioned. You then need to remineralise the water and stabilise the pH. There is a simple powder for doing this. In fact there is one specifically for discus

 

[mark2109111]

I would put a "Y" valve by your washing machine so you dont have to tap any main lines. That is what i did and it works great.

 

[mishmash]

I would put a "Y" valve by your washing machine so you dont have to tap any main lines. That is what i did and it works great.

sounds sensible

 

[fishywatcher]

Wow, thanks for all the advice. I'rs answered all my questions and then some! You're a very nice bunch of people