RO/DI

[Hookem2006]

I am thinking of setting up my own RO/DI setup here at the house. How do you guys normally store the water? Is it ok in the garage? Not sure how the wife would like a bunch of water storage containers laying around! Also, can anyone recommend the type I need to get. I have been looking at Bulk Reef Supply and they have several different models. I know I need to order a TDS meter. I plan on making maybe 25-30 Gallons a week. I have 3 tanks to change water on; a 93 gallon, 28 gallon and 12 gallon. Anyways, thanks guys, let me know what y'all think.

 

[Eckolancer]

I set mine up in the laundry room and ran the good output water hose to the garage to a trash can. It ha a float shut off valve and for about 20 mins every other hour I turn on a water pump and air pump just to keep it fresh. I do empty it out about once every couple months. But, most of the time it only gets about half way down. Temp in garage is fine till winter then I run a heater.

 

[melev]

I keep mine stored indoors so it doesn't get cold or hot. When I was running my 280g, I had 20g in a couple of containers to top off evaporation, and 15g in my pantry. Every three days, I took that 15g and pour it into the ATO reservoir and replenished the 5g jugs. I did this for six years.

When I wanted to do a water change, I brought a 55g container inside to fill up with RO/DI water, added salt and let it mix for a day or two. I made sure pH, temperature and salinity matched.

I thought about the garage idea, but decided it was going to require a chiller during the summer and heaters during the winter to keep it useable. So with the 400g, I decided to just make the fishroom bigger for a 265g poly tank that stands behind my tank.

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[Hookem2006]

@Burbarry wrote:

You don't worry about the water fouling in the summer heat?

 

[Guest]

If you go with a big unit you don't need to store it. I can fill a 25 gallon container in 4-5 hours. Even less in the summer time when water temp is warmer


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[Eckolancer]

@Hook'em2006 wrote:

You don't worry about the water fouling in the summer heat?"]


So far no issues. Garage is pretty well insulated so the temp in summer only gets up to mid 80s even in 100 degree weeks

 

[Mike M]

@Hook'em2006 wrote:

Having your own RO/DI is the only way to go IMO. I go through about what you plan on going through (I support my 70ga, the 34g Solana, and my dad's 46g). I've got mine setup in the laundry room so that the containers can sit in the sink while they are filling. If I forget that the RO/DI is running, it will just drain into the sink.

I have one of Marc's RO/DI units and couldn't be happier. He is also local and has parts should you need anything and can offer advice on setup and maintenance if you need it. His RO/DI's also come with whatever you need to tap into the water lines. I used the vampire tap and the waste water line runs directly into my drain. Marc did a presentation at a social in the Fall of last year, I believe, on RO/DI and setup. I don't know if that video is available online but it is worth checking out if it is. The presentation runs through some setup options and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

I store extra RO/DI in 5 gallon containers in the laundry room and 1 gallon jugs for top-off although that will be a thing of the past after this week when I finally setup my ATO.

I have a dual TDS meter plumbed into the RO/DI. One probe is plumbed in-line after the RO stage and another after the DI stage. You will find that you get a TDS spike when running the RO stage so you can use the first probe to wait until TDS drops to about 4 before running it through your DI to save your DI resin. The second probe will let you know that the water coming out of the DI stage is good to go. On top of that, I have a pocket TDS meter if I need to measure anything else. Marc also sells the TDS meters.

Last thing I would get are some extra filters. I always keep at least one extra set on hand. Murphy's Law says the one day I need to make a bunch of RO for a water change is the day my filters die. [smilie=wink.gif]

 

[Crack31]

I have a 90, 29 & 14 gallon.

I have the RO DI with drinking water attachment. The pressurized container stores 5 gallons on RO Water. If I want drinking water, the water goes thru a carbon polisher. If I want tank water, it goes thru the DI stage.

My unit has the 100gpd membrane and restrictor.