[AngelLeah1981]

Hey Peoples !

1. I want to buy an RO/DI unit for my 120 gallon (not yet set up) saltwater aquarium. I want the unit to be very good but I don't want to go crazy. "I don't have a money tree out back." ha ha. The thing I'm trying to figure out right now is what I need to look for in a RO/DI system ....just 5 stage? or anything else? I heard that the $70 unit at PetsMart is worthless. shrugs shoulders. I'm willing to spend up to $250-300 but definatly don't want to if it's not necessary. I see the units at all different prices. Also, a while back someone told me they use their unit for drinking water and I always saw this as a plus especially considering I spend around $70-80 a month in Walmart bottled water !!!

2. I'm not even sure I will need a UV sterilizer but I saw what appeared to be a great deal and am wondering if you would mind checking it out for me. I would really appreciate it.
It's #5 on the list:
http://www.lareefclub.com/forum/view...ghlight=#95710
Also, he said "Here is a link to info on the model that I have. They will kill anything that is in the water.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ct~AV2241.html "
Please give me your thoughts on this deal.
Leah

Quick info: I try my best not to overfeed. LOL

[AngelLeah1981]

One more thing: How big of a quarantine tank would you do? .....especially since later on I want a Powder Blue Tang. I know these are extremely difficult but they're my favorite so I have to at least try it. (unless it could get ich and kill all my fish) Is this possible- it killing the fish? I hate the idea of a tank going constantly (using my power and water and paying for the equipment) just for it to sit there most of the time with no fish in it. That kills me but if it's necessary I will do it. I would be constantly fighting off the urge to put fish in it. LOL

HERE'S THE TWO LINKS. SORRY I DIDN'T POST THEM CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME

Louisiana Reef Club :: View topic - Equipment for sale WITH PICS
Aqua UV 40 Watt 2 inch UV Sterilizer (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > UV Sterilizers > Units > 36-40 Watts )

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Yuo can get a good ro/di unit for under 250$'s that will produce 50 to 100 gallons a day of good clean water.there are two problems with these units that stand out.They will creat anywhere from 3 to 5 gallons of waste water for each gallon of clean water they make and they will only do it at water pressures above 60 psi.If you dont have 60 psi you need an 80$ back up pump.Or you can get a unit that makes clean water just about as fast as you can use it with no waste water and do it at normal house water pressures.
Poly-Bio-Marine

[NATIVEVAMAN]

OH, I forgot the other questin.UV filters are indiscriminate killers of everything that can pass thru there tube,good bacteria,bad bacteria.copapods,pathoge ns,whatever they kill everything.And they only do that when cleaned frequently.If you use a qt in the correct manor you wont need one,just keep the pathogens out of the tank to begin with.Maybe even buy one and keep it in the closet in case you need it.I would not even consider running one 24/7 like some suggest.unless you are into running up the electric bill for no good reason.

[unclejed]

I agree with native, I am not in favor of sterilizers. Check out the "filter guys", I bought mine from them. They claim they are the lowest (on purpose) to get your business and they were, I got my 5 stage ro/di unit for $130.00 if memory serves.

[AngelLeah1981]

I don't need 50-100 gallons a day or a permenant unit. I live in an apartment.

you can get a unit that makes clean water just about as fast as you can use it with no waste water and do it at normal house water pressures.

This is what I want. I really appreciate all your advice and help but I'm wanting to know what I need to look for in a ro/di system....whether it be 5 stage, 7 stage, or best filter prices, easiest filters to find and replace...etc. Does anyone know this info? I would like to know what to look for so I can google a bunch of them and figure out which one is best for me. Someone told me

As long as you get a unit that has standard sized filters (prefilters the carbon, sediment ect) you can replace those parts locally.

How do I figure this out and are they talking about buying the parts at a lfs? If so, I think I would rather buy it online since everything seems to be extremely cheaper.
Also,

One more thing: How big of a quarantine tank would you do? .....especially since later on I want a Powder Blue Tang. I know these are extremely difficult but they're my favorite so I have to at least try it. (unless it could get ich and kill all my fish) Is this possible- it killing the fish? I hate the idea of a tank going constantly (using my power and water and paying for the equipment) just for it to sit there most of the time with no fish in it. That kills me but if it's necessary I will do it. I would be constantly fighting off the urge to put fish in it. LOL

Someone said:

you can't medicate a reef tank should 1 or more of your fishes contract Ich or some other parasite

So what happens if you get a ick outbreak in a reef tank? .....especially if you only have one qt tank and a bunch of fish?
Thanks for the info!

[blu23girl]

i have this unit, and i love it! Melevsreef.com - 100gpd RO/DI System
Marc was great to work with too!
It's 169 plus 25 for shipping and it was SO easy to install!

[IceMan]

try

https://www.petsolutions.com/Petsolu...17685+C44.aspx

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Yuo can get a good ro/di unit for under 250$'s that will produce 50 to 100 gallons a day of good clean water.there are two problems with these units that stand out.They will creat anywhere from 3 to 5 gallons of waste water for each gallon of clean water they make and they will only do it at water pressures above 60 psi.If you dont have 60 psi you need an 80$ back up pump.Or you can get a unit that makes clean water just about as fast as you can use it with no waste water and do it at normal house water pressures.
Poly-Bio-Marine

hate to argue with ya ole buddy, you've helped me alot but my 3 stage unit varies from min. 32lb to max. 45lb by the guage on the unit and i get 3 to 1 (3 waiste to 1 r/o)

unless ofcourse the di slows it that much more

[gimmito]

I have the poly-bio-marine 3 stage cold sterile filter system and highly recommend it.
The filters last 50,000 gallons and will cost you 50 bucks to replace all three.
It wastes no water like r/o d/i units and can be easily hooked up to your fridge/ice maker for great filtered water !

[dinor2]

Jim, how much did you pay for that filter? My dh is going to get me one for my bday soon but wants to know which one is best!

[IceMan]

jim, have you ran TDS to see or compare for yourself? sorry i'm just a sceptic, if it sounds too good to be true... but you have my interest up!

[gimmito]

Originally Posted by dinor2

Jim, how much did you pay for that filter? My dh is going to get me one for my bday soon but wants to know which one is best!

Dana,

It's $369.99 at petsolutions and the filters are $54.99.

I have to correct a typo though...it's good for 5,000 gallons.

Look out for their sales...you can get them at an additional 20% off !

[gimmito]

Originally Posted by IceMan

jim, have you ran TDS to see or compare for yourself? sorry i'm just a sceptic, if it sounds too good to be true... but you have my interest up!

Iceman,

I haven't run a tds lately, but it's usually within 0-10.

If you're still uncertain, checkout the product reviews over at r/c.

[IceMan]

no... lol i trust firsthand more than reviews (too easily manipulated). wasn't insinuating you had a bad product i wanted to know how well it did for you, i might have to make the upgrade.

[gimmito]

No worries...I didn't take it that way.

I'll put it this way...I only wrote 2 reviews "ever" for a product:

Poly bio marine coldfilter system

Ecotech marine vortech pumps

Nuff said.

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by IceMan

hate to argue with ya ole buddy, you've helped me alot but my 3 stage unit varies from min. 32lb to max. 45lb by the guage on the unit and i get 3 to 1 (3 waiste to 1 r/o)

unless ofcourse the di slows it that much more

well i been doin this alot lately... Native uhhhh sorry i just looked back over some notes i had taken, i woulda swore i was getting 3 w to 1 r/o but infact it's 6w to 1 r/o...

IceMan opens mouth and inserts foot! and smacks himself to save Native the trouble!

[AngelLeah1981]

Nativeman,

Yuo can get a good ro/di unit for under 250$'s that will produce 50 to 100 gallons a day of good clean water.there are two problems with these units that stand out.They will creat anywhere from 3 to 5 gallons of waste water for each gallon of clean water they make

So what is bad about this? As long as the waste water isn't mixed with the clean water why does this matter?

and they will only do it at water pressures above 60 psi.If you dont have 60 psi you need an 80$ back up pump

I don't know how many psi I have and I don't know how many psi I will have when I move so would it be cheaper and less hassle to buy this system that you were talking about?:

Or you can get a unit that makes clean water just about as fast as you can use it with no waste water and do it at normal house water pressures.

What do you mean when you say it makes it as fast as you can use it? If I needed to do a 30-50 gallon water change would this be possible to do that with this system?

my 3 stage unit varies from min. 32lb to max. 45lb by the guage on the unit and i get 3 to 1 (3 waiste to 1 r/o)

I'm not fully comprehending this. Is this something I should think worry about when purchasing a unit? Would the Poly bio marine coldfilter system produce 30-50 gallons of water for me to do a water change and not have to be hooked up to anything but just a normal pressure faucet? Would it be worth it to pay the 369.99 so that I can get the filters for $50? I don't even know if that's cheap. Why is this system SOO much more expensive than the others???
Thanks

[gimmito]

Checkout Poly-Bio-Marine for more information.

Also, checkout reef central under the product review section.

I know maintenance guys who do this for a living and use these filters. The initial cost may be a little high, but you will definetely save $$$ in the long run.

[IceMan]

i think thats def. going on my future upgrade list.

[Arnold40]

It doesn't sound like it is a good filter for aquariums. The tds after the filter is high. Sounds like a lot of people who bought them are buying ro/di units. I say skip this unit and buy a RO/DI. Its wasting water but water is still cheap.

[CyberJester]

As far as sterilizers go. I like to keep one for when something does happen in the tank. I have a 3 watt (very small). Does not kill everything that goes through it, water would have to be moving very slowly for it to have enough contact time with the water to kill all the organisms in it.

I do not even use mine unless something happens in the tank. If a fish in my tank developes a desease. I remove the fish to quarintine then turn the sterilizer on for a week or two to prevent contamination of other livestock in the display tank. My sterilizer just sits inline of of my return pump. For the money when used in this fashion I believe they can be a real asset to prevent chain contamination of livestock.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Paul,I didnt say they wouldnt work at all at low pressure,they just work better at 60 psi.So if you had more pressure you might have lass waste.

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by NATIVEVAMAN

Paul,I didnt say they wouldnt work at all at low pressure,they just work better at 60 psi.So if you had more pressure you might have lass waste.

i know, i corrected myself and appologized, you musta missed that post

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Angela,I have a large problem with the waste water as an enviornmental issue.The poly bio marine unit works well at normal house pressures.It also makes 5000 gallons of clean water as opposed to 2000 that ro/di units make unless you go very high dollar.The unit you have is fine for what you are doing its just that you have to plan ahead for when you need water.With the poly bio unit you get the water you need as fast as you can make it (you can be a poor planner lol).With your current filter system if you make 5000 gallons of water you will make about 20000 gallons of waste (the average of your current waste levels).How much will that cost you?