Difference in RO units

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:04 pm

What is the difference in quality of water between a 3 stage and a 4 stage?

If it better to buy a unit with more stages?

NeoCult · Post by **NeoCult** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:05 pm

Personally i dont use them and have never needed to even with my discuss so i aint sure

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:09 pm

Thats because you are blessed with lovely soft water! which i am so so so so jeasous of!

NeoCult · Post by **NeoCult** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:11 pm

want me to send you some lol

smithrc · Post by **smithrc** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 4:46 pm

we have a 3 stage - and the water out of it is very low in TDS.

Its 2nd hand and sat for over a year not being used so i wouldnt vouch for the membranes integurity. but with 10 ppm coming out of it - a 3 stage is fine with me

The 4 stage may well be a de ionizing stage - in which case i'm not sure what the difference is.

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 6:59 pm

Neo!..... Send me some of your lovely water!!!

I picked up a huge female today 3" and a little bit inches long with hardly any odontode growth so she is def a female!! 0o0o0o0o all hotting up down here! i have 5 now! picking up 2 more in 2 weeks big females once again!! just thought i woul share with you all

:D:D
I am going to buy a stage 3 RO UNIT it is a nice price on :-

http://www.RO-MAN.com

Andrew C · Post by **Andrew C** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 1:00 pm

Shell
Go for as a big a flow rated unit as you can afford when getting an RO Unit.
Depending on your water pressure and to save you buying a booster pump as well, a 50 GPD Unit may be very slow, whereas a 75GPD Unit will be better, or if you can afford it, a 100 GPD Unit is what i would go for.

The difference between three, four, five and six stage units is they filter out impurities better, though, were taking about small percentages here.
For what you want a three stage is fine, the larger units are more for marine fish keeping, where impurities are more harmful/detrimental to the tank.

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 2:35 pm

I was thinking of gettin a 50 GPD unit how much difference does a booster pump do to the flow rate?

The unit i was looking at is £65 i will see if i cam stretch my budget a little

TDS meters

What one should i buy, any suggestions? and how much should i be looking at paying for one?

Andrew C · Post by **Andrew C** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 2:44 pm

Thats the catch, you won't know how well your unit dos until you try it on your water.

The price of a booster pump is between £30 to £40, thats why i think its better to go for the higher flow rated units without a booster pump.

The TDS meters RO Man has are fine, think they are £15 to £20.

Remember, in the winter, the colder water from pipes slows down the amount of water produced as well.

Check out the F.A.Q. on RO Mans website.

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:12 pm

I have to have the unit outside in the " shed area " in my boyfriends dads house! so i have got 4 25l water container things i am going to run it from there as he isn't on a water meter as i only have 1 tank to maintain i think this might be enough flow rate, but we shall see

Would the pocket TDS meter be fine.

Andrew C · Post by **Andrew C** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:18 pm

The pocket TDS meter will be fine.

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:21 pm

ok thanks for the advise have you read my other post about my zebs tail patterns what do you think or have you noticed the same thing in yours?

smithrc · Post by **smithrc** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:59 pm

our unit is only a 30GPD... (its a "purity-on-tap" SP25)

Taking the speil from the site "The unit will operate within 30-110psi water pressure, and at optimum above 60psi. Lower pressures may require a pump and higher, a pressure restricter. Output is affected by water pressure, temperature and Total Dissolved Solids, but the unit should produce 11-20 gallons per 24 hour period in average conditions."

Our RO unit runs from a hose on the outside tap - The water presure is limited (due to the way the tap is plumbed) but it still produces 50l over night (enough water for 2 20% water changes on our 120l tank) It actually gives about 20Gal in 24hours at the moment. (we're changing the tap plumbing)

What sort of useage are you going to be needing?

husky_jim · Post by **husky_jim** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:12 am

I personally use a 100GPD 3-stage RO with output of 6,7 PH and 13μs of TDS.

The diferrences between a 3 and a 4 stage RO depends on what does each stage.I mean what type of filtration each stage performs.

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:16 pm

All i will be using it for is 1 zeb tank roughly 40 gallon tank i think!

So the 50 GPD unit is fine for me!