RO and KH DH

[jojo3367]

Hi All,

This is my first topic. I’m planning to buy RO device as my water is really hard with KH around 15 and DH 20. I say around as with KH after 10 drops I just added another 5, so I know it’s a lot anyway.

I found not so expansive RO unit, but I can’t find if any (expensive or cheap) RO device will get down my KH and DH.

This is what I may buy

https://amzn.eu/d/0UyHfvq

Thanks guys in advanced
Mike


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[LFNfan]

Hi,

I bought a 50gpd RO unit from Finest Filters. Came with pump to boost speed (RO very slow without good water pressure). Great unit. Was £140 from memory. Reduces my hard tap water TDS by 95%. I don't bother with de ionisation for my low-tech tank, although the unit came with a de ionisation stage and resin. I remineralise with epsom salts and gypsum to about 3GH.

Some say you can have great planted tanks with very hard water, so that's also something to bear in mind.

...and I am reliably informed that rainwater can be a good alternative to RO too!

Hope that helps!

 

[bazz]

Any half decent RO unit should get your GH and KH down to zero or undetectable amounts anyway, mine brings the TDS down from 300 to 10. You don't really need the DI module with fresh water, just sediment, activated carbon, carbon block prefilters and the membrane, you may need a small boost pump if your tap water pressure is on the low side. I personally don't understand the benefit of the lower production units although I'm sure there will be one. TDS meters are cheap, reasonably accurate and extremely useful when fiddling around with water.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Any half decent RO unit should get your GH and KH down to zero or undetectable amounts anyway, mine brings the TDS down from 300 to 10. You don't really need the DI module with fresh water, just sediment, activated carbon, carbon block prefilters and the membrane, you may need a small boost pump if your tap water pressure is on the low side. I personally don't understand the benefit of the lower production units although I'm sure there will be one. TDS meters are cheap, reasonably accurate and extremely useful when fiddling around with water.

What @bazz says.

and I am reliably informed that rainwater can be a good alternative to RO too!

Unless you have a really massive tank and follow EI etc. it is a viable option for anyone with access to a gutter down-pipe. The only limit to how much water you can store <"is the size of the container"> you can fit in the space. An average sized roof would collects thousands of litres of rainwater on a day like yesterday.

A lot of <"serious aquarists"> use rainwater, even those <"who live in cities">.



cheers Darrel

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Hi All,

This is my first topic. I’m planning to buy RO device as my water is really hard with KH around 15 and DH 20. I say around as with KH after 10 drops I just added another 5, so I know it’s a lot anyway.

I found not so expansive RO unit, but I can’t find if any (expensive or cheap) RO device will get down my KH and DH.

This is what I may buy

https://amzn.eu/d/0UyHfvq

Hi Mike

I wouldn't recommend buying that unless you have a high pressure water supply. The efficiency and production speed of RO units are dependent on water pressure and temperature. Getting a unit that comes with a booster pump would make a difference in the pure to waste water ratio and how fast you produce pure water (4 Stage Reverse Osmosis Unit with Booster Pump and DI Stage 50-100gpd).

Alternatively, you can buy a unit that has two RO chambers in series (200gpd 4 Stage Reverse Osmosis RO Unit with Optional DI Chamber) to reduce waster water and add a booster pump (E-Chen Self Regulating Reverse Osmosis RO Booster Pump With Transformer) to improve it further. This is what I did and I can reasonably produce about 40L of water per hour with a pure to waste water ratio of 1:1.5.

 

[jojo3367]

Hi Mike

I wouldn't recommend buying that unless you have a high pressure water supply. The efficiency and production speed of RO units are dependent on water pressure and temperature. Getting a unit that comes with a booster pump would make a difference in the pure to waste water ratio and how fast you produce pure water (4 Stage Reverse Osmosis Unit with Booster Pump and DI Stage 50-100gpd).

Hi, thanks for your input. Does this unit connect to a sink tap?

And what’s about the waste? Can I install it in shower and get connected to shower head after unscrewing the head and let the waste run down the drain?

Thanks
Mike


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[jojo3367]

I’m also reading you suppose to switch this unit off for half an hour after 2 hours use, is this correct? Is it what you do?


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[LFNfan]

I’m also reading you suppose to switch this unit off for half an hour after 2 hours use, is this correct? Is it what you do?


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That's what I do. After two-ish hours just leave it off for half an hour to cool down (it gets warm) , then on for another two hours etc. In the spring summer and autumn I don't need more than 2 hours to get my 35L of RO water change anyway. What volume water changes are you doing? A 75 or 100 gpd might make more sense for you.

Just to echo @Calamardo Tentaculos , if I don't have my RO system pump on, production is practically zero. A pump makes a massive difference.

My unit is connected to a garden tap with a fitting (also available from that retailer) and I have a nearby drain for the waste. Shower could work - RO retailer could probably advise.

 

[Calamardo Tentaculos]

Hi, thanks for your input. Does this unit connect to a sink tap?

And what’s about the waste? Can I install it in shower and get connected to shower head after unscrewing the head and let the waste run down the drain?

I’m also reading you suppose to switch this unit off for half an hour after 2 hours use, is this correct? Is it what you do?

Most of the RO unit suppliers don't provide a connector but you can get one yourself online. I use something like this to connect to my kitchen tap (https://www.amazon.co.uk/YoungerY-Filter-Faucet-Diverter-Connector/dp/B07RZ3R77H).

I actually collect the waste water in 25L jerry cans and subsequently reuse it for flushing.

And yes, you are supposed to switch it off after 2 hours. However, it only takes me an hour to produce all the water I need for my 54L tank.