Does anyone have an Aquatic Life RO/DI unit

[epleeds]

I am looking at this model and was wondering if anyone has one and what they think of it. It is about the same price as an AWI unit, but more compact.

 

thanks

 

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/242506/product.web

[John]

It looks like its just an RO unit...why not spend the same and get an RO/DI?

[FearTheTerps]

Its not just a RO unit, one of the cartridges is a DI cartridge, they refer to it as a mixed bed resin cartridge. Which then means it doesnt have as many pre-filters as the awi unit. I am confussed on what their prefilters are rated at. It says a 1 micron filter, and a 5 micron carbon filter. However the carbon block is the second filter and you wouldnt have a smaller filter(the 1 micron) before that, the filters should get smaller as water progresses through the unit. The typical awi unit has a 10 micron sediment filter, then a 5 micron carbon filter, and finally a 1 micron carbon filter.

 

How bad is you source water's TDS? If its high, you will be replacing you prefilter more often then you would with the awi unit. You could also clog up the first filter which will effect the water pressure, thus effecting the production rate as well.

 

Another thing I noticed is that the unit has a reject rate of 1:5.6, which seems super high. It will be wasting alot of water.

 

I'd pick the AWI, and if you do that you can use the club discount.

[El Camaron]

interesting design, more info on it would definitely help.

[epleeds]

yea, i like the design and that the filters go in from the top down, which would make it easier to change them. the ratio i did not see, i will have to look into that. as for the discount, they are about the same price give or take $10.

 

I only need a 60GPD unit for my tank. Will have to do some more research on it.

 

thanks

[zygote2k]

I installed the powered model on a tank last year and was quite impressed with it. Finally an R/O that you can run with an AC3 and not have to use rigged up solenoids and such. Easy to change filters and it automatically backflushes the membrane.

Buy the powered unit and you won't be disappointed.

[beatle]

Which AWI unit were you comparing it to? The compact reefkeeper is only $140, and the Typhoon III is only $190. They're even cheaper with the club discount.

[epleeds]

Not sure which one I saw, I mainly wanted to get people's opinion of this unit if they are using one

[Buckeye Field Supply]

Regarding the pore size on prefilters:

 

It is a good idea to have smaller pore sizes on successive prefilters, BUT this applies to sediment filters ONLY.

 

 

 

So for instance, if you have a 10 mic sed -> 5 mic carbon-> 0.5 mic carbon, the two carbon blocks will act as sediment filters. Not a good idea. You want those carbon blocks free of sediment so they can do the job they are intended for - removing VOC's including chlorine.

 

 

Let's say however that you are on well water and have lots of sediment - your single sediment filter cloggs too quickly for you. It's a perfectly good idea to use multiple sediment filters, like this, followed by a carbon block(s), with the smallest pore size on the carbon blocks about equal to or larger than the smallest pore size on any of the sediment filters:

 

20 mic pleated washable sed filter->10 mic pleated washable sed filter ->5 mic poly depth sed filter ->1 mic poly depth sed filter ->0.5 mic carbon block.

 

 

 

In our experience using a carbon block with a pore size one-half micron smaller than the sediemnt filter works ok. We don't go any larger than that however.

 

 

 

Russ