View Full Version : whats a ro unit
slowmo115
03-20-2007, 4:46 PM
and a sump???
Reefscape
03-20-2007, 4:58 PM
Hiya mate..
An RO Unit is a Reverse Osmosis unit. What it does is remove, via a series of filters, nitrates, phosphates, chloramides, metal particles..And if you have a DI unit attached, that will polish the water a good extra few percent more pure water...
a sump is an extra container like a fish tank or rubbermaid container which give you the benefit of having a larger water volume. Larger water volumes are better to look after as when there is an issue in the tank, you have more time to deal with it...Another benefit is that it is also a place to store the equipment that is usualy in the display tank like heaters, skimmers and filters if you have...This is all connected via pipe and pumps..
If you want me to go further into detail about either of these two subjects, let me know and i will be happy to further elaborate...
Niko
slowmo115
03-20-2007, 5:02 PM
you can talk all u want i am really looking into getting into sw so the more i know the better
Reefscape
03-20-2007, 5:09 PM
well, i am here to help you in any way possible...ask lots of questions, listen to the answers...ask again if you dont understand..never a stupid or dumb question on this forum mate..
Niko
slowmo115
03-20-2007, 5:11 PM
so are either of them really needed to have a sw tank. and a ro unit is basically something that cleans the tank good????
Reefscape
03-20-2007, 5:23 PM
in my opinion, a sump is not needed no, but an RO unit is, as we need to provide the best possible water conditions for the fish to live in..
Niko
Germanman
03-20-2007, 6:37 PM
in my opinion, a sump is not needed no, but an RO unit is, as we need to provide the best possible water conditions for the fish to live in..
Niko
yup i agree with niko
40galreefman
03-20-2007, 6:48 PM
an ro unit is a filter for ur tap water to take out certain minerals and chemicals
Catpicklesdog
03-20-2007, 7:28 PM
in my opinion, a sump is not needed no, but an RO unit is, as we need to provide the best possible water conditions for the fish to live in..
Niko
Okay this one is mainly for the Brits as I don't how it works across the pond!! Niko I'm on a water metre here and was advised not to get an R/O unit as the running costs would be extreme. Can I ask how you get on and I'm right in saying that it's not 100% necessary if you can easily and cheaply get R/O water from your LFS? And if you are on a water metre what sort of costs are involved? Only asking coz I haven't got one:sad: and because it isn't always easy for me to get to my LFS to get the water.
rsw686
03-20-2007, 9:23 PM
Okay this one is mainly for the Brits as I don't how it works across the pond!! Niko I'm on a water metre here and was advised not to get an R/O unit as the running costs would be extreme. Can I ask how you get on and I'm right in saying that it's not 100% necessary if you can easily and cheaply get R/O water from your LFS? And if you are on a water metre what sort of costs are involved? Only asking coz I haven't got one:sad: and because it isn't always easy for me to get to my LFS to get the water.
I priced out the LFS r/o water or buying an r/o unit. It is much cheaper to own your own. My local LFS r/o is 75 cents a gallon. The r/o unit I bought was around 130 dollars. So after I make 174 gallons of water I've paid off the unit. The membrane (80 dollars) is good for 2 years and the two other cartridges (60 dollars total) they say 6 months if I remember correctly. Even then its still cheaper. Not to mention the hassle you save by not having to transport the water.
WeeNe858
03-20-2007, 9:39 PM
i would say the sump is really convienient too. it keeps all of your mecheanics under the tank and keeps your tank looking slick. it also helps in water changes and top offs.. you can buy an ro unit offline at about 2/3 the price of what is found in a store. just make sure the unit filters well
yothereyo
03-20-2007, 10:43 PM
Okay this one is mainly for the Brits as I don't how it works across the pond!! Niko I'm on a water metre here and was advised not to get an R/O unit as the running costs would be extreme. Can I ask how you get on and I'm right in saying that it's not 100% necessary if you can easily and cheaply get R/O water from your LFS? And if you are on a water metre what sort of costs are involved? Only asking coz I haven't got one:sad: and because it isn't always easy for me to get to my LFS to get the water.
hey mate, i was recommend a R/O unit by atnixon few months back when i was starting out, it was one of the best buys yet (apart from my fish) i was making trips to the LFS every week, it used to cost me £2.50 return for the bus trip,(if you have a car it is a bonus for you) and £3.00 for about 5GL of water, so for me it was cheaper to buy a R/O unit. That cost me £80 for a 50GPD unit. As for the water meter, I dont have one of these, but i know they are doing trials here in the south. It depends on how much water you are going to make, because these units waste alot of water through the process. I can't really say how much it waste as I have'nt tried to measure it. Lets just say you will not be attending
green peace tea partys anytime soon.
But I hope this help.
Reefscape
03-21-2007, 4:49 AM
Okay this one is mainly for the Brits as I don't how it works across the pond!! Niko I'm on a water metre here and was advised not to get an R/O unit as the running costs would be extreme. Can I ask how you get on and I'm right in saying that it's not 100% necessary if you can easily and cheaply get R/O water from your LFS? And if you are on a water metre what sort of costs are involved? Only asking coz I haven't got one and because it isn't always easy for me to get to my LFS to get the water.
Catpicklesdog.....I am not on a water meter, i pay a fixed charge twice a year, so i dont really count it on cost..However, what you have to think about the cost...Once you have brought your RO unit, all your paying for is water cost and membranes twice a year..When you buying it from a LFS, you have to look at the cost to buy and ALSO the cost to transport it..I.E petrol cost etc etc...the RO will certainly work out to be the more cost effective in the long run..even when your on a water meter...
Just my thoughts, thats all..
Niko
Catpicklesdog
03-21-2007, 6:52 AM
I understand they produce a lot of waste water though is that correct and how easy are they to set up?
Reefscape
03-21-2007, 7:02 AM
They are a doddle to setup. Two main ways of connecting them are by either using a saddle clamp which goes onto an existing water pipe in the house or by connecting it to an external tap using a garden hose connector..A lot of times, either one of these come supplied in the box..al be it, its mainly the garden hose connector..The saddle clamps can be brought from B&Q for about £5...
Waste wise, your normally looking at getting 2 gallon waste to 1 gallon pure..I recycle the waste back into a container in the house and use it to wash the car, water the garden, make hot drinks with. The waste water, in my opinion, tastes better than the normal tap water...my daughter loves drinking it, and i have never been able to get to drink normal tap water...
Niko
Catpicklesdog
03-21-2007, 9:04 AM
I think you might be turning me!! especially as you say the waste can be used in the garden plus I also have a pond so it can do top ups in there as well especially if I can design it so i can adapt a water butt around it as well. MMMMMmmmmm you've really got me thinking......
Reefscape
03-21-2007, 9:08 AM
well, mount the RO unit where you want and just buy more hose and re-direct the waste to where ever you like....
Niko
yothereyo
03-21-2007, 9:21 AM
You know what i have never give'nt any thought on saving the waste water. atnixon do you boil the water or do you drink it as it is. thanks mate.
rsw686
03-21-2007, 9:48 AM
You can also hook the r/o unit directly to a sink faucet. Home Depot and Lowes sell a hose thread adapter. You just remove the strainer and screw it in place. Works great for me since the bathroom is next to the tank. I just set a 32 gal trash can in there, make the water, mix it, then pump it into the tank.
5xevy
03-21-2007, 11:32 AM
I'm eagerly awaiting my new RO unit after sending my defective one back. :rolleyes:
I'm wondering what you're referring to when you say "waste water." 2G waste water for every 1G pure?
It could be obvious since I haven't had my coffee yet today, but could you please elaborate anyway atnixon/anyone?
;)
Bumping for atnixon to read...
:D
Germanman
03-22-2007, 12:34 AM
I'm eagerly awaiting my new RO unit after sending my defective one back. :rolleyes:
I'm wondering what you're referring to when you say "waste water." 2G waste water for every 1G pure?
It could be obvious since I haven't had my coffee yet today, but could you please elaborate anyway atnixon/anyone?
;)
when the Ro units make water they also loose up to 2/3 of the water used in making the "pure" water the ro units are actually very good at cleaning but very inefficient with usage.
when the Ro units make water they also loose up to 2/3 of the water used in making the "pure" water the ro units are actually very good at cleaning but very inefficient with usage.
Thanks. I could've read the posts wrong, but I'm still not understanding this "waste water"- is this directly from the RO unit? The part where atnixon was referring to where you can throw it in your garden or wash your car with it. Where exactly does the waste water come from and come out of?
It's late night and the answer is probably obvious, yet I still can't quite grasp it. ;)
Reefscape
03-22-2007, 4:50 AM
peekaboo 5XEVY.........
right then...When an RO Unit is connected up, you basically have three hoses..Input from the water supply, a waste exit and a pure exit. The pure exit is where the the cleaned water comes out that we use for our tank. The waste exit is where the, effectivly, crap water comes out. This water is what is left over from the filtering process around the membranes and the water that has particles that are too small to be forced through the filter media, and of course, it has to go somewhere.
If you want anymore information on the RO process or go into more detail, by all means ask i shall get my essay head on.....he he he
Niko
rsw686
03-22-2007, 8:20 AM
I can't figure out the directions for flushing the membrane on mine. I don't need to do this yet, but would like to know how. I've read the manual and it makes no sense. Swapping the pure the waste hoses wouldn't clean the membrane. The pdf is below, its on page 5. Hopefully this isn't too off topic.
http://www.marineandreef.com/PDF/CorROtwostage.pdf
Reefscape
03-22-2007, 8:31 AM
Yes, you are correct in what you need to do, swap the red and blue connectors on the membrane housing and run for 15 mins...then swap back...Rememberm all your doing is flushing the filters...
Niko
rsw686
03-22-2007, 8:34 AM
Yes, you are correct in what you need to do, swap the red and blue connectors on the membrane housing and run for 15 mins...then swap back...Rememberm all your doing is flushing the filters...
Niko
If you look at the pic the red and blue hoses just exit the unit, they don't run to any filters. The unit has a yellow house for the incoming water. That runs through the sediment and carbon filter then to the one side of the ro membrane. The red and blue exit on the other side. Thats what has me confused. Swapping them seems it would just flush the hose out.
Reefscape
03-22-2007, 8:44 AM
Sorry, yes, i see what your getting at now...The valves that are on the red and blue pipes will be different. Am only surmising here, being honest about that, is that the valve that is on the blue pipe does not allow water through at the same pressure/speed of the red. So, by swapping the valves over, it will create extra pressure inside the unit which will then force the water through faster, giving the flush effect....
That is all i can gather it does from what i seen of the instructions, never actaully seen the device first hand so cant really comment more on it mate...
Niko
rsw686
03-22-2007, 9:03 AM
Ohh that would make sense. I'll have to look more closely at the valves later on when I have to flush it and see if they are different. Thanks
VickyH
03-22-2007, 11:37 AM
I'm coming round to the idea of buying one of these now as LFS is half an hours drive away, when it says how much they produce a day is that running constantly? with a 40 gallon tank how would I produce enough water for water changes? Mine would probably have to go on outside tap - could use waste to fill up pool in summer if we ever get a summer. Only problem is I live in Kent were we often have a hose pipe ban - does one of these count?
Reefscape
03-22-2007, 11:44 AM
Yes, that is how much it can produce in a 24hour period. Also, in answer to your question about producing that ammount of water, I run always have to barrels, one for salt, one for RO topup..However much water you want, you produce in advance.
So, say you do a water change on a sunday afternoon..You would put your RO unit on on wednesday and say, for example, the barrel will be filled by thursday afternoon. Friday, add salt and start mixing. Sunday...your water is all ready mixed, aireated and at the correct temp..
I would not say that it would count towards the hosepipe ban. Yes, using it to fill your pool is a great idea...
Niko