RO vs RO/DI

[Spicy Rice]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if I could get by using a RO unit for my setup, or if I would need to get a RO/DI unit. I found a great deal on www.airwaterice.com for a RO unit (Mighty Mite - $79). This would really save me money. I'm going to set up a 50-gal FOWLR tank. Just planning on having a couple of captive-bred Clown Fish, a Firefish, a Bangaii Cardinal, maybe a Dwarf Flame Angelfish, and some inverts (hermits, snails, shrimp). Sorry, I couldn't find anything about this topic with the search function.

[OrionGirl]

RO should be fine. It will remove most of the impurities from the water. The DI unit leaves you with 100% pure water--no additive, no chemicals, pH of 7.0, and very low GH and KH. Not needed for a SW tank, really. You primarily don't want phosphates, silicates, and nitrogen levels--and RO will take care of that unless your water is really vile. :)

[Spicy Rice]

Sounds great! Thanks for the info :D

[gcvt]

Figure that an RO unit will remove about 95% of impurities and that an RO/DI unit will remove over 99% of impurities.

The RO system you're looking at would be a good start - you could always add the DI cartridge later for $35.

[Spicy Rice]

That's what I love about the Mighty Mite unit. You can upgrade it to a regular full-sized RO unit to do more gpd, and you can also upgrade it to a RO/DI unit. Right now, I can only afford the RO unit, and with time I can upgrade it.

[g. mcclean]

From an ecological view point we went with just an Ro system so we don't have so much waste water. In the spring and summer we could recycle it but not in the winter. Just another thought.

[slipknottin]

Originally posted by g. mcclean
From an ecological view point we went with just an Ro system so we don't have so much waste water.

:confused:

DI units dont waste any water, RO units are the ones that do. If you wanted to go the ecological route you would have bought just a DI unit.