RO water systems-what is best??

[mykidsmylife]

I am considering purchasing a RO water system just for my tanks. I have very high PH and I would like to have a lower ph tank water.
I found this one at big als http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=30377;category_id=1755;pcid1=;pcid2=
Has anyone installed one in their homes like this? How easy is it to install? I don't have any option but to use it with my faucet. Can it/or any- be one that you temporarily hook up to a faucet and then put away when finished? I use a python gravel cleaner/filler with it.
Thanks
mykidsmylife

 

[Z Man]

This is almost like the system I have been using for about 15 years now. Just updated. http://www.spectrapure.com/St_line_p1.htm I purchased the 24 GPD one and I had a lot of tanks running. I called them and they were very helpful. Much easier to put away than the larger one you showed the link for.

 

[mykidsmylife]

I checked out the link and tried calling but just got busy signals. Can you tell me does it just hook like say to your kitchen faucet? can it be used with a python for refilling tanks? I really don't want to have to tap in to the water lines below my sink and everything I have seen requires that and some kind of holding tank.
Thank you for the link...I will keep trying to get ahold of them.
mykidsmylife

 

[ashdavid]

I don't know if the unit you are looking at has a conection for your sink, it should have one. As for storing water, RO are very slow some only being rated at 100g per 24hours , which means that you will have to store the water before doing a water change. One other thing is that you may already know this but make sure you mix some of your tap water until you get the desired ph so that you are adding at least a few minerals back into the water.RO machines take almost all of the minerals out of the water.

 

[Z Man]

ashdavid is correct. You do need a container to recieve your water as as with a 24 GPD you will only get 1 gallon per hour. It has to be cold water (not heated) so you have to raise the temperature yourself. Then also you will be getting about 120 gallon of 'so-called waste water' which I use to mix back into the RO water to get my desired hardness. There is no RO machine that will fill your tank like a Python. The faucet must be turned on full pressure to get the total of 144 gallons of water in 24 hours. It is a very slow process. I usually ran it overnight.

 

[ashdavid]

Then also you will be getting about 120 gallon of 'so-called waste water' which I use to mix back into the RO water to get my desired hardness.

Zman has a very good idea to minimize waste. I am lazy and don't store the waste water so I use tap water instead, which I must admit is a little wasteful. Goodluck with your tank.

 

[Z Man]

The waste water comes out only a little bit harder than my tap water. (All the bad stuff is collected in the filters) My wife uses it for all her cooking and morning coffee. Use it for house plants & anything else possible. I pay for what water I use so I have to watch how much I do use.