Best RO system for the money?

[The_Bishop]

Or it can be overcome with a booster pump. Yea 14 years on the same membrane is crazy.

I actually run both; I have a booster pump *and* a permeate pump. I figure that RO is wasteful enough as it is, I wanted to make it as efficient as possible. Backpressure from the storage tank really takes it's toll on the efficiency of the membrane. With the permeate pump isolating the membrane from the backpressure of the storage tank and the booster pump, I'm getting a tested 98%+ rejection rate and 90+ GPD on a 75 GPD membrane.

 

[tjr3000]

Honestly, there's no 'one size fits all' approach. It all depends on the quality of your source water.

My well water is very hard, so I have a softener for the whole house. The RO system is fed from the softened water. Since I'm on a well, my pressure fluctuates between 40-60 PSI It's also very cold, usually in the 55 degree range year-round. That's not optimal for RO filtration, so I have a booster pump that brings the pressure up to a steady 90 psi. It's not necessary, but it generates RO water faster and and more efficiently that way. My system is fitted with a 75 GPD membrane and a storage tank that holds 11 gallons of RO water when full.

Your best bet is to call Buckeye up. Let him know what your needs are and your water supply situation, and they can recommend a system that will fit your needs.

I'm probably going to give them a call. Funny enough, your situation is mine exactly. Very hard well water (artesian well on the property - it almost runs orange), with a softener in the house. Temp is identical (ground water in the midwest). We love our current RO system, but it just cant keep up. I suspect it is due to the lack of a booster/permeate pump, so thats definitely on the list.

Anyone in particular there you've had good luck dealing with?

 

[The_Bishop]

Pretty sure Buckeye Hydro is one guy. At least, I've always talked to Russ there.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Anyone in particular there you've had good luck dealing with?

Yes - Russ would be a good one to talk with!
Emily

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

I'm probably going to give them a call. Funny enough, your situation is mine exactly. Very hard well water (artesian well on the property - it almost runs orange), with a softener in the house. Temp is identical (ground water in the midwest). We love our current RO system, but it just cant keep up. I suspect it is due to the lack of a booster/permeate pump, so thats definitely on the list

Is that orange due to iron? Softeners can remove low levels of iron. Sometimes its good to use the iron out salt in your softener. If your softener resin fouls with iron, it really can't do its job. If you have a lot of iron that gets past your softener, be aware that RO membranes and iron don't get along well. The reason your RO system cant keep up may be that your membrane is fouled with iron. Or you may just have a very slow (e.g., 24 gpd) membrane. Cold water (less than 77F) and low pressure will also slow RO water production. For residential scale membranes we have a calculator (link on our homepage) where you can put in your pressure and your temperature and see how many gpd your membrane should produce.

Realize that you can change the capacity of your current RO system by changing the membrane and the flow restrictor. You'll want two "tools" at a minimum in order to have any idea what's going on with the system: a pressure gauge, and a TDS meter. Without either you're flying blind. A pressure gauge kit is less that $15, and reasonable handheld TDS meters beging at $20 to $25.

 

[augiedoggy]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200930049633?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I bought this one a couple weeks ago and seems to be a great system so far and the price was perfect with all the extra filters

I have the same system I bought 2 years ago for my reef tank... I have a tds meter to test it from time to time and It works very well.... I didnt get all the extra filters but bought replacements later and found they are standard sized filters. (they are not in buffalo NY BTW since that is where I'm from... they actually located in toronto canada.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

In my opinion, it's best to avoid standard GAC prefilters in these systems. Carbon blocks provide a much better option (essentially = price, and much much better performance).

Also, based on work over the last 15 years, we've replaced a huge number of the housings like those used on that system. You can recognize them by the exceptionaly tall lids. They have male threads on the sumps, and we've found those tend to crack. You'll typically find these housings used on cut rate systems as they are relatively inexpensive compared to other housings. A good example where the lowest cost may not be the best value.

Just my 2 cents.

Russ

 

[BrewMikeA]

Check out the Kickstarter for a home brewing RO System.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...omebrewing-water-solution?ref=category_newest

Good solution to water treatment. :rockin:

 

[schematix]

Good solution to water treatment.

So you put a very standard RO system inside a box. What value do you think you're adding?

 

[chisena]

So you put a very standard RO system inside a box. What value do you think you're adding?

OMG... Agreed. Wooooow!

 

[MaxStout]

I'd hate to try to get one of those through security at an airport.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

An RODI system using a very low end sediment filter, a low end GAC prefilter rather than a carbon block, an unknown brand 100 gpd RO membrane, and a non-refillable inline DI cartridge. All mounted in a box. Not something I could recommend to folks.

Russ

 

[mabrungard]

Agreed Russ. I'm pretty sure you could spec something more cost-effective and reliable. You just need a fancy Pelican case to mount it in.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

and...
They are using a flow restrictor that under nearly all applications would generate excessive concentrate ("waste water"). I don't get the impression these folks are in the water treatment business.

Very rarely do we get customers in this sector of the market that want the RO permeate run through a DI stage. Common in other market sectors, but not here.

 

[MaxStout]

An RODI system using a very low end sediment filter, a low end GAC prefilter rather than a carbon block, an unknown brand 100 gpd RO membrane, and a non-refillable inline DI cartridge. All mounted in a box. Not something I could recommend to folks.

Russ

Yeah, it looks like the buyer is paying more for the fancy case than the gear within. More bling than bang for the buck.

 

[MaxStout]

One more thought on the "water briefcase" thingy. Maybe the developers should consider adapting it into something that can be purchased by humanitarian groups and sent to locations in developing nations, where the available drinking water is sketchy. Even donate a few to build goodwill.

Even so, the fact that the filter elements are non-replaceable tends to hobble the whole idea, IMO. Fit it with high-quality, standard, replaceable filters and I think it could take off. The market is already glutted with water filtration systems that rely on non-replaceable or proprietary components. Nobody likes to plunk down a couple c-notes, only to have to replace the whole thing in a year or two.

 

[BrewMikeA]

One more thought on the "water briefcase" thingy. Maybe the developers should consider adapting it into something that can be purchased by humanitarian groups and sent to locations in developing nations, where the available drinking water is sketchy. Even donate a few to build goodwill.

Even so, the fact that the filter elements are non-replaceable tends to hobble the whole idea, IMO. Fit it with high-quality, standard, replaceable filters and I think it could take off. The market is already glutted with water filtration systems that rely on non-replaceable or proprietary components. Nobody likes to plunk down a couple c-notes, only to have to replace the whole thing in a year or two.

Wow lot of negative feedback, most of it not accurate. First, all the filters and media can be replaced. DI filter media housing opens from the back and can/needs to be replaced every 12 months. The rest are quick connect fittings giving you easy replacements. Flow restriction is necessary to avoid permeating the RO membrane. They are essential to any non commercial RO. I agree a carbon block works better to avoid channeling but the GAC filter works well for most municipal water. I read on Facebook you can have the sediment replaced with another carbon filter if you feel it's necessary for your high chlorine water. The 3 filters that need to be replaced annually cost $19.99 total - pretty reasonable compared to some other filters.

I have one from there testing period and it works great. Done 3 brews (double IPA, moose head clone and a white IPA) and they have turned out great. Water tested at 0ppm for each one before i added in my minerals.

Named my White IPA - Yeti Slayer IPA
So far my favorite beer to date that I've Brewed.

 

[BrewMikeA]

An RODI system using a very low end sediment filter, a low end GAC prefilter rather than a carbon block, an unknown brand 100 gpd RO membrane, and a non-refillable inline DI cartridge. All mounted in a box. Not something I could recommend to folks.

Russ

Opened up the RO, the membrane is by Hydronix water. Very reputable manufacturer.
The DI filter opens from the back. I didn't open it bc it will be messy, it could be replaced.

 

[MaxStout]

Wow lot of negative feedback, most of it not accurate.

I'll admit I was probably a little harsh.

But in all fairness it appears you did just parachute into this forum, ostensibly to shill your Kickstarter project. Did you honestly expect to wow us all with that? Keeping in mind that there are a few water experts who frequently haunt these forums, including Martin and Russ, who have already weighed in on the subject.

If you want to impress us with your acumen, you might try building some rapport first.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Hydronix isn't a membrane manufacturer....

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Ugh. Not here to get in a urinating contest on this. I stand by my comments.

Russ

 

[mblanks2]

To the OP, If you're looking at an RO System then Russ is the man to talk to. He designed my system based on what I wanted to get out of it and will design your system based on your needs and set-up. Call him. Great customer service and support. Awesome product.

 

[BrewMikeA]

I'll admit I was probably a little harsh.

But in all fairness it appears you did just parachute into this forum, ostensibly to shill your Kickstarter project. Did you honestly expect to wow us all with that? Keeping in mind that there are a few water experts who frequently haunt these forums, including Martin and Russ, who have already weighed in on the subject.

If you want to impress us with your acumen, you might try building some rapport first.

That's okay, was never a part of this forum, just googled around and joined when I saw a topic I liked. I'll see if some other threads are a bit more friendly.

Don't want the impression this is mine either. I am just a prototype tester for them. I actually feel bad bc now they got bad rep going bc I might not be explaining it correctly.

Regardless, it worked for me, saw the Kickstarter figured it might be appreciated since $200 for a RO ain't bad. Y'all seem to have strong opinions so I'll leave you be.

Hydronix Water is a manufacturer.

http://www.hydronixwater.com/dl/HDN_Catalog_2015.pdf

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Nope. Sorry.

 

[pagrider]

Nope. Sorry.

Why be such a condescending ******. Just say I am not all knowing. Its ok

 

[chisena]

So unproductive. Sad really.

 

[brrman]

Nope. Sorry.

So it looks like the Hydron Hydronix membrane is made by Eden.
All you had to do was say that. Then your comment would not sound like such *********gery...

 

[brrman]

dup

 

[MaxStout]

When someone disagrees by saying "Nope. Sorry." I don't take that as being condescending or douchey at all. It's a simple, straightforward answer. But then I must have thicker skin than some people.

Back to the subject of RO systems...I have to say I am happy with the Buckeye system I recently bought. Rock-solid construction, uses standard filters, wastes a LOT less water than some of the other systems I've seen, and the output rate is exactly where it should be. I have a 75GPD unit, and with my line pressure and cold tap water this time of the year, it produces about 60GPD, which is spot on. And the price was right. I emailed a few questions that Russ responded to the next day. Good customer service.

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

Remember that the amount of waste water is something YOU can control by changing out the flow restrictor - a small little $4 part. Also realize that in some situations, you'll shorten the useful life of the RO membrane by over-restricting the waste water.

Russ