RO Filter Questions... Reccomendations welcome as well... New to RO...

So I'm at the point where I know I need to commit the cash and get into a RO filter setup. My local water is hard as hell for one thing and I've been doing the grocery store run to get my water for my small flood/drain setup I am playing with currently (minature - only needs 6-7 gallons to fill res).

I was looking at the HydroLogic gear as a starting point. They seem to be pretty top notch gear from what I can tell thus far. I'd love to know cheaper alternatives if anyone has first hand experience and can make a solid reccomendation...

I wasn't sure/clear as to whether you need the De-Chlorinator/Sediment Filter AND the additional RO filter setup... or is it that the RO setup already includes the (pre)filter and they just sell the filter-only gear for those who don't need a full-on RO setup. Or is it optional but reccomended to use both? I know some of their gear has dedicated 'pre-filters'...

i.e.

Filter: http://www.hydrologicsystems.com/pr...ds=Small_Boy_De-Chlorinator_with_Upgraded_KDF
RO Filter: http://www.hydrologicsystems.com/products/product.php?id=6&cat_id=34&keywords=StealthRO_100

Also - do most people need a booster pump? Or can a plain old garden hose connection from my garage drive a RO setup? I think the amout of pressure also effects the waste to filtered water ratio?

I'd really like to achieve a good degree of efficiency... And is that waste water going to be "crap" water that I just discard or could it be used for watering plants/trees/garden that otherwise doesn't need the RO benefit. Don't want to just discard the waste water down a drain you know...

I have used the small boy. Didn't do anything as far as lowering the tds of the water. Honestly I dont think it did anything. I'd recommend buying a reverse osmosis water system from eBay.

I dont know much about hydrologic specifically, but take a look at 'the filter guys'. Great prices, great customer service, warranty, etc. If you dont use a booster pump, you just wont get the rated flow. Mine flows about half of its rating when its hooked up to my tap fittings.

The pre-filters will help extend the life of your other filters. You dont need a chlorine specific filter I dont think, any sediment filter should function the same. This is what mine includes, drops from 250-300ppm to 10-20ppm:

• Stage One 5 micron poly sediment filter
• Stage Two 5 Micron Matrikx CTO carbon block
• Stage Three .6 Micron Matrikx CTO PLUS extruded carbon block
• Stage Four RO membrane 75 GPD Dow FilmTec

bulkreefsupply.com has the best bang for the buck ro filters. if you are going with a unit under 75gpd then a booster pump isnt necessary. if over 75 gpd then i would reccomend a booster pump.cheers

I'm working from memory, but take HydroLogic for example... they had a chart in some catalog or on their site (don't remember which) that specifically mentions NOT removing Chloramines without using the 'upgraded' filter... Some 3 letter acronym if memory serves... KDF filter or sumthin...

So I know whatever I do get, I believe I should be checking for Chloramines... not just Chlorine... removal...

Also - when hitting the grocery store.... I picked up DISTILLED water... not DRINKING water.... My understanding is that drinking water has been filtered and then something (Calcium) added back in because most people find the taste of true distilled water "off"... This seems to jive with the 'residential' RO filter from HydroLogic... their "Oasis" I think it was... See here...

http://www.hydrologicsystems.com/products/index.php?id=4&keywords=Residential_Systems

It says:

Remineralization post filter adds calcium for taste health benefits and to alkalize the product water

So, my thought on this is that I've read I need to make my nute mix contain more Cal/Mag than I would have before since the DISTILLED or RO water no longer has any of those 2 minerals... So if DRINKING water has had Calcium added back in... I could buy that - not just DISTILLED water - and then I'd be left with just adding Magnesium back in... Which is just Epsom Salt if I recall correctly...

So a quick search on eBay for brands other than HydroLogic shows the following package:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/REVERSE-OSM...147?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3139a20b

This has the pre-filters, the RO fitler, a booster pump and other accessories that would nickle & dime you with the "brand name" packages...

Any comments on this specific setup? A bit of $$$ to shell out, but is this the 'cadillac' of options and does the brand name really matter? The filter itself is probably where "brand" would play any part - if any... And it seems a lot use a "Dow" brand filter...

This the company ive been using for the past 6 yrs . Absolutly the best service.. When i called them i told them what i wanted .. And they built it for me. AWESOME! They also send you mail when its time to change filters.. made in USA !
https://www.afwfilters.com/
you wont be disapointed ..

http://www.airwaterice.com/c=DrwB5A...N/Typhoon-5-stage-RODI-Reefkeeper-75-GPD.html

just bypass the di cartridge. i have used this model for years on my fish tanks and now for my plants.

typoerror said:

http://www.airwaterice.com/c=DrwB5A...N/Typhoon-5-stage-RODI-Reefkeeper-75-GPD.html

just bypass the di cartridge. i have used this model for years on my fish tanks and now for my plants.

Click to expand...

Not sure I follow why you bypass the DI cartridge.... De-Ionization right? Why would you NOT want that in this scenario?

I worked for a water treatment company and we serviced R O's. A large majority of our work was in dialysis clinics.The way we treated water with high chlorimines was to increase the empty bed contact time with the use of GAC carbon.
We would install 1.0 cu/ft carbon tanks in the feed water side of the R O the more carbon tanks the more contact time the more removal of chlorine or chlorimines before break thru would occur...filters will work.. but depending on the amount of water treated and the amount of chlorine or chlorimines removed your filter degredation will vary....

I got a 100 gallon per day unit on eBay for 66 bucks shipped, it produces without a booster pump, and produces 0 ppm water verified with my TDS pen. It's a portable unit, but you can choose to have them ship it with an adapter for screwing into a hose. Mine came with the adapter to screw it into a bathroom sink. Works awesome.

WELLL HYDROLOGIC STEALTH RO 100 for 160 and 200 for 210 sounds fine to me from eastwesthydro.com I wouldnt get an off brand one cuz u wont be able to buy filters when they go out of business

I like my growonix system. It's a 2:1 system. And most filters are the same size.

If you get a chance check out FreshWaterSystems.com

was thinkin growonix or hydrologic it looks like groonix has less filters to change but hydrologics has better sediment filters im pretty sure if i need more gallons ill get groonix 400
hydrologic is 2:1 or 3:1 depending on what u choose to install. do u know what the warranty is on those?
and they sell a 1:1 restrictor

eastwesthydro.com wins out agains anyone... can u find a STEALTH R) 200 for 210$? I didn't think so sides all that stuff had way more filters to change and i had to call to order the only good one which was the merlin from GE which hydrologic has and is sold for on eastwesthydro at basically wholesale