Aquatic Life RO Buddie

[webvision]

Wanted to know if the Aquatic Life RO Buddie RO/DI is good enough

Below are test results from my city.

Parameter Average or Range Comments pH 6.5 to 8.5 Total Hardness (as CaCO3) 90 to 140 mg/L Naturally occurring Total Hardness (as CaCO3) 5 to 8 grains per gallon Naturally occurring Fluoride < 0.1 Not added to water supply in this area. Can be naturally occurring in some areas Sodium 33 to 36 mg/L Secondary Standard Limit = 50 mg/L
Iron ND Secondary Standard Limit = 0.3 mg/L Manganese ND – 0.04 mg/L Secondary Standard Limit = 0.05 mg/L Type of disinfection Chloramines Maximum disinfectant residual level leaving treatment plant (average) 2.45 mg/L Water additive to control microbes Disinfectant residual level in the distribution system 0.5 – 1.4 mg/L Range indicates monthly averages detected Lead [ 90th percentile result ] 5 ug/L Action Level = 15 ug/L Copper [ 90th percentile result ] 0.5 mg/L Action Level = 1.3 mg/L Nitrate 0.5 to 1.7 mg/L MCL = 10 mg/L Arsenic ND MCL = 10 mg/L

Thank you

 

[VtecGuy88]

I would say as long as you are running a DI filter after your main membrane you should be fine. The thing that sucks about ro buddie is that the DI resin filters go rather quickly and they cost around $20 a piece. You can also pick up a TDS meter on amazon for pretty cheap. It will tell you the number of total dissolved solids in your water and as long as you read (0) you are fine. You are usually ok with 1-2 also but most ppl recommend 0. I will say test the water while it is still RO/DI water before add salt. After you add salt your tds meter will go crazy. Test your water out of the faucet with the tds meter and then test the ro water. You will be able to see a huge difference. Good Luck!!

 

[homer1475]

I ran the RO Buddie for a while when I first started out. It does work, but the problem with it is how fast you'll run through the canisters. In the year and a half I used it, I could have easily bought a quality unit from BRS or the likes with the cost of replacing said cartridges.

If I was lucky I could get about 100G out of a DI canister, and my water is pretty clean. 25TDS from tap, 1tds out of the RO.

 

[Pntbll687]

It's the same way with the aquatic life twist in cartridge system as well. I go through two DI canisters in about 150-200g of water.

If I were purchasing an RO unit again, I would bite the bullet and go with as big a system as I can afford. Probably a BRS 6 stage system.

 

[webvision]

what about the AquaFX barracuda 50gdp 4-stage? it's more than I want to spend - $170 but rather get something decent. Anything else in the $100-150 range?

thx

 

[webvision]

actually just found the Liquagen 5stage 50gdp for $120. is that better?

 

[Pntbll687]

It is really going to depend on the water pressure in your house. It says 50gpd, but that is probably at ideal psi. You could possibly get less than half of that a day if your water pressure isn't ideal.

How big of a tank are you taking care of? How many gallons are you planning on doing for water changes? Are you prepared to let the RO unit run all day in order to fill what you need

 

[webvision]

it's for a 40g tank. Will try to keep water changes to a minimum, maybe 10% every two weeks. It's a new house so water pressure is great.

 

[Pntbll687]

I would invest in a storage tank or large container for water. It's those times when you have a sudden outbreak of something, and need to do multiple 20%+ water changes that a smaller RO system really fall short.

I have the aquatic life 100gpd twist in system, it's ok. But my water pressure is on the lower end, and I only get maybe 50gpd. It seems like alot, but I have to run the system over night into the next day in order to get 40g for my water changes.