Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
So my current tap water is coming out at about 300PPM - way too freaking high. I am making plans to either get a r\o for the next cycle, or hook up several inline filters to a single hose coming from the water that's being pulled out of the sink.
I really don't like that r\o's waste three gallons for a single gallon of purified water, but I'm not sure how good the inline filter will work.
Do any of you use inline filters? How well does it work? I've read alot of the chemicals in our water these days are "soft" and therefore an inline filter won't get it out. Any experiences are appreciated.
Lastly, I am growing in a bedroom, and getting waste water out of the room would be a pretty large project. I'm curious what the easiest way to go about doing this is?
Maybe have the r\o in the garage...and have a long hose going from the r\o into my resi, and then pour the waste water down the driveway? Have to assume 300 gallons of waste water may look a bit suspect rolling down my driveway, but I could time it with the rains... or just pour my waste water down at night. What ya guys think?
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Well, I'm not a big expert grower but water treatment is my business so here's a couple of thoughts:
Regular inline carbon filters do not reduce your TDS count, in some cases it may even increase it. They do however reduce certain impurities, particularly chlorine and other VOC's (volatile organic chemicals).
A normal sediment filter also isn't going to do much for your TDS.
To reduce your TDS reverse osmosis is pretty much the way to go or you can use a so-called DI (De-Ionization) filter. The advantage of RO over DI is that RO removes pretty much every impurity that is in the water. DI does not, but it does bring your TDS way down and doesn't waste any water.
Regarding RO waste water, there are systems that simply recycle the waste water back into your water line which then ends up as shower, dish washing, hand washing water or whatever you use water for that doesn't come from your dedicated RO faucet. This is ok as long as you don't have excessive amounts of toxins in your water but personally I don't like it.
You should plumb the RO to a drain so you don't have to worry about the waste water or you can simply drain to a shower or sink in your house.
If you provide more specific information about your setup I'll be happy to give suggestions on how to set it up.
Peace!
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Thanks for the information. Well, my set up is in a bedroom... directly next to a bathroom which I assume would be where we would use a reverse osmosis machine. The bedroom I grow herb in also shares a wall with garage, but I think it makes more sense to just run the r\o in the bathroom... and put the waste right into the shower drain.
I don't have a ton of room to put the r\o in my grow room, and it would create alot more work because I'd need to lug the waste water out of the room. It seems easier to attach a hose for purified water and run it about 12-15 feet into my resi, and then put the waste water directly down the shower drain.
I'm not sure I want the waste water from a r\o machine coming out of my other faucets, just seems a little weird to me quite honestly.
So an inline filter will get some chemicals out it seems, but won't lower my PPM... is that what you are saying? Not familiar with the term TDS. Thanks again for the help!
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
P.S Considering that my PPM is already running about 300 out of the faucets, I'm not sure I want the water that has the 300PPM taken out of every ounce of purified water I make!
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Right, that is what I'm saying, TDS = PPM. Or rather, TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is measured in PPM (Parts Per Million), and a regular filter will not reduce it.
Sounds to me like the way to go is to plumb in the RO system under your bathroom sink. That gives you easy access to the drain down there too without worrying about lines on your floor to the shower drain. Then you would simply run the water line through the wall to your res.
Are you trying to do a drip system so the res is always full?
Or do you just need to refill the res on demand? If so, then how many gallons do you use per filling?
Just so you know, Reverse Osmosis produces water relatively slowly.... often less than a gallon per hour depending on membrane size, that's why a normal system would come with a holding tank (3 gal's or so) in order to have 'instant' water available.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
I am not super privy with plumbing stuff, but perhaps I could figure how out to put it in to the plumbing like you said.
I am going to be running an ebb and flow... and my resi will have 100 gallons in it... which will be changed once a week, maybe a little more often.
I know some R\O machines could fill a 100 gallon resi in reasonable amount of time (under 10 hours)
I'm willing to spend like $400-$500 on the machine, I think I'll get that money back in yield pretty much immediately. The installation on these things can sometimes be stupidly expensive, but perhaps it's worth it to get it put direct into the plumbing line huh?
Could I hook a regular hose up to it and then put that hose into my resi? I would likely run the r\o for a few gallons per day just to keep it working smoothly, but the majority of it's use would be in a 12 hour period.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Well.....
- Most systems come with a drain clamp for relatively easy and understandable installation to a drain pipe under a sink.
- Standard kitchen systems produce 20-50 gallons per day so you'd need something a bit bigger than that. Whatever you consider, simply look at how the membrane is rated... it'll say how many gallons per day you can expect, though that also assumes you have decent water pressure.
- I would do the install myself or get a handyman to help. Paying for proffesional installation will indeed be stupidly expensive.
- Yes you can just extend the 'pure water' output tube which is usually a 3/8" tubing, they sell rolls and connectors at HD, but keep it as short as possible for minimal loss of flow.
- If you buy a regular, though somewhat large, system that is designed for a kitchen then you actually pay for more than you need. I would simply buy the two main components and put it together. This would save tons of $ and be way simpler to install. You would need:
- RO membrane with housing
- Carbon filter with housing
- Tubing and some connectors
- drain clamp (for drain line under sink)
- water supply valve (for the cold water supply line under sink)
Then, using your tubes and connectors.... Connect water supply valve to carbon filter.... then carbon filter to membrane..... then waste water tube to drain.... and pure water tube to res. Then you would simply use the little valve on the supply connector to turn the system of and on.
You can even get a tank as well so you have at least some water available 'on demand' without the wait.
OK, I'll stop now... later...
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Yeah, I think because of your backround in water purification you know mostly the kitchen type set ups. The Hydro Store here has a r\o that I believe could fill a 100 gallon resi in certainly less than the 20-50 gallon per day you are describing. I think they are made especially for growing herbs, so naturally the membrane would be larger as you are saying. I will let ya know what I decide. Are you in CA....where abouts?
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Yeah, I'm in Ca. - Central San Joaquin valley. You?
I checked out some of the RO systems for hydro on Ebay. Pretty much exactly as I described if you did it yourself they just use dual membranes to get the 100-200 gallons per day. And the price is right so you wouldn't save that much by building yourself.
Alternatively look online for the "Merlin Reverse Osmosis System", it does over 700 gallons per day and if you shop right you can get it for around $400. That would fill your res pretty quick.
If you are just a little handy or have a friend who is, then installing one of these is not hard, and if you get stuck then you could always call a pro.
Best of luck, let me know what you decide and how it goes with the install and daily use of the system.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
I am in Santa Cruz County. We should do a clone trade sometime or something.
Ever make it down this way?
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Bulster or piggy, can someone give me a recommendation on a brand to buy? I need to generate 10gal/day of RO, probably less. I've seen systems on eBay for around $100 +/- or the Merlin system (way overkill for me) for about $400.00. Let me know what, in oyur experience, is a decent system as I want to buy quality once rather than cheap crap several times.
Thanks
MVP :jointsmile:
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
I bought and enjoy the Watts system from Costco. $150 5-stage RO system.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
most ro systems you'll find work just fine. Many of them use the same membranes which is where the magic happens.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
The PPM of my tap water is around 350 or so and I still use it and have had great results so far. R/O water would suck IMO because you have to buy CalMag and other supplements. From what I have read, PPM under 500 is alright to use, but of course, the lower the better.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Anything over 300 and you are pushing it. I had pretty bad lock out this cycle and it the metals\chemmies in the water did not help at all.
Reverse Osmosis vs. Inline Filter Discussion
Hey Razza.... I was trying to get a hold of you on your "humidity question" thread. I have the exact same issues with humidity.... Did you solve your problem? How did you do it?
I just got a very small dehumidifier that will fit inside my tiny grow but we'll see if it's got enough juice.