I'm considering investing in an RO unit but am interested in the operating costs of the units. On another forum there is a discussion regarding RO units and I did a comparison between the costs of RO versus an aquarium tap water filter. The numbers were eye opening, I always thought that RO was more expensive, so I thought I might be missing something.
RO operating costs
- Thread starter Lornek8
- Start date
As I have said before with smart planing a RO unit is very low costs.
The main worry is the rejected water if you pay for your water ie a meter then the rejected rate of 3 gallons for every 1 gallon at beat sounds very expensive.
But as the rejected water can be used for drinking or washing in fact any action that water is used for.
Various regulations apply in the UK to water purity. Some will impact directly on using a mains conected RO Unit.
I find it strange that a sell for profit company like our water providers can on the one hand impose restrictions on a customer making the supplied water of a higher quality, and then try to meter water that is treated with chemicals that are at best capable of making your guts turn.
But that is a matter for the water company's.
A HMA unit is generally a better bet for people on a meter.
The main worry is the rejected water if you pay for your water ie a meter then the rejected rate of 3 gallons for every 1 gallon at beat sounds very expensive.
But as the rejected water can be used for drinking or washing in fact any action that water is used for.
Various regulations apply in the UK to water purity. Some will impact directly on using a mains conected RO Unit.
I find it strange that a sell for profit company like our water providers can on the one hand impose restrictions on a customer making the supplied water of a higher quality, and then try to meter water that is treated with chemicals that are at best capable of making your guts turn.
But that is a matter for the water company's.
A HMA unit is generally a better bet for people on a meter.
Thanks for the input.
I'm on a meter and the cost of RO still doesn't appear to be prohibitive with the volumes I am looking at. However when compared to DI which uses disposable cartridges, the consumable costs of the DI seems pretty excess when compared with RO. I'm just trying to make sure that I'm not missing somthing here.
HMA doesn't appear to be an option as TDS/pH isn't affected?
I'm on a meter and the cost of RO still doesn't appear to be prohibitive with the volumes I am looking at. However when compared to DI which uses disposable cartridges, the consumable costs of the DI seems pretty excess when compared with RO. I'm just trying to make sure that I'm not missing somthing here.
HMA doesn't appear to be an option as TDS/pH isn't affected?
If you have a look at one of my post you can see how I use RO and HMA to get a mix
I use a 50 GPD RO and only run it for about 90 hrs.. a week and I do water changes every day on 3 x 3 foot 2 x 4 foot and 2 x 30 inch tanks
I use a 50 GPD RO and only run it for about 90 hrs.. a week and I do water changes every day on 3 x 3 foot 2 x 4 foot and 2 x 30 inch tanks
The cost or running an ro filter / hma filter really comes down to the amount of water you use weekly.
They are both expensive if you have a few tanks, i currently replace my hma filters every six weeks, which costs £31 per time, which dos add up.
I sometimes think of using just a water conditioner like Prime instead, but i am happier using a hma filter.
You get better treated water using an ro filter / hma filter, than normal water conditioners, it then comes down to if you are willing to pay the price for the replacement filters, which is exaggerated with more tanks you have !
They are both expensive if you have a few tanks, i currently replace my hma filters every six weeks, which costs £31 per time, which dos add up.
I sometimes think of using just a water conditioner like Prime instead, but i am happier using a hma filter.
You get better treated water using an ro filter / hma filter, than normal water conditioners, it then comes down to if you are willing to pay the price for the replacement filters, which is exaggerated with more tanks you have !
how many tanks do you have running? just wondering as you replace your filters every 6 weeks which seems a hell of a lot
ive been looking into hma filters and they are good for 8000 gallons, over 36,000 liters
I have 17 tanks now, a 6ft tank, six 4ft tanks, nine 2.5ft tanks and one 2ft tanks, all 18" wide.
From what i remember my CBR2 filter said replace after 4000G, i don't have any spare ones just now to check the label, i need to order some more, i worked it out a while ago, and i cant find any details on the web about it's usage.
I get them from here, but you can't get a very good close up of the CBR2 filters label to check the usage; HMA Filters on Ebay
I change about 70G each day, plus on the weekend i change around 140G each day, which works out at roughly 630g weekly, for a filter to be replaced after 4000g, that roughly works out at six weeks.
From what i remember my CBR2 filter said replace after 4000G, i don't have any spare ones just now to check the label, i need to order some more, i worked it out a while ago, and i cant find any details on the web about it's usage.
I get them from here, but you can't get a very good close up of the CBR2 filters label to check the usage; HMA Filters on Ebay
I change about 70G each day, plus on the weekend i change around 140G each day, which works out at roughly 630g weekly, for a filter to be replaced after 4000g, that roughly works out at six weeks.
thats quite a few tanks and a lot of changes
the link is from the same bloke selling the filter i was looking at
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HMA-CBR2-METAL-REMOVAL-FILTER-ideal-for-Discus-Fish_W0QQitemZ190333152417QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Fish?hash=item2c50bd6ca1&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14
have to do some more research i think
the link is from the same bloke selling the filter i was looking at
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HMA-CBR2-METAL-REMOVAL-FILTER-ideal-for-Discus-Fish_W0QQitemZ190333152417QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Fish?hash=item2c50bd6ca1&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14
have to do some more research i think
Kevin, maybe i have boobed and read the useage wrong, i need to get some more CBR2 filters to check.
An auto shut off kit is very handy if you have plastic storage tanks to fill each day, and they are very simple to fit, they work off water pressure; Auto Shut Off Kit
An auto shut off kit is very handy if you have plastic storage tanks to fill each day, and they are very simple to fit, they work off water pressure; Auto Shut Off Kit
will be interesting to see what others say on the matter, i know a few members on here use HMA filters. even if they need replaceing every 4000 gallons i wont need to change them too often, well not with the 8 tanks i have at the moment but hopefully that will change in the new year.
when i do set it up i will be using a large water butt to store the water so a shut off vale like that will definately be required
when i do set it up i will be using a large water butt to store the water so a shut off vale like that will definately be required
Jamie
I got some new filters yesterday, but it didn't say on them their usage, so i emailed diskus4u and this is the reply;
I got some new filters yesterday, but it didn't say on them their usage, so i emailed diskus4u and this is the reply;
Sorry Kevin
Got the names mixed up on the post above, it shouldn't have been Jamie, but Kevin :blushing:
Though there is no edit button to edit the post ?
Got the names mixed up on the post above, it shouldn't have been Jamie, but Kevin :blushing:
Though there is no edit button to edit the post ?
Hi I've been using R/O for a while now , I'm not on a water meter :clap:
As well as the prefilter which need replacing regularly you have to allow for the cost of minerals to add to the water as the R/O takes everything out
As macvsog23 said a R/O HMA mix may be the best option
Pete
As well as the prefilter which need replacing regularly you have to allow for the cost of minerals to add to the water as the R/O takes everything out
As macvsog23 said a R/O HMA mix may be the best option
Pete