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Show me your RO Water Storage Systems!

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6.5K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  Triport  
#1 ·
Hey all. About two years ago when I moved I had an RO system setup because my well water has nitrates. I was so overwhelmed at the time with renovations with the rest of the house that I just explained to the company what I needed for my fish tanks and had them set up a system for me. It hasn't been ideal so I wish I had spent more time research for myself so I could be more specific with my needs. Basically they set up the RO system in my utility room and gave me two 40ish gallon pressurized tanks to store it in which is connected to a utility sink.

Unfortunately the pressure is fairly low and it takes about an hour to fill a 45 gallon bin for me to then prep for a water change (which involves me wheeling it out into my fish room and then heating it to the desired temperature and aerating it until I can use it the following day.

As you can imagine this system is unwieldy and means I get lax about water changes because of what a pain it is. I have to set an alarm to give me reminders to check on the water and then even though technically it is 80 gallons of storage it only really holds about 45-50 gallons max.

Having them come out to upgrade my RO system so it will be RODI as well (my well is so high in nitrites that even the RO water still has some) so want to discuss with them changing the water storage system as well at some point but this time I want to be better prepared.

Is there some sort of storage tank with a float valve system I can do and then use a plug in pump to pump the water out? Can I preheat the water in the storage tank so it will be ready to go right away?

Please show me your system. Pics and an explanation of how it works would be great! Thanks!

This is mine:
New RO system at new house by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Thanks for the info everyone. This is what the company I am working with came up with. They gave me a credit for the two pressurized tanks and gave me a 100 gallon tank with a float valve. A pump will (hopefully) move the water along faster than the 1 gallon/minute or so I was getting with the pressurized system. Also had DI added so it is RODI instead of just RO. Needed as my well water has such high nitrates and RO alone wasn't enough.

New RODI system by Kaveh Maguire, on Flickr
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Ugh. Just tried to use it for the first time and I swear it is slower than my old pressurized system (which basically moved the RO water at 1 gph into the trash cans I use for water changes. New system is supposed to be 3-5gph). If anyone is using a system with a storage tank and float valve what are you using to get the water out of the tank? Can you specifically show me photos or video of that process? This is getting annoying. I am going to take some time to fiddle with it tomorrow and see if I can do anything to speed it up but I do not have a good feeling about it. On the plus side I haven't paid them for it yet and won't until they get it working right.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
They gave me an Aquatec Demand/Delivery pump (DDP 550 3.2 gallons) hooked up between the tank and my utility sink right next to it. I have a hose attached to the faucet which I use to then fill a trash can on wheels. It seems like the pump just isn't turning on. There might just be something wrong with it or it is not set up properly because it did turn on briefly (and it is very obvious when it is on) but then right back off. And today trying again it is just not turning on at all and there is a trickle of water. I want something that is going to be consistent and not have any problems with pressure and a garden hose type of flow strength. Didn't realize it would be such a pain. It could be just something off with the pump that they can fix or replace but I am still questioning how much water pressure can come from these skinny little hoses attached between the tank and pump and pump and sink.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
No it is high nitrates. I believe the well water is at about 23 mg/l and it should be under 10 to be safe. I also only use this water for fish tanks not for drinking. I just buy bottled water for drinking. I brush my teeth/shower in the regular well tap water but don't swallow any of it.

It is not 5 gallon buckets I am wanting to fill. I have trash cans I can fill up to 25 gallons and another at 45 gallons for the larger tanks. Was confused about the booster pump at first because it seemed like it was something to just help an RO unit work better but reading further it seems they are also used for getting water from a tank to a sink so it isn't unheard of. It just wonder if the sink can just be bypassed and a stronger pump with hose attached that I can just flip on and directly drain from storage tank into these trash cans I use.
Right now it seems this pump is not turning on at all. I don't see any reset or on off switch on it aside from the plug (and the outlet does work I tested it with a lamp). There is also a small pressurized tank connected and when I turn it on there is a bit of water pressure which I suspect is just water from this small tank and when that runs out it slows to a trickle. Ugh. So annoying. I wish I could just have something work from the start. Because of the pandemic this has been like a two year annoyance and instead of them improving it they have made it worse.
 
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