Hello - we are relatively new reef tank owners and are looking for advice on a system to make our own RO water. We are currently purchasing RO water and want to install our own RO system for convenience and long term cost savings. Our only dilemma is how do we install it in our NYC apartment? Does anyone have any advice on what system to get and/or where/how to have it installed safely in an apartment? Thanks in advance!
RO Water system in a NYC apartment
- Thread starter Alfven
- Start date
- Location
- The Big City
First, ask if you can install one into the current plumbing that you have. If they give you the go ahead to do it, then you can usually ask one of the maintenance people in the building, or get a plumber to do it. This will cost most but if you do something wrong, and you have a flood, you could be sued for a lot more than what it will cost you to have it installed. If they wouldn't let you install one then you can always get one that connects to the faucet and run it when you need to make water.
As for getting one, there are a number of people on ebay that sell them for around $100-$120 shipped.
As for getting one, there are a number of people on ebay that sell them for around $100-$120 shipped.
- Location
- The Big City
Here is a thread about RO system, including a few links to ebay
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/155730-ebay-rodi.html#post1475458
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/155730-ebay-rodi.html#post1475458
- Location
- Brooklyn
you can also get an adapter for your faucet from a local plumbing store or home Depot. the adapter is detachable. If your water pressure is less 60 psi you may want to get a booster pump
- Location
- Forest Hills Queens
Mine is installed under the kitchen sink. It's a 5 stage RO unit. I have two lines that I manually open whenever I want to make water. I have the main shut off right off the sink plumbing (before going to the unit) that I close when it's not in use. This way there is no pressure running through the unit when I am not around. The other is the line leading from the unit to the water storage container.
If you decide to ask permission they can very well tell you no. If it does not state in your lease that you can not have one then why ask permission? Yes you are liable for any damage that could happen like anything else. Asking permission doesn't mean that should damage occur you are not responsible for fixing the damages.
Editing to add I always set the timer on my stove BEFORE I open the RO valves to make water. If you do this every time you won't forget that it's on and accidentally overflow your tank or receptacle. In the past I have done this. It's too easy to forget it's on so why take a chance?
If you decide to ask permission they can very well tell you no. If it does not state in your lease that you can not have one then why ask permission? Yes you are liable for any damage that could happen like anything else. Asking permission doesn't mean that should damage occur you are not responsible for fixing the damages.
Editing to add I always set the timer on my stove BEFORE I open the RO valves to make water. If you do this every time you won't forget that it's on and accidentally overflow your tank or receptacle. In the past I have done this. It's too easy to forget it's on so why take a chance?
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- Location
- Howell, NJ
In an apartment your safest way of making rodi water is in a bathtub. I've seen horror stories throughout the years with people forgetting the rodi on.
- Location
- The Big City
If you're not allow to have one, and something does happen, then there is a good chance that your insurance, assuming that you have insurance, and you should have insurance regardless, will probably not cover any damages.
- Location
- Forest Hills Queens
Not true. You have to have it on your insurance policy in order for it to be covered under the insurance policy. Then insurance will cover it whether or not it's allowed under the lease agreement with the landlord.
- Location
- The Big City
Try it and see if the insurance will cover it if you're not allow to have it, or didn't get permission to have it. There is a good chance that they will not cover it.
The person above me did something to their plumbing a number of years ago, without building approval, and the had a flood that caused damaged to my apartment. Their insurance company wouldn't cover the damage, even though she had coverage for what happened, because the person didn't get approval to do the changes.
The person above me did something to their plumbing a number of years ago, without building approval, and the had a flood that caused damaged to my apartment. Their insurance company wouldn't cover the damage, even though she had coverage for what happened, because the person didn't get approval to do the changes.
- Location
- Red Hook, Brooklyn
If live in an old walk-up. I run a BRS 5 stage with a booster pump. I run a 5 micron sediment first and a 2nd sediment rated at .5 microns. (Sediment filters are cheaper to replace) Then the carbon before it reaches the RO membrane. The last one is the DI resin. My brother is a Local 1 pipe fitter and hard plumbed it for me. Your landlord is probably want a licensed and bonded plumber before you get permission. Do the faucet adapter and let the waste line drip down the drain. Do run an auto stop float valve.
All good advice. I ALWAYS SET A TIMER when I make water. I know it takes 3 hours in warm weather and 4 in cold (cold water takes longer for some reason), so I set my alarm for 30 minutes less and an alarm for the exact amount of time. I then adjust alarms/set new ones as needed.
I had a few mini floods in past before I started the alarm process.
I had a few mini floods in past before I started the alarm process.
yes, i think this is the best way to do it. get a 5 stage and place it in bathtub along with ur 5 gallon or 10 gallon bucket.
u can get a faucet adapter for the RODI unit. this is the safest way to do it. not to mention to get a autoshutoff kit for safety
its not convenience as a stationary one but this is the safest way.:thrash:
Thank you for all the great ideas and suggestions. It sounds like the safest (in terms of avoiding flooding) and easiest (in terms of not having to get approval and make plumbing changes) is to go with an adaptor from our bathroom sink and make the water in the bathtub. The RO units we looked at all appear to screw on to the faucet. However, our bathroom faucet doesn't look like anything can screw on to it. Some of you mentioned an adaptor. Does anyone have a link and/or name of the proper adaptor to buy? Thanks again for helping us out with this dilemma!
here http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3922
the aerator is made so you can't see it. look closer.
the aerator is made so you can't see it. look closer.
bulkreefsupply.com has some god RODI units. I use the 75gal per day 6 stage. It comes with several ways to hook it up. IMHO the screw on to the faucet may be a good way to go as you will not need to make any changes to the plumbing. I also have the booster as the water pressure in our house is only about 30 psi. with the booster I can set it to 80 p.s.i. which is what they recommend for my unit.
Hello, I also live in an NYC apartment. For almost a year now I,be been using this system manually attached to my kitchen faucet.
AquaticLife_RO_Buddie_3_Stage filter from Marine Depot
It works great, but it takes a while to filter due to lack of water pressure.
I hope this helps!
AquaticLife_RO_Buddie_3_Stage filter from Marine Depot
It works great, but it takes a while to filter due to lack of water pressure.
I hope this helps!
- Location
- brooklyn
just get a leak detector at bulk reef worth the money and the headache
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