re: Water filtration system, just starting research

So the system Rajincajun posted is very similar to the one I use for my saltwater aquarium.

If that's what you are looking for is a reverse osmosis system that will remove total dissolved solids then you might look for a used 5 stage reverse osmosis system for an aquarium. Mine is 7 stage for the aquarium and I'll describe what each stage does. Bulk reef supply has lots of quality systems like this for good prices and good videos that explain them.

Stage 1 (sediment cartridge) doesn't remove any TDS, just non dissolved dirt, etc.

Stage 2 and stage 3 (carbon cartridge) - also doesn't remove any TDS.

These are the first three big cartridges in his Pic. Although you can put whatever type of cartridge in there you want.

Stage 4 (chlorine filter) removes chlorine that's the small tube on top in his pic

Stage 5 (Reverse osmosis ) this will remove 98% of TDS. They are the most expensive to replace and last the longest. About 35 dollars. That's the long tube on top in his pic.

Stage 6 and 7 on mine are di resin cartridges that remove the last 2% of tds. (Not pictured in his)

You can get digital inline tds meters from bulk reef supply that you can use to measure incoming and outgoing tds so you know how well your reverse osmosis cartridge is working. (I.e. know when to change it)

Your not going to be taking showers running through that though. It's slow to make water even with a booster pump it takes me about 4 hours to make 20 gallons.

That's why the one he has pictured comes with a pressurized tank. So you fill up the tank and then you can get water out of it quickly when you need for drinking, etc.

It also will waste water about 4 to 1. So it takes 5 gallons of water to make one.

I don't know if you need something that involved, but that's what I have to have for corals, zero tds.

If you want to know more I can tell you about how long your cartridges will last and how to keep up with when to change them.

Here is my first 5 stages. The pressure gauge will help you know when to change your first three cartridges. The little box with the screen is the inline tds meter to help you know when to change your RO cartridge.



This is my booster pump that helps make water faster or helps if you don't have high enough pressure in general.



You use a plastic wrench like thing to change the big cartriges (sediment and carbon), it's not that hard. Just don't want to over tighten them cause they can be a pain to get off if you do.