I just bought the 3 stage Dolphin RO system with Chloramine Blaster, and hubby hooked it up today. First, we have to soak the darned carbon filter for 12 hours, becuz we need zero ammonia, so I can't even start using it on my tanks yet. But it filters the water very, very sloooooooooooooooooowly...at the rate of 100 gallons per day, or 3+ gallons per hour!!!!

I know this is not going to work for me. I am filling 5 gallon water bottles, and need to do 50% daily water changes on the 55 right now, but soon will have to start filling and cycling the 125. Thankfully hubby works on the weekends mostly, so he can be home to watch and fill the bottles, but long term, this is not practical.

What does everyone else use? I know some people use combinations of their tap or well water with their RO water, but I cannot use ANY of my tap becuz it's so bad.

I looked up my brand, and the fastest they make is the 300 gpd unit, which costs another $141. I'm going to return mine in a couple of weeks and get the upgrade if I can't find anything else. Suggestions on other models, if better, would be great!

P.S.
We thought the 100 gallon capacity per day would be enough becuz we didn't realize it would take the whole 24 hours to get it out! Otherwise, I would've bought the bigger one.

Depending on your water source, you can speed up the water penentration of the RO membrane by warming the water. I have mine plumbed post filters (carbon and string - ion exchange and then 2 more carbon and 1 string. To this, I have a mix line run from the water heater that mixes the warm water into the normal input to the RO...... Warming the water a few degrees can, potentially, greatly increase your water production.

I also draw water into 15 gallon drums - and 3 five gallon bottles. These are kept full...... I draw water early in the morning and let the RO work most of the day, changing fish tanks at the end of the afternoon. My RO will fill the holding pressure tank completely in approx. 6 hours. That way I can pull two full presure tanks worth per day.

You can also buy a larger holding tank at your local hardware store. I have a 40 gallon tank that I plumbed into it, with a reserve tank upstairs. This gives me a total capasity of 50 gallons RO - so I can draw ALMOST 80 per day. You will never get the full fill - for the air bladder takes up room.

If you keep your tanks drawn down, the RO will work faster. As the tanks fill, they slow in production. So pull the full load to competely empty your holding tanks and you will get faster flow.

There are also a few different types of membranes - some work better than others......

LEt me see if I can find that web site where I found sooooooo much info...... It might take me a while - I am at 24kbps right now.....freakin' sloooowwww!!!!

Try this....

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/infocenter.htm

I also found a bit more info here:

http://www.spectrapure.com/SYSTEM_BREAKDOWN.htm

But I bought the sytem from the first site..... The RO Perm...because we have basically zero pressure from the well - and the permeate pump is essential.

I can pull approx. 46 gallons every 4-6 hours from mine. I have it set to 78F.

Thank you for the info. I will show my husband this, and see what he can make of it. I am a bit lost...

Heating the water, or for us, running the water through the system with both the H/C at the same time, gives us 5 gallons in 40-45 mins. Faster than just running the cold. That tip worked! We don't really have storage room for anything larger than the 5 gallon jugs (we don't have a garage or large laundry room, etc...), so for now, are going to have to fill them one at a time. I have 10 of them right now, but only have to fill 5 per day. That's 3 hrs. 45 mins. per day. We're still going to try and exchange it for the larger system though, to cut that time in half, or better.