Crystal Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 I am planning on setting up a 55g marine tank. I am unfamiliar with the use of RO/DI units. Which RO/DI units or brands do you suggest that are good for Alberta water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Go to Ebay... there are several Canadian sellers that sell complete units... for around 120 dollars or so... I have been using one for a couple of years and just recently changed out the membrane for a new one that cost at 45 dollars on ebay... most RO-DI are more or less the same and good for the water you are talking about.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 I have also used the e-bay one. You should get some help setting it up. Remember that ro water isn't the same as di water in that it still contains trace amounts that are almost unmeasurable except it leaves a film behind in my vaporizer and di water doesn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 The eBay seller that everyone was buying from is no longer around. There doesn't seem to be anyone out there with equivalent units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 There are a couple of guys out east selling the units now.... and yes ED is now gone.... Think the clamp down on the GST on ebay power sellers did him in..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Just checked e-bay / the guys from down east have dissapeared... oh well There are several americans selling and I checked the shipping to canada for a complete unit and it adds 45$ to the cost ...so that is not so bad as it was 25$ for shipping when Ed sent me my RO-DI unit..... Here is a link http://home.shop.ebay.ca/items/_W0QQLHQ5fA...p;_osacat=11700 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 There are several americans selling and I checked the shipping to canada for a complete unit and it adds 45$ to the cost ...so that is not so bad as it was 25$ for shipping when Ed sent me my RO-DI unit... Yeah, but most ship via UPS. Which adds another bunch of unnecessary customs clearance fees to the shipping cost. :tongue: That's why Ed was so handy- cause he shipped from Canada. Maybe we should contact one of the other Canadian sellers and tell them that there's a serious niche market waiting to be taken advantage of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal Posted May 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 What are the chances of me getting nailed with customs clearance fees and roughly how much could they be? Not a bad system, visiting relatives can use the drinking water as they say our town water tastes funny (strange because their water tastes like a 4yr old was playing with a chemistry set... Even I won't drink their water, which is saying something). Anyone happen to know the dimensions of the unit? Our house is VERY short on space - I had to get rid of my dressers and tv for fish tanks :shifty: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 The biggest part is the storage tank. Unless you have a lot of other junk under there, you should be able to fit it under your kitchen sink. Importing goods over C$20 means you will probably have to pay. Click on the "customs clearance fees" link in my previous post for UPS's rates. That's in addition to any duty charges. Plus they add on several $$ to pay the duty on your behalf, deliver to a residential address, etc. Fedex and other couriers are the same- they ding you big time on international shipments. Getting the "express" services instead of ground usually eliminates the fees, but the price increase isn't really worth it. If you have to order stuff from the US (or wherever), try to get it sent through the mail. They only charge $5-$8 for customs brokering. (Can you tell I'm a chronic eBayer????) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Customs is hit and miss... I really dont know how that works as I have several items come via UPS to me and I wasnt charged a dime extra... If they did catch it I think it wouldnt be more then 15-20 bucks on an item worth 150 bucks... Overal all its still a great investment and not all that expensive... they last a long time with care and the replacement parts or filters are readilly available... on line and at different local stores.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 If they did catch it I think it wouldnt be more then 15-20 bucks on an item worth 150 bucks... Sometimes Canada Post doesn't bother, but UPS always catches it- it's a cash cow for them. Check the fees chart. On something valued at C$100-200 it's $29 + about $10 (COD and residential delivery) + another $10 (duty & tax) for a lovely surprise of about $50 when they show up at the door. Now... If the US seller insures the item, they usually do it in $100 increments (cause that's how coverage is sold). Now your US$130 item is declared to be valued at US$200 to take advantage of the insurance. Whoops! That's now over C$200 which bumps you up to the next fee bracket: $46.60 (+COD + residential delivery + duty + taxes on everything). Now they want something approaching $70 from you at the door. That may still be a good deal compared to what you get locally- just be sure to count all the costs. Whew! Sorry for the anti-UPS rant. I've been burnt by them too many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish4fun Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) ask the shipper to use USPS, i have never been charged any of the above mentioned using them. Edited May 21, 2009 by fish4fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrosionjerry Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Yes I have used the USPS as well and had no extra charges... cell phone recently... the seller just put on the packaging that it was a used item.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewels Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 short on space - I had to get rid of my dressers and tv for fish tanks :shifty: . Excellent choice!! On the TV anyway :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlidmomwanabe Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 I just bought a RO unit today on Ebay and the seller is from B.C and charged me $25 U.S to ship. It is rated for 50 gallons a day with a 4 gallon storage tank and comes with a U.V sterilizer. It was $229.00 Canadian with shipping(the hardware store in town quoted me $420.00) I would pay more than this for my drinking water and what I use for my discus!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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