Installing a Water Purifier

Fed up with overgrowths of green hair algae, I decided to take a big step forward and buy an RO/DI filter to provide pure water for my tank (and filtered drinking water for myself).

After quickly browsing Ebay, I bought the 6-stage WaterGeneral RO 6100+DI water purifier for only $100. It ended up being easy to install, even though the installation manual had several errors. You simply assemble the unit, connect the tubing to the appropriate parts, drill into your kitchen sink plumbing, and you’re done.

Equipment:

  • RO/DI water purification unit
  • Power drill with 1/4″ drill bit

Here is an overview of how to connect an RO/DI unit. These instructions apply to any RO/DI unit and not just mine. How to install an RO/DI water purifier:

  1. Water enters from your kitchen sink plumbing/faucet through a feed-water adapter and enters the first chamber of your unit (there are usually 2-3 in a water purifier)
  2. Water then goes into the RO unit, exits, and passes through an automatic shut-off valve, which turns the unit off when the storage tank is full.
  3. After the shut-off valve, water then flows into a pressurized storage tank where newly generated RO water accumulates.
  4. The output of the storage tank then attaches to a “T” connector, where it can take one of two paths:
    • For pure water (for your aquarium), RO water from the tank enters the DI chamber (usually clear and filled with green or purple resin) and then comes out a dispenser.
    • For drinking water (for you), RO water goes through a chamber that restores some taste to the water, since water that is too pure tastes strange for people. This water usually is dispensed via a goose-neck shaped faucet.
  5. You’re done.


[RO/DI 1]
You need to drill a small hole in the plastic pipe.

[RO/DI 2]
The final set up.