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Your cart is empty.4.4 out of 5 stars
Product Description
You Pick the Connection Type
Simply remove the aerator from your kitchen or bathroom sink and use one of the included adapters to convert to a standard garden hose thread. Then use the included hose to 1/4" tubing adapter. Or connect directly to your washing machine spickot.
RO Units Produce Filtered & Waste
All RO units produce both filtered water and concentrate water. The water that does not pass through the membrane is the waste water. Waste water has a higher concentration of total dissolved solids and is safe to use for watering plants.
Ideal for Aquariums and More
The RO Buddie+DI will produce about 2 gallons of filtered water per hour if your water pressure is 65 PSI and the water temperature is 77°F. Use a bucket or barrel to collect your water for use later in an aquarium, a humidifier, specialty plants and more.
1/4" Tubing & Easy Connectors
Use the included 1/4" tubing to easily plumb your RO Buddie. The tubing simply pushes into the press-fit connectors 5/8" and locks into place for a leak-free setup.
Translucent Cartridges
The sediment and DI resin cartridges feature translucent housings to view inside the cartridges. You can see when the sediment cartridge is discolored from filtering out the particulate and when the DI resin changes to tan color and should be replaced.
Simple On, Simple Off
When you are ready to make RO/DI water, simply turn on the faucet. When finished, turn off the faucet. Fill your bucket in the tub incase you forget and it overflows. Setting a timer makes remembering easier.
Live in the NYC Area?
Based on information presented in the most recent Water Quality Report, we suggest using an additional prefilter for RO and RO/DI systems that use the NYC area water supply.
Are you on well water?
People on well water often have CO2 in the water that can quickly deplete the DI resin cartridge. If you are on well water, check for CO2 prior to purchasing the RO Buddie.
Conditions your water
The RO Buddie carbon block filter eliminates chlorine from tap water and conditions water before it reaches the RO membrane.
Todd March
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2025
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! What a well-designed, easy to set-up and use product, not to mention dirt-cheap (for the RO market). I added a Y adapter to my washing machine cold water inlet (garden hose threads) the day before the RO buddy arrived. After opening the RO Buddy package (and having watched the installation video twice). I had the unit installed within 15 minutes, and up and running after the 2 flush procedures within 45 minutes. My water pressure is about perfect for the unit as it produces a gallon of RO water in just under an hour (RO unit flow rates are way over-rated, and are more like 50% of what is stated, so a 50 gallon/day unit should produce realistically 25 gallons per day, or one gallon per hour at average home pressures. Higher pressure can get you closer to the stated 50gallon/day rating, but it’s much more wear on the RO membrane, ie. shorter life).Coming from experience with RO units (for aquaria and orchids), if you’re trying to decide between the 3 and 4 stage units, only go for the 4 stage if you need really pure water, as in reef aquaria; the DI resins, the 4th stage, fill very quickly and have a short life ($). I’m getting 2-3ppm consistently after running 20 gallons through the RO Buddy, down from my tap water’s TDS of 180ppm, and that’s just fine for freshwater planted aquaria and orchids. Saves me a bundle not having to consistently purchase the expensive DI (4th stage) cartridges.
Hulio van Shrimp
Reviewed in Australia on February 22, 2025
G'day! If you've ever thought your aquarium water looked as murky as a billabong after a storm, let me introduce you to the AQUATICLIFE RO Buddie Plus. This little wonder turns your tap water into the purest, most pristine aquarium water imaginable. Think of it as the ultimate water wizard—it takes your H2O from “ugh” to “ahh!”The RO Buddie Plus works its magic to deliver water so clean, even your fish will think they're swimming in a luxury resort. Say goodbye to algae problems and hello to crystal-clear waters! Setting up this gem is easier than finding a kangaroo in the outback. Just hook it up, and you’re good to go. No PhD in marine biology required!This compact unit fits snugly under your sink, working tirelessly to provide top-notch water quality. It's like having a mini ocean purification plant right in your kitchen, minus the fishy smell. The AQUATICLIFE RO Buddie Plus has turned my aquarium into a sparkling underwater paradise. My fish are happier than a blue-ringed octopus at high tide.If you're tired of your aquarium looking like a scene from a murky swamp, do yourself a favor and get the RO Buddie Plus. Your fish will thank you, your mates will be impressed, and you’ll be the proud owner of the best-looking tank on the block. Cheers to happy, healthy fish! 🐠
Saif Alzaabi
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on January 6, 2025
delivered fast and easy to install, water tests 0 tds which is perfect!
Adam Jeffrey
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
I was exciting to start using RO/DI water when getting back into the aquarium hobby after a long hiatus. This system was a perfect fit for me--inexpensive, simple, and compact. Overall, the system works great, but it does have one weakness that is not clearly spelled out in the product listing (see cons below).Pros:Setup was fairly easy, and the instructions are good.Water production rate actually exceeds what is advertised (I can make about 4 gallons in 1 hour).Water quality is as expected--very low TDS, neutral pH, zero hardness.Kit comes with all the basic parts you need to get started.Cons:System is NOT compatible with float valves. If you have big plans (like I did) to make a semi-automated setup where the system stops making water when your container is full by using a cheap float valve, you are greatly mistaken. The instructions explicitly state that this cannot be done, and by accident, I proved that this is true--using a float valve (or any other on/off valve) on the output side of the filter results in the DI cannister leaking all over the place. The solution is to use a fill valve solenoid on the input side, which defeats the savings you get from buying such an economical solution. The workaround in my case is to set a timer and manually shut off the water when my container is full.
Arthur Compton
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2024
I've used this unit daily for 3+ years now. I have replaced all of the filters multiple times and the unit is still trucking along producing genuine 0 TDS water with no problems. Truly one of those Amazon items that actually over-delivers for the price.It runs slowly (merely a dribble), but I fill up 5-gallon water jugs anyway so it's no inconvenience. I just set it and come back 25 minutes later. This has worked flawlessly for me and is like second nature now.I expected to have to replace this unit after about a year, and I've gotten 3 times that and it's still producing 0 TDS water. I test it frequently. I suspect when it eventually fails, it will be at the plastic screw caps for the filters - they are thin and delicate, thus likely to crack. If Just be careful when disassembling them and be sure the threads are clean before you try to screw them back down. I only need to do this once a month anyway.Note: you can save money on the final stage (ion exchange) filter by buying your own resin beads and refilling it yourself.
E
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022
Wow! Who needs to pay $250 for an RODI filter?! This is my first time with a reef tank since RODI became the norm, so I don't have experience with other filters.I know the more expensive ones come with their blow and whistles, but we have pretty good pressure at the house, so I figured we wouldn't need measuring gages. And I have a separate TDS pen meter, so no need for that in the unit either. I kept scratching my head over the ~$200 units when I saw this one and decided to give it a try. For ~$60 it's been great so far.I installed under my sink very easily, just purchased a T valve with this adapter (link below). So far have it's given me maybe 150Gal of crystal clear filtered 0000ppm water (our municipal source water is around 0040ppm out of the tap). It takes 2-4 hours I estimate to fill a 5Gal bucket and I don't need that much water for my 53Gal system.Doesn't remove chloramines and with strip testing we seem to have just a tiny bit of undetectable chloramines in the water in and out of the filter (or maybe not... the strips are hard to reach and almost looks like zero). So just in case I dose some Dr Tim's First Defense as per the instructions, before using and that seems to take care of it without a problem.Now, caveat emptor: my tanks are still cycling, so we don't have any livestock in them that can proof we've put this filter through the ultimate test, but 0000ppm is good enough for me and my nitrifying bacteria seem to be thriving in this water after two weeks cycling almost complete (chart attached). So that's a good sign for me. Haven't had to deal with replacing cartridges, so I can't attest either on availability, price etc. But I'll update if anything happens.Customer service was great too. I had questions as my resin cartridge looked wet and the color change that tells you is worn out was hard for me to say. So I wrote to their customer service address in the manual and they replied quickly and explained to me how to read the colors and that it does need to be moist in shipping, so we're good.I know RODIs pay for themselves in the equivalent of a few trips for water to the LFS, but this one paid for itself before the first trip!
Pradeep Pandey
Reviewed in India on July 5, 2020
Best RO filter easy to install 0 TDS output
Asghar Ali
Reviewed in India on January 5, 2018
Overall the product is working fine but the filtered water delivery is very very slow unlike the waste water which is very fast. It needs a booster pump may be.
Customer
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2017
Great system and very cheap, Worth pointing out if DOES NOT come with a Chlormide filter and have to be bought additionally
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