If you have a single DI canister then the SilicaBuster is what you need.

The MaxCap should never be installed by itself or after another DI cartridge, it is intended as a pre DI or roughing filter in a dual DI situation. The MaxCap will extend the life of your downstream DI resin by 3 to 4 times or more when used in this manner. They recommend installing a dual inline TDS meter between the two DI cartridges so you can monitor each seperately. When the MaxCap TDS starts rising you change that cartridge only and you should be able to go through 3 MaxCap cartridges before you need to change your first SilicaBuster cartridge.

In my case I previously had a AWI Typhoon III and used all their standard replacement cartridges and media. No matter what I did I could only get right at 150 gallons or RO/DI water before the TDS started to creep up to 3 or 4. Let me say here, I had a 3/4" flow meter on my tap water feed plus at the time I was only filling 5 gallon drinking water style jugs so the gallonages are very accurate.

I sold the Typhoon and bought a 90 GPD MaxCap. My very first MaxCap cartridge lasted 830 gallons out of the box. I swapped it and got 1100 gallons out of the second MaxCap. The third gave me 1080 gallons at which point I started to see about 2 TDS from the SilicaBuster so changed it at the same time. I never let the TDS get over 2-3 from any of the cartridges. That is 830+1100+1080=3010 gallons out of 4 DI cartridges, 3 MaxCaps and 1 SilicaBuster.

So what would have taken me 20 DI cartridges or refills with the old system,3010 gallons/150 gallons=20, only took me 4 cartridges. These are my personal observations only and are not meant to represent Spectrapure, I am a hobbyist just like everyone else but happen to live in Phoenix so have visited the Spectrapure facility in Tempe several times to save on shipping costs.

I have not owned a system with the SilicaBuster only but Spectrapure says it should last at least 20-30% longer than other mixed bed DI cartridges and I tend to believe them since they have a DI test bench that has been in continous operation for years one end testing every possible resin blend available.

Now I see they even offer "Super DI" versions that are supposed to have 30% more capacity than their regular MaxCap and SilicaBuster and they are only $1 to $4 more expensive so probably a real bargain.
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