I own the less expensive VPI 16.5, chose it for personal reasons, and I'll explain why.
Since you have the better Machine, and would like using its features, I'll try giving my logical opinions about what fluids (if any) should be used in the Fluid Dispensing Tank.
I chose a fully manual machine, due to the fact, that with the use of multi-step cleaning processes, there just wasn't going to be enough dispensing tanks to cover them all.
The other, was that I did not want any Tank acting as a long term holding vessel, in that such would most likely contaminate, or detrimentally compromise such cleaners and/or rinse waters over time.
Thus, I would say, that I myself would probably personally choose to use a cleaner in such tanks, rather than any purified rinse waters, to keep the pure rinse water as pure as possible.
That I'd rather keep purified waters in their dedicated vessels, until they are needed to be used at the RCM.
This seems to also make better sense, since the VPI 17, and Typhoon have integrated with the pump, the cleaning brush as well, to spread, and agitate such cleaners on the record surface.
I would choose to only fill the fluid tank with just enough fluids that are going to be quickly used during that cleaning run, no more. Better to fill-add as needed, rather than letting those fluids sit for a lengthy period of time, to lessen any fluid degradation.
There are many one step cleaners currently marketed, which are often claimed to not need a pure water final rinse, but I still feel a rinse step is a very wise one to use as a final step.
Such a simple cleaning system, that I would heartily recommend, would be AIVS #6 One Step Cleaner, and AIVS Pure Water Rinse. (Yes, a two-step process that will be hard to beat)
Use a seperate, dedicated hand held brush for manual application of the Rinse Waters.
To optimize such a process, many discriminating VPI RCM owners also acquire an additional complete Vacuum Wand Assembly for the final Pure Water Rinse Step. About $60-$70 for the Part. Takes two seconds to swap the Wands.
The Wands themselves can be fine tuned per any VPI Machine, you will note they all possess a Locking Collar Ring, to properly adjust drop height upon the record. Without Coil Spring in place, simply install in the Vacuum Base adjust height, that the Vacuum Wand just touches the Record's Surface, then tighten the Locking Collar via Locking Allen Screw, that's it. The replace the Coil Spring for use.
A seperate Vacuum Wand Assembly will lessen the degree of cross contamination of cleaners, and rinse.
Hope this helps. Mark
