Did I wreck the RO membrane?

[shoggoth43]

I got an RO unit someone was throwing out. It's a fully automated unit but didn't have any sediment filter, carbon, or DI cartridges. I plugged it in to leak test it and to test the electronics and later found out it actually had an RO membrane still installed. I'm not sure how the unit was stored or what condition the membrane was in before.

So without the carbon block to absorb any chlorine/chloramine, did I just trash the RO membrane?

OTOH, the electronics all seem to work and there are no obvious leaks or cracked fittings/casings.

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S

 

[Keesers]

If it were I, I would prolly just replace the ro and get all new filters at same time. I really like piece of mind and you would know for sure that way. If its old or bad you could toast you di after installing it or least lose some efficiency right off bat. Just my thought though. I got a second whole Rodi system same way and gutted the whole thing even soaked in bleach for a couple days to clean canisters and lines. Then soaked it in prime before using parts of it to add to my current system. Happy reefing

Edit: Awesome that you found a used one and everything leak tested and electronic work though share some pictures.

 

[ludnix]

I would absolutely replace the membrane just because it's current state is unknown regardless of whether the chlorine damaged it.

 

[shoggoth43]

If it were I, I would prolly just replace the ro and get all new filters at same time. I really like piece of mind and you would know for sure that way. If its old or bad you could toast you di after installing it or least lose some efficiency right off bat. Just my thought though. I got a second whole Rodi system same way and gutted the whole thing even soaked in bleach for a couple days to clean canisters and lines. Then soaked it in prime before using parts of it to add to my current system. Happy reefing

Edit: Awesome that you found a used one and everything leak tested and electronic work though share some pictures.

Given I’m not hard core reefing I was considering replumbing it to dual carbons and just skipping the DI. It might also end up with a water saver dual membrane option and a drinking water kit since the SO complains about the water t. The water here is low in stuff to begin with and out of the tap the pH crashes if you stare at the glass of water too hard.

 

[shoggoth43]

Based on the helpful info thus far it looks like I’ll be replacing the membrane.

I may reach out to Vertek Aquaristik as well and see if there are any helpful tweaks to things like the auto flush sequence when it first starts. I’m not sure 15 seconds is really long enough to really give it a good flush but it I don’t see any buttons so this may just be a plug and go system.

Thanks!

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S