Do I need a higher stage RODI kit?

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

I have the 4 stage kit from BRS, and I'm wondering if its sufficient or if I need a higher stage kit. How do I know? My TDS reads 0, so does that mean what I have works well enough or could there be other things lurking in the water that aren't included in the TDS reading? My first set of filters lasted about 10 months before TDS ever got above 0.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I have the 4 stage kit from BRS, and I'm wondering if its sufficient or if I need a higher stage kit. How do I know? My TDS reads 0, so does that mean what I have works well enough or could there be other things lurking in the water that aren't included in the TDS reading? My first set of filters lasted about 10 months before TDS ever got above 0.

are you on well water or do you have high chlorine?

 

[dragon99]

What is your source water (well or city)?
If city, do they use chlorine or chloramines to treat the water?
Do you know the TDS at the tap?

If you're on city water that uses chloramine, you might benefit from an additional carbon stage.

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

are you on well water or do you have high chlorine?

What is your source water (well or city)?
If city, do they use chlorine or chloramines to treat the water?
Do you know the TDS at the tap?

If you're on city water that uses chloramine, you might benefit from an additional carbon stage.

I'm on city water. TDS at the tap is 210.

According to the water quality report my area in 2017, chloramines are 2.8 ppm. Is that considered high?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I'm on city water. TDS at the tap is 210.

According to the water quality report my area in 2017, chloramines are 2.8 ppm. Is that considered high?

4 stage is fine but 5 stage would be better. the fifth stage would be an extra di cartridge.

https://spectrapure.com/RO-RODI/RODI-SYSTEMS/MaxCap-Standard-90-GPD-RO-DI-System

https://spectrapure.com/FILTERS-MEMBRANES-RESIN/FILTER-REPLACEMENT-KITS

 

[dragon99]

There might be some chloramine getting past a single carbon block in your 4-stage which could damage the RO membrane. I'd suggest either a 5-stage that has dual carbon (BRS has several options), or just use a carbon block designed for removing chloramine
http://www.buckeyehydro.com/chloraguard-chloramine-carbon-block/

A second DI stage at the end would let you use resin more efficiently. When the first stage is exhausted, the second stage will pick up the slack. When you see the TDS rise after the first DI canister, throw is out, move the second stage up to first stage DI, and put a new cartridge in the second DI stage.

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

There might be some chloramine getting past a single carbon block in your 4-stage which could damage the RO membrane. I'd suggest either a 5-stage that has dual carbon (BRS has several options), or just use a carbon block designed for removing chloramine
http://www.buckeyehydro.com/chloraguard-chloramine-carbon-block/

A second DI stage at the end would let you use resin more efficiently. When the first stage is exhausted, the second stage will pick up the slack. When you see the TDS rise after the first DI canister, throw is out, move the second stage up to first stage DI, and put a new cartridge in the second DI stage.

How would I know if the RO membrane is damaged? Is there a way to check?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

There might be some chloramine getting past a single carbon block in your 4-stage which could damage the RO membrane. I'd suggest either a 5-stage that has dual carbon (BRS has several options), or just use a carbon block designed for removing chloramine
http://www.buckeyehydro.com/chloraguard-chloramine-carbon-block/

A second DI stage at the end would let you use resin more efficiently. When the first stage is exhausted, the second stage will pick up the slack. When you see the TDS rise after the first DI canister, throw is out, move the second stage up to first stage DI, and put a new cartridge in the second DI stage.

no, both di cartridges (roughing and polishing) work in conjunction with each other. you do NOT switch their order either.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

How would I know if the RO membrane is damaged? Is there a way to check?

test your rejection %.

 

[dragon99]

no, both di cartridges (roughing and polishing) work in conjunction with each other. you do NOT switch their order either.

What are roughing and polishing DI? I've heard of cation, anion, and mixed.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

What are roughing and polishing DI? I've heard of cation, anion, and mixed.

roughing is cation and polishing is anion/ mixed bed. they do need to be in the proper order.

 

[dragon99]

roughing is cation and polishing is anion/ mixed bed. they do need to be in the proper order.

Gotcha, those definitely shouldn't be swapped around.

 

[LovesDogs_CatsRokay]

test your rejection %.

How do I do that?

 

[dragon99]

Just need to measure TDS before RO filter and after.

Scroll down a bit and they have a calculator
https://spectrapure.com/frequently-asked-questions

 

[MTBake]

How do I do that?

Measure product water versus waste water. Fill 2 equal sized containers and compare them. Should see about 1:4 ratio (product:waste)

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Measure product water versus waste water. Fill 2 equal sized containers and compare them. Should see about 1:4 ratio (product:waste)

that’s waste/product ratio. also important, but not the same thing as rejection rate.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

How do I do that?

in tds minus out tds from membrane. then divide that number by your in tds.

 

[MTBake]

that’s waste/product ratio. also important, but not the same thing as rejection rate.

Realized that after I posted

 

[Mikeneedsahobby]

no, both di cartridges (roughing and polishing) work in conjunction with each other. you do NOT switch their order either.

I think he meant two mixed bed di cartridges in series. For two of the same, then switching makes sense.

I run 3 cartridges, cation, anion, mixed bed. I don’t switch order. I replace anion more frequently than the others and save money by getting all I can from each canister.