How to make this rodi system better?

[Woodyman]

The membranes are the same (DOW), but spectrapure will hand test membranes which they call the spectra select. Those ones are hand tested for 99+% rejection. So those hand tested membranes are better yes, otherwise it's just how lucky you get with the membrane you buy. With the spectra select you know what your getting. As previously stated most manufacturers only promise 95%. But with water at ~500 that 4% is the difference between 5 TDS into your resin or 10+ TDS into your resin. The lower your TDS is going into the resin the longer it will last.

My opinion is the the extra expense is worth the investment. You make up for the cost difference in the long term as you replace your resin less frequently, but pay more upfront.

Now the resin is hands down better from spectrapure.

 

[Opus]

So the membranes from them will be better than the brs ones it came with? I will have to get those when it’s time for new membranes. Mines are brand new. Thanks for the tip.

If you keep chlorine away from your membrane it should last 5+ years.

 

[christwendt]

The membranes are the same (DOW), but spectrapure will hand test membranes which they call the spectra select. Those ones are hand tested for 99+% rejection. So those hand tested membranes are better yes, otherwise it's just how lucky you get with the membrane you buy. With the spectra select you know what your getting. As previously stated most manufacturers only promise 95%. But with water at ~500 that 4% is the difference between 5 TDS into your resin or 10+ TDS into your resin. The lower your TDS is going into the resin the longer it will last.

My opinion is the the extra expense is worth the investment. You make up for the cost difference in the long term as you replace your resin less frequently, but pay more upfront.

Now the resin is hands down better from spectrapure.

Heck yea you guys rock. I’m definitely a quality type of person so I will purchase from them from now on. Interesting that their resin is even better. I’ll have to give it a shot to compare. Thanks so much you guys cleared it up a lot for me.

 

[christwendt]

If you keep chlorine away from your membrane it should last 5+ years.

You know when your membrane is shot when the TDS “in” goes up right ?

 

[Opus]

The membranes are the same (DOW), but spectrapure will hand test membranes which they call the spectra select. Those ones are hand tested for 99+% rejection. So those hand tested membranes are better yes, otherwise it's just how lucky you get with the membrane you buy. With the spectra select you know what your getting. As previously stated most manufacturers only promise 95%. But with water at ~500 that 4% is the difference between 5 TDS into your resin or 10+ TDS into your resin. The lower your TDS is going into the resin the longer it will last.

My opinion is the the extra expense is worth the investment. You make up for the cost difference in the long term as you replace your resin less frequently, but pay more upfront.

Now the resin is hands down better from spectrapure.

Is that chart from them or from a third party

 

[Woodyman]

You know when your membrane is shot when the TDS “in” goes up right ?

Not necessarily. Usually TDS changes with the seasons. Which is why you need to monitor the rejection % for the membrane.

 

[Woodyman]

Is that chart from them or from a third party

That is from spectrapure. Take it as you will, I haven't made the same measurements for gallons and megohms, but I can say from start to when I register 1 coming out a resin spectrapure lasts the longest.

 

[Opus]

You know when your membrane is shot when the TDS “in” goes up right ?

Sort of correct. It is when your rejection rate goes down. Like I said before, the manufacturer only guarantees around 95% and they are normally closer to 98% when new. It is up to you on when to replace. If it drops to 97% and you are ok with that then you are still fine. As noted though as the rejection rate goes down you are using up more DI.

 

[Woodyman]

Sort of correct. It is when your rejection rate goes down. Like I said before, the manufacturer only guarantees around 95% and they are normally closer to 98% when new. It is up to you on when to replace. If it drops to 97% and you are ok with that then you are still fine. As noted though as the rejection rate goes down you are using up more DI.

 

[Opus]

That is from spectrapure. Take it as you will, I haven't made the same measurements for gallons and megohms, but I can say from start to when I register 1 coming out a resin spectrapure lasts the longest.

I buy the cheap stuff off amazon and it lasts me over a year and I haven't noticed any difference from the more expensive stuff I've used. I've never used spectrapure though because it is usually double to triple the price. I doubt I will get double the amount of tds removal from theirs vs what I'm using. Plus they special mix theirs which can make it seem better since it is sold for a certain purpose.

 

[Woodyman]

I buy the cheap stuff off amazon and it lasts me over a year and I haven't noticed any difference from the more expensive stuff I've used. I've never used spectrapure though because it is usually double to triple the price. I doubt I will get double the amount of tds removal from theirs vs what I'm using. Plus they special mix theirs which can make it seem better since it is sold for a certain purpose.

Yea I use a special mix. The one im using isnt on the site. But I get 1+ year out of a mixed bed. For the volume I push out.

 

[christwendt]

Very helpful.

 

[LeftyReefer]

any idea who competitors #1, #2, and #3 in the DI resin chart are?

 

[Woodyman]

any idea who competitors #1, #2, and #3 in the DI resin chart are?

No it's also at least 4 years old. I stick with them because I get great customer service and have never had issues with any of the equipment. Pricing is high but the value is better. I will gladly pay for better value.

It would be nice to get an updated chart with actual resin brands.

 

[Opus]

No it's also at least 4 years old. I stick with them because I get great customer service and have never had issues with any of the equipment. Pricing is high but the value is better. I will gladly pay for better value.

It would be nice to get an updated chart with actual resin brands.

I always get mine from Premium Aquatics. I wait for one of their 15% off sales. Unless it has changed recently, spectrapure is one of the few companies that hasn't switched over to MAP pricing so stores can't put their stuff on sale.

 

[Opus]

any idea who competitors #1, #2, and #3 in the DI resin chart are?

Probably done that way so one of the "competitors" can't sue them for making false claims. Not saying the claims are false, just can't sue if you don't know if you are one of the competitors on the chart.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Per BRS, Pressure Adjustment - Aquatech booster pumps have a small Allen screw on the head of the pump that can be used to decrease the pressure output of the pump. If the water pressure at the membrane exceeds 90 PSI it is a good idea to reduce that pressure so as not to put too much stress on the RO tubing connections and canisters. The ideal operating pressure is 75 - 85 PSI for many common RO membranes.

 

[Woodyman]

Per BRS, Pressure Adjustment - Aquatech booster pumps have a small Allen screw on the head of the pump that can be used to decrease the pressure output of the pump. If the water pressure at the membrane exceeds 90 PSI it is a good idea to reduce that pressure so as not to put too much stress on the RO tubing connections and canisters. The ideal operating pressure is 75 - 85 PSI for many common RO membranes.

For canisters and fittings yes. Most brands use cheap canisters and fittings. I believe @Buckeye Hydro uses housings/fittings rated for over 100psi.

Spectrapure uses fittings and housings rated for over 100psi as well.

I don't know what the BRS ones are speced to.

Membranes on the other hand only function with a pressure gradient. Most 100 gpd consumer units top out at a maximum pressure of 150-300psi or so. Industrial ones much higher.

You will find plenty of people on here running in the 80-100psi range.

 

[Woodyman]

@christwendt do you recall the model # on your BRS RO membrane?

 

[Woodyman]

@christwendt do you recall the model # on your BRS RO membrane?

Disregard unless it doesn't match what I just found in the BRS site.

According to the site they use the DOW Filmtec TW30-1812-100HP which doesn't exist. So I'm assuming they mean DOW Filmtec TW30-1812-100HR.

Spec sheet linked below, dow rates that membrane for a maximum pressure of 150psi.

https://www.dupont.com/content/dam/dupont/amer/us/en/water-solutions/public/documents/en/45-D01697-en.pdf