RO/DI — Worth Upgrading?

[nickkohrn]

I have a 90gpd SpectraPure RO/DI unit. I have heard and seen talk about manual and automatic flushing. However, I don’t believe that my unit has this capability. Would it be worth upgrading to this one that does? It will significantly cut down on our water usage, and it should cut my production time in half.

I live in an apartment, and I. Ought the unit that I have to save space. However, we are in a larger apartment now with more storage, so I have a place to store it when it’s not in use. It will be hooked up to my sink, and I’ll eventually purchase a booster pump to use when in operation.

 

[dwest]

I have a 90gpd SpectraPure RO/DI unit. I have heard and seen talk about manual and automatic flushing. However, I don’t believe that my unit has this capability. Would it be worth upgrading to this one that does? It will significantly cut down on our water usage, and it should cut my production time in half.

I live in an apartment, and I. Ought the unit that I have to save space. However, we are in a larger apartment now with more storage, so I have a place to store it when it’s not in use. It will be hooked up to my sink, and I’ll eventually purchase a booster pump to use when in operation.

I’m a big fan of spectrapure systems. I would consider buying a manual flush system for that unit. I prefer the manual flush over automatic.

https://www.spectrapure.com/product-manuals/Kits/Flush-Valve-Kit.pdf

 

[Retro Reefer]

The flush valve basically will help extend the life of your RO membrane, you could just add one to your existing system if it doesn’t have one.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/membrane-flush-valve.html

 

[JoshH]

The flush valve basically will help extend the life of your RO membrane, you could just add one to your existing system if it doesn’t have one.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/membrane-flush-valve.html

@nickkohrn make sure you get the appropriate valve setup from Spectrapure as @dwest has linked you to or atleast be aware that the valves at BRS are a completely different animal with the flow restrictors built inside them and you will have to size the appropriate one to your system. I would agree with @dwest and go with the manual flush myself.

Also worth noting that you can technically make adjustments to your current system to match the production of that unit you linked. All you need to do is replace the flow restrictor with a longer one to lower your water waste ratio to 2:1. I wouldn't really do this though as the waste to product ratio is really ideal in the 4-3:1 range. Any lower and you could potentially decrease the life of your membrane quicker. If you upgraded your membrane and DI to the ones in the system you linked, buy the flush valve linked above and replace the flow restrictor with a longer one you essentially have the exact same system you were looking to upgrade to minus the extra DI stage and TDS meter.

 

[nickkohrn]

With the parts that you have provided, I should be able to save a bunch of money.

Is it worth getting a booster pump since it’s hooked to my sink with a faucet adapter when in use?

Also, I have an auto-shutoff that is attached to the RO/DI unit, and it utilizes a float valve in the bucket that houses the production water. The auto-shutoff valve stops the production water when the float valve is raised, but the waste water keeps flowing. Is that normal behavior?

 

[DesertReefT4r]

The waste water will stop after a little while. Its takes time for the pressure inside system to bleed off out of the waste line. If it never stops something is not right.

 

[nickkohrn]

The waste water will stop after a little while. Its takes time for the pressure inside system to bleed off out of the waste line. If it never stops something is not right.

I’ll keep an eye on it. I guess I haven’t paid enough attention to see if it ever stops after a while; maybe because I turn the faucet off soon after the float valve shuts off the production water.

Do you know how loud booster pumps are? I’ve never been around one to hear. I could purchase one and get the parts that were linked to for manual flushing for the price of just the upgraded unit that I linked to.

 

[kevin_e]

Yeah, just get a flush valve. I am in an apartment. I actually split my RODI off of the laundry water supply. Are hou able to do that?

 

[nickkohrn]

Yeah, just get a flush valve. I am in an apartment. I actually split my RODI off of the laundry water supply. Are hou able to do that?

I wish that I could, but the stackable washer and dryer are in a small closet, which is just large enough to slide them in.

 

[nickkohrn]

I want to get a booster pump since the pressure coming out of our faucet is low. Is this pump appropriate if I get this flush valve kit?

 

[kevin_e]

The waste water will stop after a little while. Its takes time for the pressure inside system to bleed off out of the waste line. If it never stops something is not right.

Could be wrong, but if his water supply is still running, wouldn't it still be producing waste water whether his usable output is closed off or not?

 

[kevin_e]

I wish that I could, but the stackable washer and dryer are in a small closet, which is just large enough to slide them in.

Gotcha. That's too bad.

 

[count krunk]

@Water Dog provided me some nice tips here.

check out this thread https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aqua-rx-ro-di-unit-optimization.548159/#post-5646949


as for booster pump, it basically seems like all RO/DI units need one to operate as best as possible. What is your PSI? mine is 35-40, i will eventually get a booster pump to bump it to 60

 

[nickkohrn]

@Water Dog provided me some nice tips here.

check out this thread https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aqua-rx-ro-di-unit-optimization.548159/#post-5646949


as for booster pump, it basically seems like all RO/DI units need one to operate as best as possible. What is your PSI? mine is 35-40, i will eventually get a booster pump to bump it to 60

Thanks for the reference!

The PSI that I get is what you get. My 90gpd seems to take a while since it’s hooked up to the bathroom faucet via a threaded adapter.

 

[JoshH]

I want to get a booster pump since the pressure coming out of our faucet is low. Is this pump appropriate if I get this flush valve kit?

I would check out BRS for the exact same pump price wise I believe they are cheaper and offer free shipping. But yes that pump is appropriate.

@Water Dog provided me some nice tips here.

check out this thread https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aqua-rx-ro-di-unit-optimization.548159/#post-5646949


as for booster pump, it basically seems like all RO/DI units need one to operate as best as possible. What is your PSI? mine is 35-40, i will eventually get a booster pump to bump it to 60

I would use caution in saying every system needs a booster pump. This is largely a requirement of low PSI plumbing supplies. My PSI from the street where I live is 85, actually higher than the max rating for RODI fittings.

 

[nickkohrn]

I would check out BRS for the exact same pump price wise I believe they are cheaper and offer free shipping. But yes that pump is appropriate.

Thanks for the suggestion! SpectraPure was $55 in shipping, and BRS was free. I did place the order for the manual flush kit from SpectraPure ($9 shipping), though.

 

[kevin_e]

I would check out BRS for the exact same pump price wise I believe they are cheaper and offer free shipping. But yes that pump is appropriate.



I would use caution in saying every system needs a booster pump. This is largely a requirement of low PSI plumbing supplies. My PSI from the street where I live is 85, actually higher than the max rating for RODI fittings.

Mine runs near 100.

 

[JoshH]

Thanks for the suggestion! SpectraPure was $55 in shipping, and BRS was free. I did place the order for the manual flush kit from SpectraPure ($9 shipping), though.

I wish you had have held off you could have gotten the same thing from BRS. I'll take the blame though I should have mentioned it earlier but didn't know you were ready to purchase

 

[nickkohrn]

I wish you had have held off you could have gotten the same thing from BRS. I'll take the blame though I should have mentioned it earlier but didn't know you were ready to purchase

That’s no problem! I take the blame for not knowing what I’m doing with regard to this. It’s all sorted, though. I ordered what I need, and that’s what I’m concerned about.

I appreciate the help!

 

[count krunk]

*all units that are in houses with low PSI haha there is the correction.