RO/DI Brute Question

[Greg Depo]

Hey guys,

So I’m a bit perplexed... I purchased a 75g 3 stage BRS ro/di system. After realizing our water is bad here, and they use chloramines I was forced to upgrade to a 5 stage system with 1 micron Filters. After the additional investment finally got to 0 tds.

My issue comes in play when I use a gray brute trash can for water collection. For some reason the first 5 gallons or so tend to be like 30tds then eventually it’ll get to zero when I dump that water and start fresh. I thought maybe the “leftover” water in the filters caused some issues. However today I’m doing only a 5g water change and used a standard bucket and the first water out of the ro/di was zero. What’s the deal? Does the brute can cause leaching? Is this a known issue? Can I use the higher ro/di water that I’m currently pretty much wasting??

 

[emilio365]

That’s odd, I have been using a brute for years with out a problem. Do you use that brute for mixing saltwater? Do you keep it covered when it’s empty

 

[piranhaman00]

Hey guys,

So I’m a bit perplexed... I purchased a 75g 3 stage BRS ro/di system. After realizing our water is bad here, and they use chloramines I was forced to upgrade to a 5 stage system with 1 micron Filters. After the additional investment finally got to 0 tds.

My issue comes in play when I use a gray brute trash can for water collection. For some reason the first 5 gallons or so tend to be like 30tds then eventually it’ll get to zero when I dump that water and start fresh. I thought maybe the “leftover” water in the filters caused some issues. However today I’m doing only a 5g water change and used a standard bucket and the first water out of the ro/di was zero. What’s the deal? Does the brute can cause leaching? Is this a known issue? Can I use the higher ro/di water that I’m currently pretty much wasting??

The water coming out of the DI is what you want to measure, when it gets into the brute it’s collecting TDS from somewhere. Did you mix salt in in? A drop of left over salt will tds contaminate an entire brute can worth, of course that doesn’t matter.

 

[Greg Depo]

That’s odd, I have been using a brute for years with out a problem. Do you use that brute for mixing saltwater? Do you keep it covered when it’s empty

Usually yes it stays covered. And It’s only used for saltwater mixing.

 

[Greg Depo]

The water coming out of the DI is what you want to measure, when it gets into the brute it’s collecting TDS from somewhere. Did you mix salt in in? A drop of left over salt will tds contaminate an entire brute can worth, of course that doesn’t matter.

I dry it out but I definitely don’t wash it out and I’m sure salt residue is present. Does that harm anything? The salt induced tds?

 

[emilio365]

I dry it out but I definitely don’t wash it out and I’m sure salt residue is present. Does that harm anything? The salt induced tds?

when I used mine to mix saltwater once I’m done, I will give it a quick spray down with freshwater and I dry it with clean paper towels. If there is any saltwater residue then the TDS will pick it up on the reading.

 

[piranhaman00]

Yes it’s leftover salt water. Not a big deal.

 

[Brandon Smith]

I agree that it isn't with the brute can. You could use the brute can to collect your RODI water, and then make your saltwater in a seperate container.

 

[jda]

Some of mine need some rinsing after sitting outside at the retailer. They were dusty and dirty. After this, they were totally fine for a long time. If you ever made saltwater in it, it will have very high TDS from the salt mix... nothing to worry about. Just measure the TDS of the water at the output line and don't worry about what is in the can.

 

[Fishresponse]

Sounds like it’s just the leftover salt residue causing inaccurate TDS results. On the off chance that it’s not that, TDS will be a lot higher when you first start flowing water through the unit. That’s why there’s flush kits that basically let the water run for a bit so you don’t filter the higher TDS water. It prolongs your prefilters And membrane so just something for you also to consider