RO/DI cartridge longevity?

[razorskiss]

I'm running a 5 stage RO/DI system from aquaticlife that I got locally with an "extra" carbon canister because my city uses lots of chloramine. Based on contaminant levels in my tapwater, the canisters in my system should be rated to last about 3000 gallons, which seems ridiculously high. For my 25 gallon cube, a weekly 5 gallon change would mean the canisters should last a decade! What's a more likely lifespan? Also what's the best way to gauge system health? TDS readings?

 

[Reef.]

3000 is not that high, some are 50,000 gallons…but they also have a time lifespan which should be on the label but 6-12 months would be a good guide depending on usage.

Depends what you mean by health system?

TDS does not pick up everything that could be in the water, even if the reading is zero for TDS you could have phosphate, silicates , chlorine etc would not show in the TDS count.

Using good filters and changing regularly is good practice, use TDS as only one measure for how good your water is.

 

[Jedi1199]

I make about 30-40 gallons/wk for my tanks. My RO cartridge lasted over 15 months. I replaced it last month because I needed to make 160 gallons of water fast. As far as I know, the old one was still just fine. I still had 0 TDS readings in the collection can.

 

[Gtinnel]

I used to get around 3,000 gallons or more from my di before replacing it. My tds going into the di would always be 0-1ppm.
I don’t get as many gallons from my di anymore since adding a second membrane and the water going into it is around 3-4ppm.

Its possible you could gets years out of the di if your source water is low tds, the rejection rate of the membrane is high, and you don’t make a lot of water. Yes the best way to gauge if the system is working is from the tds before and after the membrane and di, and from a pressure before the membrane.

Edit- sorry I mis read the question and thought it was about how long the di lasts. After reading it again I’m honestly not sure if the OP is asking about how long the membrane lasts or the sediment/carbon filters.

 

[Jedi1199]

I used to get around 3,000 gallons or more from my di before replacing it. My tds going into the di would always be 0-1ppm.
I don’t get as many gallons from my di anymore since adding a second membrane and the water going into it is around 3-4ppm.

Its possible you could gets years out of the di if your source water is low tds, the rejection rate of the membrane is high, and you don’t make a lot of water. Yes the best way to gauge if the system is working is from the tds before and after the membrane and di, and from a pressure before the membrane.

Edit- sorry I mis read the question and thought it was about how long the di lasts. After reading it again I’m honestly not sure if the OP is asking about how long the membrane lasts or the sediment/carbon filters.

The DI resin cartridge I need to replace monthly at the latest. Depending on how much the system is in use. I change the other carts bi-annually.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I'm running a 5 stage RO/DI system from aquaticlife that I got locally with an "extra" carbon canister because my city uses lots of chloramine. Based on contaminant levels in my tapwater, the canisters in my system should be rated to last about 3000 gallons, which seems ridiculously high. For my 25 gallon cube, a weekly 5 gallon change would mean the canisters should last a decade! What's a more likely lifespan? Also what's the best way to gauge system health? TDS readings?

I would be changing the carbon filter every 12 months. Test using a chlorine test from a local swim shop.

The DI resin may well last longer if the Carbon is replaced so that chlorine and chloramines do not make it to the resin.

 

[gbroadbridge]

The DI resin cartridge I need to replace monthly at the latest. Depending on how much the system is in use. I change the other carts bi-annually.

My Mixed bed DI resin lasts 9 months.

something about my water

 

[Jedi1199]

My Mixed bed DI resin lasts 9 months.

something about my water

You must have very good tap water.

Mine comes from a city municipality It is fair compared to larger cities, but still...

 

[gbroadbridge]

You must have very good tap water.

Mine comes from a city municipality It is fair compared to larger cities, but still...

My input TDS is about 80, but output is around 1 after the 5 year old membrane. The 500ml canister of mixed resin just removes that.

I just got lucky.

 

[KStatefan]

Depending on your waste to good water ratio your carbon and sediment filters could see 5 times the amount of water you are making.

 

[Gtinnel]

The DI resin cartridge I need to replace monthly at the latest. Depending on how much the system is in use. I change the other carts bi-annually.

Before adding a second membrane not long ago I would replace my sediment and carbon about every 6 months, my di every year, and my membrane every two years. That is with my source water being about 100ppm and the water coming out of my membrane at 1 or less.
Since adding a second membrane my di won’t last as long, but I haven’t used it long enough to say how much less time I’ll get out of it.

To only get a month out of di you must have pretty high tds source water or you make a lot of water.

 

[ScottJ]

I'm running a 5 stage RO/DI system from aquaticlife that I got locally with an "extra" carbon canister because my city uses lots of chloramine. Based on contaminant levels in my tapwater, the canisters in my system should be rated to last about 3000 gallons, which seems ridiculously high. For my 25 gallon cube, a weekly 5 gallon change would mean the canisters should last a decade! What's a more likely lifespan? Also what's the best way to gauge system health? TDS readings?

I just think it's a good idea to change out the carbon and sediment filters every 6 months. They are pretty inexpensive, and you will get the most out of the RO membrane that way.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I just think it's a good idea to change out the carbon and sediment filters every 6 months. They are pretty inexpensive, and you will get the most out of the RO membrane that way.

I don't agree.

Changing out filters before they are exhasuted is a waste.

Sediment filters are obiouslu dirty, carbon can be measured by a pool trest kit,, and worn out di resin is easy measure with te iltets provided.

Am I the inly person who read the meters ibyuilt into the the filters?

They tell a lot.

 

[doubleshot00]

i just replaced my two di resins and sediment after 4 months. It all depends on your water.

 

[razorskiss]

Wow, that's a lot of data points for me, thanks! The main system I got is 50 gpd, average rejection is 1:3.5 so sediment and carbon cartridges see 22.5 ish gallons per water change for me. The extra carbon cartridge I got for handling chloramine is like twice the diameter of the main system cartridge so hopefully that will last a while. I like the idea of periodically testing for chlorine coming out of the carbon cartridges to gauge health. The di resin changes color so that leaves the ro membrane itself as the main question mark for judging the life of, probably by testing TDS coming out before going through the resin

 

[KStatefan]

I don't agree.

Changing out filters before they are exhasuted is a waste.

Sediment filters are obiouslu dirty, carbon can be measured by a pool trest kit,, and worn out di resin is easy measure with te iltets provided.

Am I the inly person who read the meters ibyuilt into the the filters?

They tell a lot.

I use psi for my sediment filter but doubt I will ever have to replace it since I have a whole house filter and use a good sediment filter.

I use gallons used for the carbon filters. I use a cheap filter first and replace it a 2000 gallons and a 0.5 micron after and change at 8,000 gallons. My water does not have chlormines in it but could at anytime without notice so overkill there.

TDS before and out for the membrane but I have been doing some test on different membranes so have been changing quicker then needed.

DI resin I added separate anion and cation after getting high CO2 in my water to my spectrapure system since then I have only replaced the anion resin

I also collect data once per month run the system for 30 minutes the record data to track.

 

[razorskiss]

The DI resin cartridge I need to replace monthly at the latest. Depending on how much the system is in use. I change the other carts bi-annually.

I've heard that adding a bypass drain after the membrane and dumping the first gallon of so of output before reconnecting the resin cartridge can greatly extend it's life.

 

[KStatefan]

I've heard that adding a bypass drain after the membrane and dumping the first gallon of so of output before reconnecting the resin cartridge can greatly extend it's life.

I do that on my system to send any TDS creep down the drain.

 

[jsker]

I am running a 5 stage system.

I change the DI, when the color turns.
I change the sediment filter, carbon filter about every year. The RO filter, about 3000 liters or one a year.

The water here is very hard, and treated. Most down here do not drink the tap water. I do not have a whole house system which would cut down on the filter changes. A whole house system is in our future

I have read, we're members who have well water, can burn through DI resin pretty quickly.

I wonder were your city's water source is from? For example, our water source is from the St. Johns River.

 

[Dcloser12]

I change my pre-filter and carbon about every 3 months. Di resin 2x a year on average and my membranes annually. It comes out to about 225 a year or 18$ a month.