reefer newby
Active Member
I am going to order a new ro/do system. On the micron filters , are the higher micron better than the lower micron
ro/di system question
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Higher... I believe that term could be relative.
A 10 micron filter will stop particles larger than 10 microns (or something like that)
A 1 micron will stop 1 micron particles and larger.
1 micron is smaller than 10 micron
In my opinion it's best to use a correct filter that will make work easier for the RO unit and give you the maximum life. I think I have a 10 micron filter as my first stage then a 5 micron carbon block then a 1 micron carbon block
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A 10 micron filter will stop particles larger than 10 microns (or something like that)
A 1 micron will stop 1 micron particles and larger.
1 micron is smaller than 10 micron
In my opinion it's best to use a correct filter that will make work easier for the RO unit and give you the maximum life. I think I have a 10 micron filter as my first stage then a 5 micron carbon block then a 1 micron carbon block
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No. Lower is far better.
Start with a 1 micron or less sediment filter so it protects the billions of tiny microscopic pores where the chlorine is adsorbed in the 1 micron or less carbon block. Bothe the sedimen tand carbon protect the RO membrane so it lasts longer, works better and does a better job of protecting the DI resin so it lasts longer, works better and costs less to own and operate.
You an actually see 40 microns with the unaided human eye so a 5 or 10 micron filter is very coarse, about as effective as a screen door really.
Remember, the sediment filter removes suspended particles, TSS, not dissolved particles, TDS so it has nothing to do with TDS which is what the membrane and DI are for. Protect them so they can do their job.
Take a look at the $130 reef RO/DI system at the top of the page here:
www.spectrapure.com . It uses a 1.0 micron, absolute rated sediment filter, a 1.0 micron 12,000 gallon carbon block, a 90 GPF specially treated and batch tested high rejection rate RO membrane and reef specific DI resin in a full size vertical refillable caniste rand cartridge. It also comes with an inline pressure gauge and a capillary tube flow restrictor andis backed by a company located in Tempe AZ for over 28 years. They do not come any better anywhere and especially for that price.
Or here for a unit with a 1.0 micron sediment, 0.5 micron 20,000 gallon carbon block, 75 GPD Dow Filmtec RO membrane, fulls size vertical refilable DI, pressure gauge and DI bypass valve for $169 and again backed by a company in the RO business for many years located in Ohio.
http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Category=168&Sub=166
Or here for a RO/DI with the 1 micron, 1 micron combination, 75 GPD Dow membrane, full size refillable DI and pressure gauge for $130
http://www.purelyh2o.com/index.php?...n=com_virtuemart&Itemid=99&vmcchk=1&Itemid=99
All are companies that have been in business for a long long time with decades of knowledge and experience in the reef hobby.
Start with a 1 micron or less sediment filter so it protects the billions of tiny microscopic pores where the chlorine is adsorbed in the 1 micron or less carbon block. Bothe the sedimen tand carbon protect the RO membrane so it lasts longer, works better and does a better job of protecting the DI resin so it lasts longer, works better and costs less to own and operate.
You an actually see 40 microns with the unaided human eye so a 5 or 10 micron filter is very coarse, about as effective as a screen door really.
Remember, the sediment filter removes suspended particles, TSS, not dissolved particles, TDS so it has nothing to do with TDS which is what the membrane and DI are for. Protect them so they can do their job.
Take a look at the $130 reef RO/DI system at the top of the page here:
www.spectrapure.com . It uses a 1.0 micron, absolute rated sediment filter, a 1.0 micron 12,000 gallon carbon block, a 90 GPF specially treated and batch tested high rejection rate RO membrane and reef specific DI resin in a full size vertical refillable caniste rand cartridge. It also comes with an inline pressure gauge and a capillary tube flow restrictor andis backed by a company located in Tempe AZ for over 28 years. They do not come any better anywhere and especially for that price.
Or here for a unit with a 1.0 micron sediment, 0.5 micron 20,000 gallon carbon block, 75 GPD Dow Filmtec RO membrane, fulls size vertical refilable DI, pressure gauge and DI bypass valve for $169 and again backed by a company in the RO business for many years located in Ohio.
http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Category=168&Sub=166
Or here for a RO/DI with the 1 micron, 1 micron combination, 75 GPD Dow membrane, full size refillable DI and pressure gauge for $130
http://www.purelyh2o.com/index.php?...n=com_virtuemart&Itemid=99&vmcchk=1&Itemid=99
All are companies that have been in business for a long long time with decades of knowledge and experience in the reef hobby.
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Mireefer
New Member
neither are better... just used for different stages. If you start with a 5 you are going to get a lot more life out of your .5
A .5 micron filter might get clogged if using well water in the first month. if you run it through a 10 then 5 then .5 then basically each filter will lengthen the life of the next filter. so the same well water that clogged a .5 in one month should be ok for 6 months with a broader, 2 or 3 stage filter.
I filter my well water through a 2 stage 5-.5 filter. This brings my ppm of tds down from about 250 to 50... then the RO membrane can take that last 50ppm down to about 15ppm. I have seen as low as 7ppm but never 0... mine is a homemade RO system maybe a name brand can make 0ppm...
A .5 micron filter might get clogged if using well water in the first month. if you run it through a 10 then 5 then .5 then basically each filter will lengthen the life of the next filter. so the same well water that clogged a .5 in one month should be ok for 6 months with a broader, 2 or 3 stage filter.
I filter my well water through a 2 stage 5-.5 filter. This brings my ppm of tds down from about 250 to 50... then the RO membrane can take that last 50ppm down to about 15ppm. I have seen as low as 7ppm but never 0... mine is a homemade RO system maybe a name brand can make 0ppm...
Sediment filters have nothing to do with TDS, they trap suspended solids, partculates and colloidal materials, none of which registers as TDS.
TDS or dissolved solids are in the 0.0001 micron range. Sediment filters are 0.2, 0.35, 0.5, 1.0, 5.o and 10.0 range in most cases so it is not possible to trap things which are dissolved in the water in the 0.0001 micron range.
Smaller is always better and absolute rated is much better than nominal rated. The whole reason for the sediment filte ris to protect the carbon pores and the reason for the carbon is to remove the chlorine and some volatiles to protect the expensive RO membrane. It will always be more cost effective to protect the membrane as best you can so it lasts longer, functions better and costs less over its useful life.
Maximize Performance - Minimize Cost
You always want the finest micron size you can get for your application. Multiple filters is rarely the answer since every component you place in front of the RO membrane has an associated headloss which reduces the efficiency of the membrane, driving DI replacements and costs up. For every 2% you lose in membrane efficiency you cut your DI life in half.
TDS or dissolved solids are in the 0.0001 micron range. Sediment filters are 0.2, 0.35, 0.5, 1.0, 5.o and 10.0 range in most cases so it is not possible to trap things which are dissolved in the water in the 0.0001 micron range.
Smaller is always better and absolute rated is much better than nominal rated. The whole reason for the sediment filte ris to protect the carbon pores and the reason for the carbon is to remove the chlorine and some volatiles to protect the expensive RO membrane. It will always be more cost effective to protect the membrane as best you can so it lasts longer, functions better and costs less over its useful life.
Maximize Performance - Minimize Cost
You always want the finest micron size you can get for your application. Multiple filters is rarely the answer since every component you place in front of the RO membrane has an associated headloss which reduces the efficiency of the membrane, driving DI replacements and costs up. For every 2% you lose in membrane efficiency you cut your DI life in half.
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