RO tastes disgusting

[hart24601]

I would also look into disinfecting the unit. Bacteria will grow post membrane and many units for drinking water have UV sterilizers post RO storage vessel.

The fill your own water jug system at Walmart is like this, RO water but with UV on the dispenser.

 

[JCOLE]

Did you flush the new membrane first or did you replace it and then immediately drink it? The membrane should be flushed for 30 minutes or so before using it.

 

[RichReef]

I run my water through the DI resin for the reef tank. I split it after the membrane and send one line to another carbon block for drinking water. It goes to an 8 gallon bladder tank for storage. Water tastes great.

But I did experience 2 problems when I first set it up. My TDS going to the reef tank was 3. Was always 0 before I added the drinking part. The water started tasting funny. I added a check valve going to the drinking water line and all was fixed.

We love the ice and the water.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I changed my membrane a month ago and I changed my 2 carbon blocks and my sediment filter 2 weeks ago and I made a lot of water (meaning it’s all flushed out).

My TDS after the membrane is 6ppm (I drained it after the membrane because I wanted to taste it).

My mom and I both drank a cup at the same time. (I was trying to brag about how my water quality is so excellent because we don’t have water filters in the house).

I expected the best tasting water in the world, instead it was horrible. Tasted like salt? Not really salt, but it had a distinct sour taste. I want to know if this taste means something? How can I make it taste good? Does bad tasting water mean poor quantity water for the reef?

RODI will leach things from your body and taste weird (harmless unless you constantly drink it 24/7), water doesn't "want" to be RODI and will "suck" things up.

water has a taste, whatever water you drink most will seem most tasteless.

 

[anthonygf]

RODI will leach things from your body and taste weird (harmless unless you constantly drink it 24/7), water doesn't "want" to be RODI and will "suck" things up.

The same thing happens in water softeners. When you install a water softener it will absorb the minerals that deposit in the bottom of the tank after so many years and the tank will leak because the minerals corrodes the metal and when the minerals are taken back by the soft water will expose the damaged metal and will leak. Ask me how I know.

 

[SlugSnorter]

The same thing happens in water softeners. When you install a water softener it will absorb the minerals that deposit in the bottom of the tank after so many years and the tank will leak because the minerals corrodes the metal and when the minerals are taken back by the soft water will expose the damaged metal and will leak. Ask me how I know.

why did you add a softener to a SW tank?

Anyways, if there wasn't minerals in tap water, you'd have lead poisoning.

 

[Tamberav]

I changed my membrane a month ago and I changed my 2 carbon blocks and my sediment filter 2 weeks ago and I made a lot of water (meaning it’s all flushed out).

My TDS after the membrane is 6ppm (I drained it after the membrane because I wanted to taste it).

My mom and I both drank a cup at the same time. (I was trying to brag about how my water quality is so excellent because we don’t have water filters in the house).

I expected the best tasting water in the world, instead it was horrible. Tasted like salt? Not really salt, but it had a distinct sour taste. I want to know if this taste means something? How can I make it taste good? Does bad tasting water mean poor quantity water for the reef?

RO for drinking… there is a filter for taste. So basically you T it off after your RO (before the DI) and it runs through a special filter that adds minerals back for taste. Too clean of water does not taste good.

Also RO filters need to be bleached (you remove filters and are running bleach through the plastic parts) every so often since you are using them for drinking. They slime up with bacteria and get nasty.

 

[anthonygf]

why did you add a softener to a SW tank?

Anyways, if there wasn't minerals in tap water, you'd have lead poisoning.

I did not add a softener for the SW tank. It is for the whole house. It protects faucets and other plumbing fixtures. Our water here is very hard.

And how do you get lead poisoning without minerals? Anyway I add minerals to the water that has been stripped clean.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I did not add a softener for the SW tank. It is for the whole house. It protects faucets and other plumbing fixtures. Our water here is very hard.

And how do you get lead poisoning without minerals? Anyway I add minerals to the water that has been stripped clean.

oh, sorry lol.

Many pipes around the world are still lead but the stuff in the tap water creates a film that stops any lead from leaching out. Its harmless to humans and (most) captive animals, but could harm more sensitive animals (fish)

 

[anthonygf]

RO for drinking… there is a filter for taste. So basically you T it off after your RO (before the DI) and it runs through a special filter that adds minerals back for taste. Too clean of water does not taste good.

Also RO filters need to be bleached (you remove filters and are running bleach through the plastic parts) every so often since you are using them for drinking. They slime up with bacteria and get nasty.

I would not drink RO water, that is just me. You want to use the alkaline filter after the DI resin. I think it works better that way

It is a good idea to periodically run a few drops of bleach through your system to clean and disinfect.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I've had RO water for the past 3 homes and the last 18 years and the water taste absolutely fine. After the membrane, my drinking and ice maker water goes through an additional coconut shell carbon filter. I'd question the "sour" taste that you are getting from your unit.

This, I run a under sink 3 stage ro that feeds my fridge and kitchen sink cold side (fridge has additional proprietary carbon filter) Never had a bad taste from it.

Now rodi water, NO thanks.

 

[anthonygf]

oh, sorry lol.

Many pipes around the world are still lead but the stuff in the tap water creates a film that stops any lead from leaching out. Its harmless to humans and (most) captive animals, but could harm more sensitive animals (fish)

I have plastic plumbing throughout the house, they are built that way. You are right that softened water could cause copper and lead to leach into the water.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I never cleaned out the actual canisters. I remember one time there was sludge when I didn’t change the filters on time, and I never sterilized it because I thought the new filters would take care of it.

Here my membrane. I just recently changed it last month

I've tried a few of the various membranes that are for sale on amazon, they are mostly junk. I've even bought the dow branded ones from amazon, one seemed legit and one imho was fake, so ymmv....

 

[anthonygf]

This, I run a under sink 3 stage ro that feeds my fridge and kitchen sink cold side (fridge has additional proprietary carbon filter) Never had a bad taste from it.

Now rodi water, NO thanks.

In order to drink RODI water you must run it through alkaline filters, will add the beneficial minerals and raise the PH from acidic to alkaline.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

In order to drink RODI water you must run it through alkaline filters, will add the beneficial minerals and raise the PH from acidic to alkaline.

I don't bother with RODI water except for aquarium uses.

I do use RO water for human consumption. Why spend extra cash on burning through DI resin and then alkaline filtration, in my situation its unnecessary.

 

[SlugSnorter]

In order to drink RODI water you must run it through alkaline filters, will add the beneficial minerals and raise the PH from acidic to alkaline.

acidity is not the issue. RODI water "doesn't want" to be rodi water, and will leach minerals and such from things its exposed to. Also, pure water has a ph of 7.0

 

[anthonygf]

I never cleaned out the actual canisters. I remember one time there was sludge when I didn’t change the filters on time, and I never sterilized it because I thought the new filters would take care of it.

Here my membrane. I just recently changed it last month

In seven years I have not seen any sludge in my filters, that may be due to all the filtration I have for the house. I have a whole house carbon filter that stands 4 feet tall, water softener, sediment filter, water pressure booster pump. I also have carbon filters before and after the membranes and at the alkaline filters, a little excessive but I have everything covered.

 

[polyppal]

I like a large cool glass of rodi with my scrambled eggs in the morning.

Spice them up with a little Red Sea Coral Pro, and your in heaven (literally)

 

[anthonygf]

acidity is not the issue. RODI water "doesn't want" to be rodi water, and will leach minerals and such from things its exposed to. Also, pure water has a ph of 7.0

Yes you are correct, I don't trust drinking the RO water though. I forget what the PH is it may be 7.0 which is ok, but I want to strip the water of anything that is in tap water which will cause the ph to drop and when I run it through alkaline filters I get a high ph 7.6-9 which I prefer and I believe is the best for drinking.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Yes you are correct, I don't trust drinking the RO water though. I forget what the PH is it may be 7.0 which is ok, but I want to strip the water of anything that is in tap water which will cause the ph to drop and when I run it through alkaline filters I get a high ph 7.6-9 which I prefer and I believe is the best for drinking.

acidity (unless you're eating HCL or smth) is not much of an issue (to humans) and water has a ph of 7.0 which is neutral anyways. We can chug down a glass of orange juice (ph 3.5) without issue.