Rodi filter change question

smokin'reefer · Oct 30, 2016

I'm fixing to swap out my RO/DI filters for the first time. It's an aqua FX Barracuda, although I don't think that matters. My question do you rinse out the carbon filter like you do during the initial setup? Thanks for any and all advice or opinions on this.

Snook65 · Oct 30, 2016

When I change out my filters, I just let the system run for 20-30 minutes without using this water. Just did mine yesterday and then checked the water with my TDS meter to make sure I was getting zero PPM.

smokin'reefer · Oct 30, 2016

Thanks, so you don't need to flush a carbon filter before adding the DI. Initially they say to flush carbon to help clean it up before putting the DI filter in.

ngvu1 · Oct 30, 2016

I do rinse out any new filter before connecting to the next stage. Specially, I don't want all the carbon powder ends up in the membrane. However, I don't know if that makes a difference given the fact that I replace the membrane every 2 - 3 years

smokin'reefer · Oct 30, 2016

Thanks. I will definitely do that. And let it run for 20 to 30 minutes before using the water like a Snook suggested.

ngvu1 · Oct 30, 2016

By rinse, I mean let it runs until the water is clear and TDS is stable. About 10 gallons of output water if I remember correctly.
I do not connect this new filter to the next stage that is......The dirty water does not go to the next filter at all....

smokin'reefer · Oct 30, 2016

Should I remove my membrane also while I am rinsing?

ngvu1 · Oct 30, 2016

I unhook the input to the membrane and let this water goes to a bucket....for the tree

smokin'reefer said:
Should I remove my membrane also while I am rinsing?

Nano101 · Oct 30, 2016

I don't rinse my RO, but I manually replace my DI and carbon. I rinse it before I put it in the canister in a filter sock, with RO/DI water that is already at 0 TDS. I have an FX barricuda, I really like the Aqua FX systems.

smokin'reefer · Oct 30, 2016

I might have to check into that next time. I just got the pre-made cartridges from Marine Depot. Yeah I like the Barracuda II haven't had any problems.

Nano101 · Oct 30, 2016

smokin'reefer said:
I might have to check into that next time. I just got the pre-made cartridges from Marine Depot. Yeah I like the Barracuda II haven't had any problems.

You still need to buy quality carbon and resin. Too bad you can't get cheaper ro membranes. They get pricey. I have 390TDS well water. Does a number on my setup. I have a 10 micron washable filter, than a 1 micron, then the Carbon, RO, then DI. I clean the 10 micron weekly and replace the 1 micron every 2-3 weeks. I need a water softener, would extend the life system as a whole.

smokin'reefer · Oct 30, 2016

Yeah, that sounds a little extreme. I'm pretty fortunate that out of the tap a Runabout 30 to 40 parts per million. I can get it to 0 before the membrane with Phresh filters. With the dirty filters I run about 0 to 2 ppm. Out in the country where my daughter lives it's very Sandy. Almost acts as a filter by itself. She gets 0 PPM out of the tap out of her well.

cromag27 · Oct 31, 2016

Carbon and sediment filters should not need to be rinsed, as with di.

Buckeye Hydro · Nov 3, 2016

cromag08 said:
Carbon and sediment filters should not need to be rinsed, as with di.

Sediment filters typically don't need to be rinsed, but carbon blocks absolutely should be rinsed. The first 30 seconds or so of water to come out of a carbon block will be loaded with carbon fines.

What do we mean by "rinsed?" Put the filter in it's housing and run water through it, but don't let the water that comes out of it go into any other filters - we want that water to make its way to a drain. To do this you can remove a tube from the inlet fitting of the next filter stage downstream, or you can temporarily remove all downstream filters from their housing. New RO membranes should also be rinsed, as should new DI cartridges.

Russ

Buckeye Hydro · Nov 3, 2016

Nano101 said:
I don't rinse my RO, but I manually replace my DI and carbon. I rinse it before I put it in the canister in a filter sock, with RO/DI water that is already at 0 TDS. I have an FX barricuda, I really like the Aqua FX systems.

When you rinse up a new filter, you want water to slow through the filter in it's normal direction.

Nano101 · Nov 3, 2016

Buckeye Hydro said:
When you rinse up a new filter, you want water to slow through the filter in it's normal direction.

I rinse the media separate before placing in canister. I refill my canisters myself

Buckeye Hydro · Nov 3, 2016

Sounds like you are using GAC or CGAC?

alton · Nov 3, 2016

If I remember since my original setup was from FX, the carbon containers do not have any kind of filter material, just 100% carbon. So when you first start up a new system there is a relief valve that you open to flush the carbon dust out before the membrane. It wasn't till I switched to other company's carbon filters did I realize flushing was not needed.

Waters · Nov 3, 2016

I just replace the two filters and the DI resin, turn it on and go. It reads high TDS for about 20 seconds but the amount of water being pushed out during that time is so small it doesn't really matter. I have been doing it this way for almost 2 years.

Reefer1978 · Nov 3, 2016

I also rinse one filter at a time, 5 gallons per each.... The other containers are empty until clean filters go into them. The amount of crap that comes out of carbon filters is crazy, deff don't want that in the membrane/di.