Rodi from well

[Dlefty]

I have shared this data many times over the last 12-15 years on all the reef forums. If you feel it works for you then by all means stick with it but you would have better water quality at a lower cost of ownership if you tried a more modern technology which has proven results.

I will have to try it the next time around. Thanks so much!

 

[superbluetang]

Letme know how it goes as I'm interested as well.

 

[tcarter1936]

Letme know how it goes as I'm interested as well.

I definitely will but I'm going to post results of changes after adding more pressure first as I want to see what makes the biggest change in quality

 

[tcarter1936]

Ok update time.
So far I've added a new booster pump bringing pressure from 38 psi to 90 psi after pump right before membrane. I also added a new 48000 grain water softener. My parameters are ad follows.
Kh=11.7
Ph=7.8
Pressure in=38 psi
Pressure to membrane=90 psi
Temperature =68°
Waste to product ratio= 1-1
Tds in is 556
Tds after membrane is 36
So I'm convinced that ro is working great but still burning up resin, I'm communicating with jeremy from Spectrapure and is still looking like it may be co2 levels. Also got seal a meal to preserve my resins in the future.

 

[TheEngineer]

I don't recall you saying you have hard water. Did you? Adding that softener pushed your TDS up by 25% from what you originally reported. You're still only getting 94% rejection from your membrane. That's good but you should be at least 97%. That may not sound like a big difference but it would more than halve your TDS out.

I would try a cheap CO2 test before all these expensive things, but water under the bridge now. Your pH would suggest your CO2 is probably fine.

 

[tcarter1936]

Well my total hardness was 450,I added the softener for the house more than the ro,I'm ordering the CO2 test before other steps,just wanted it known that it was added. Thanks

 

[TheEngineer]

That can't be right. Your total hardness shouldn't be above 375 at the absolute top end. Water is considered hard beginning at 60 mg/l. TDS and hardness are not the same thing.

 

[tcarter1936]

450 was the results of 2 test kits, soap wouldn't make suds and our fixtures were being encrusted. Even if the test was flawed it now reads around 0. Still my issues I with the di and possible c02

 

[TheEngineer]

If you assume two people and 80 gallons of water used each per day that's 15,000 grains a day. That ignores your tank. You're going to run through salt like crazy.

Personally, I would do some professional testing on your water before you go any further. It's around $100 and it will tell you what your numbers really are.

 

[tcarter1936]

Water was tested and softener sized by manufacturer and we have five people as well as two out buildings on one acre lot. It was sized accordingly to only regenerate every five days.

 

[TheEngineer]

OK. It sounds very off to me. Watch how often it regenerates either you've got the wrong hardness number or your manufacturer was wrong. Not trying to give you a hard time. I don't want to see you chasing your tail.

 

[AZDesertRat]

With that TDS you need to increase your waste ratio to a minimum of 3:1 or your membrane will be toast in a matter of months, even using softened water. By increasing the waste ratio you will see a significant drop in the RO only TDS meaning the rejection rate has gone up. Membranes must be flushed, there is no way around it and by flushing I do not mean flush kits on the waste line which is totally different.

 

[AZDesertRat]

450 total hardness is not unusual, thats about what it is here in Phoenix also. I installed a water softener 15 years ago for that reason. I add three bags of salt every other month.

 

[tcarter1936]

Agreed ,however, what do you recommend for increasing waste ratio

 

[AZDesertRat]

Get a new untrimmed capillary tube flow restrictor from Spectrapure or Buckeye Hydro and trim it for your water conditions. By going that route for around $5-$6 you can make the waste whatever you need. There is only one RO/DI system available that will work at 1:1 waste ratio and last very long, the reason is it used stored RO/DI water to flush the membrane on a timed basis then stores it soaking in DI on shut downs so it pulls the TDS out of the membrane so it does not harden and foul the membrane. Normal systems cannot do this so membrane life is cut to almost nothing if the wastes keep building up. Membranes must be flushed via the waste ratio.

 

[tcarter1936]

Thanks i will give it a shot.
Also I've been hearing alot of people have issues with the longevity of brs color changing resins

 

[AZDesertRat]

I don't imagine BRS color changing resin is any different than most other vendors, they all get it from places like Purolite or Dow.
One thing that really impressed me with Spectrapure is they have made the statement in forums that they reject more shipments of resin due to quality control or performance issues than most others sell. The reef hobby is just a small portion of what they custom blend and sell resins for. Some things like the hydrogen fuel and potable water remineralization industries are even pickier than the reef hobby. You have probably had a cup of coffee that was deionized then reionized with just the right amounts of minerals with Spectrapure resins and didn't even know it. They are big in both of those industries.

 

[hejjo]

I drink rodi water. Am I gunna die? Lol

 

[tcarter1936]

Of coarse

 

[tcarter1936]

I don't imagine BRS color changing resin is any different than most other vendors, they all get it from places like Purolite or Dow.
One thing that really impressed me with Spectrapure is they have made the statement in forums that they reject more shipments of resin due to quality control or performance issues than most others sell. The reef hobby is just a small portion of what they custom blend and sell resins for. Some things like the hydrogen fuel and potable water remineralization industries are even pickier than the reef hobby. You have probably had a cup of coffee that was deionized then reionized with just the right amounts of minerals with Spectrapure resins and didn't even know it. They are big in both of those industries.

Interesting, I'm getting there resin next, so far they seem very cooperative and informative and the pricing isn't bad either.