rodi system resin failed after 3 weeks

Joe parrish · May 30, 2016

So I bought a new 6 stage system and I have literally had it for 3 weeks, used it for maybe 30 gals max.

Today the tds meter is reading 22 ppm coming out and the resin looks brown.

I am going to call the place I got it from Tuesday, can anyone explain how this is even possible

glb · May 30, 2016

That doesn't seem possible to me unless the resin was defective. I'd definitely call the vendor.

AZDesertRat · May 30, 2016

What is your tap water TDS, RO only TDS before the DI and your finished water TDS, all measured directly from the source and not stored water. What is your water pressure and water temperature? What is your exact measured waste ratio? Are you using g softened water or if not what is the calcium carbonate hardness of the tap water? Do you make RO/DI in large 5 gallon or larger batches or short spurts? What system did you buy and was the DI packaged in vacuum sealed mylar foil bags or has it been sitting on a LFS shelf for years? DI has a very short shelf life if not packed and stored properly and even then it's only 6 months.

Joe parrish · May 30, 2016

I am glad you asked all of that it made me go check every spot with a tds meter and they had the drain line and the line to the resin backwards from the factory
I had 125 tds out of the membrane and 6 tds out of the drain line also explains why it was making water so quick

AZDesertRat said:
What is your tap water TDS, RO only TDS before the DI and your finished water TDS, all measured directly from the source and not stored water. What is your water pressure and water temperature? What is your exact measured waste ratio? Are you using g softened water or if not what is the calcium carbonate hardness of the tap water? Do you make RO/DI in large 5 gallon or larger batches or short spurts? What system did you buy and was the DI packaged in vacuum sealed mylar foil bags or has it been sitting on a LFS shelf for years? DI has a very short shelf life if not packed and stored properly and even then it's only 6 months.

AZDesertRat · May 30, 2016

It pays to buy from a legitimate vendor who specializes in RO.
What are the answers to all the other questions?

Griff · May 30, 2016

Desert rat where do you buy your Di resin carbon filters membranes. You were very helpful in another thread where I was having issues. You seem extremely knowledgable on the subject of water purification and the RODI process.

Joe parrish · May 30, 2016

tap tds 135
ro tds was 125 and the drain line was 6 tds this was backwards
the finish tds is 22

psi is 65

I have no clue on the temp

It seemed like I was getting 50 50 on waste water and finished water
not on softened water I have no clue on the hardness of the tap water I am not sure how to check

The unit came from a online company marine company and it is there brand I don't really want to say there name I will if they don't help me out by replacing the resin I would assume they will help out being the thing came like that

Chefbill · May 31, 2016

RO Buddy?

glb · May 31, 2016

Chefbill said:
RO Buddy?

That's what I have. I've been using it for about 8-9 mos and the resin is still going strong.

glb · May 31, 2016

Joe parrish said:
tap tds 135
ro tds was 125 and the drain line was 6 tds this was backwards
the finish tds is 22

psi is 65

I have no clue on the temp

It seemed like I was getting 50 50 on waste water and finished water
not on softened water I have no clue on the hardness of the tap water I am not sure how to check

The unit came from a online company marine company and it is there brand I don't really want to say there name I will if they don't help me out by replacing the resin I would assume they will help out being the thing came like that

I usually get a 1:4/5 ratio. 50/50 doesn't sound right.

Chefbill · May 31, 2016

glb said:
That's what I have. I've been using it for about 8-9 mos and the resin is still going strong.

Mine made less than 90 gallons before I needed to replace the membranes and media. It cost me more in media and membranes than it does just to buy the water from the fish store

AZDesertRat · May 31, 2016

The waste ratio should be between 3:1 and 4:1 waste to treated. Much less and it will not last long. Use a measuring cup and while the system is running fill the cup for exactly one minute from the waste line and record the amount then do the same for one minute from the treated line. Should be between 3:1 and 4:1.

DI resin has a specific capacity, it is normally between 3,000 and 6,00 total TDS per 16 oz of resin. If you were sending a TDS of 125 in to the resin then the resin was probably exhausted in the first 20-30 gallons. I don't think the RO Buddy throw away DI cartridges are more than 9-12 oz of resin while a full size vertical holds 20 oz.
I hate seeing people get taken with RO/DI systems like this, it ends up costing you much more than a real reef quality RO/DI and the real system isn't much bigger when you place them side by side but has many times the filtering capacity and lower cost, more common replacements.

happyhourhero · May 31, 2016

I have been using my RO Buddie for almost a year now and have replaced the sediment and carbon cartridge once. People throw away the DI cartridges? I always just refill mine and get around 2 months for each refill.