RODI TDS Question

[NWJerseyReefer]

Hey all,

So today I took the plunge and purchased a BRS 4 stage value plus unit from my LFS. I set it up and have currently been running it for about 3 hours now. I noticed that the TDS meter that it came with is telling me that I have 1 TDS coming in and once it goes through the filter I have 0 coming out which I know is good. Ive noticed my first filter (the cotton looking one) has gone from brilliant white to slightly dirty so I know its defiantly catching some stuff. Now I'm left with 2 questions. One being did I waste my money on this unit with TDS being so low from my tap water? or is my meter inaccurate?

Lastly I have well water because I live in the mountains. that being said my pressure going to the unit varies between 45 and 35. Is a booster necessary? I only need to produce 50 gallons a week for my need.

Thanks all

 

[ReefLab]

Hey all,

So today I took the plunge and purchased a BRS 4 stage value plus unit from my LFS. I set it up and have currently been running it for about 3 hours now. I noticed that the TDS meter that it came with is telling me that I have 1 TDS coming in and once it goes through the filter I have 0 coming out which I know is good. Ive noticed my first filter (the cotton looking one) has gone from brilliant white to slightly dirty so I know its defiantly catching some stuff. Now I'm left with 2 questions. One being did I waste my money on this unit with TDS being so low from my tap water? or is my meter inaccurate?

Lastly I have well water because I live in the mountains. that being said my pressure going to the unit varies between 45 and 35. Is a booster necessary? I only need to produce 50 gallons a week for my need.

Thanks all

Well the sediment filter is obviously catching quite a bit so no, you didn’t waste your money. Is it 1TDS after the pre filters? Or coming into your house?
As for a booster pump, if you trust the float valve then no you can just let it run for a day and a half to get your water. Your RO will function better and faster with higher pressure but it’s not totally necessary.

 

[NWJerseyReefer]

Well the sediment filter is obviously catching quite a bit so no, you didn’t waste your money. Is it 1TDS after the pre filters? Or coming into your house?
As for a booster pump, if you trust the float valve then no you can just let it run for a day and a half to get your water. Your RO will function better and faster with higher pressure but it’s not totally necessary.

Hey @ReefLab , its 1 TDS coming into the house.

 

[W1ngz]

The 1 TDS in the 'in' side isn't the raw water coming in, that's what comes out of the membrane going IN to the resin. Look where the TDS IN probe is connected, and you'll likely see exactly where it's measuring.

An RO membrane is more effective at 50PSI and higher. A booster pump would improve the results in how much and how fast you get water, and it will improve the membrane and the DI resin life.

BRStv Investigates: Challenging PSI for proper RO/DI performance

Today on BRStv, we have new episode of BRStv Investigates. In this series we explore popular reefing theories, products, methods, and what the manuals are missing, with a focus on putting them to the test! This week we are going to examine the general advice that you need 50 PSI for an RO/DI...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[ReefLab]

Hey @ReefLab , its 1 TDS coming into the house.

That’s pretty impressive if it’s true, but doesn’t seem accurate. I’d calibrate the tds meter.
The sediment that is catching in your first filter may be larger particles that the tds meter does not detect and at least that is definitely worth removing.

 

[NWJerseyReefer]

The 1 TDS in the 'in' side isn't the raw water coming in, that's what comes out of the membrane going IN to the resin. Look where the TDS IN probe is connected, and you'll likely see exactly where it's measuring.

An RO membrane is more effective at 50PSI and higher. A booster pump would improve the results in how much and how fast you get water, and it will improve the membrane and the DI resin life.

BRStv Investigates: Challenging PSI for proper RO/DI performance

Today on BRStv, we have new episode of BRStv Investigates. In this series we explore popular reefing theories, products, methods, and what the manuals are missing, with a focus on putting them to the test! This week we are going to examine the general advice that you need 50 PSI for an RO/DI...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

@W1ngz , you are most probably right. my unit has the meter installed. It has a switch that goes switched to the left it reads in and over to the right is out. So I guess the "in", is after the 2 filters but before the resin as you said.

 

[NWJerseyReefer]

That’s pretty impressive if it’s true, but doesn’t seem accurate. I’d calibrate the tds meter.
The sediment that is catching in your first filter may be larger particles that the tds meter does not detect and at least that is definitely worth removing.

@ReefLab I agree. Im still new to this ro system stuff. But surprisingly it doesn't seem as difficult as I thought it was.

 

[W1ngz]

@W1ngz , you are most probably right. my unit has the meter installed. It has a switch that goes switched to the left it reads in and over to the right is out. So I guess the "in", is after the 2 filters but before the resin as you said.

Most of us have the same one.
When the OUT reads anything other than 0, you need new resin.
When the IN starts to creep too high, you know it's time to flush the membrane.
If it has a pressure guage, that's usually after the sediment and carbon and shows PSI IN to the membrane. When that pressure starts to fall, it's time to replace the pre-filters.

 

[NWJerseyReefer]

Most of us have the same one.
When the OUT reads anything other than 0, you need new resin.
When the IN starts to creep too high, you know it's time to flush the membrane.
If it has a pressure guage, that's usually after the sediment and carbon and shows PSI IN to the membrane. When that pressure starts to fall, it's time to replace the pre-filters.

Thank you very much for your help on this. Greatly appreciated

 

[michael lyons]

i just bought the same 4 stage unit and set it up yesterday from marine depot, my TDS reading on the in is 229 i have it right as the water is going in the unit before any filters at all, then on the out TDS reading it's steady on 2 i have not seen it go to 0 yet, I emailed them today so hopefully by tomorrow i will here back from them.

and is the resin in the last filter supposed to be browning or shoud it stay black after about 10 gallons so far
I am new to this to , this is my first time buying a rodi water filter