Water remaining in RODI unit

[LadyTang2]

I shut off the main water valve going into my RODI when not in use, but the next time I start it up that initial water coming out has been sitting in the RODI unit for a week or so. Should I pour this first liter rodi water down the drain? Might it accumulate stuff having sit in the RODI, is there a better practice all together? Simple detailed explanations appreciated!

 

[Juice780]

I’m interested as well.

 

[Scurvy]

I always run my unit for 5/10 minutes to flush before collecting water to use. it will generally take a few minutes for your TDS meter to read zero as well.

 

[Dr. Phil]

I'm with @Scurvy on this. I try to run my RODI for a bit before using any of the water to flush it out. I am actually looking at setting it up so that my controller does this automatically. lol

 

[LadyTang2]

I'm with @Scurvy on this. I try to run my RODI for a bit before using any of the water to flush it out. I am actually looking at setting it up so that my controller does this automatically. lol

but in order to do that you would need to physically move the tubing out of the freshwater barrel to the drain right? So it cant be fully automatic?

I was thinking of adding a sink w drain near it so i can do just this unless someone has a better idea which I am sure they do ;-)

 

[Scurvy]

but in order to do that you would need to physically move the tubing out of the freshwater barrel to the drain right? So it cant be fully automatic?

I was thinking of adding a sink w drain near it so i can do just this unless someone has a better idea which I am sure they do ;-)

I do not have a mixing station built so its not an issue for me to put the line into the sink drain for a few minutes.

An RO line tee fitting, a couple of ball valves and length of RO tubing plumbed inline before your reservoir would let you add in a way to flush it to a sink or drain.

 

[fish farmer]

but in order to do that you would need to physically move the tubing out of the freshwater barrel to the drain right? So it cant be fully automatic?

I was thinking of adding a sink w drain near it so i can do just this unless someone has a better idea which I am sure they do ;-)

I recently put a couple of tees and valves in my RODI for flushing purposes, one after my carbon, but before RO and one after the RO before the DI. This allows me to run for a few minutes and bypass filters to get rid of high TDS water. I run them into a trash can for now(my old salt mixing bin) so I can use that water for plants, etc. You could also run lengths of tubing to where you want.

 

[mike550]

Interesting question? I flush my system for a few min before I start generating new RODI water.

 

[C. Eymann]

Do you use the unit for drinking water? if so, its recommended that you store a unit that will not be used for a few days to a week in the refrigerator to reduce bacterial growth (recommend by both spectra pure and Air, water and Ice) otherwise, just have valves on input and output shut to prevent the cartridges/membrane drying out, as well as preventing impurities in the air that can prematurely exhaust DI resin.

I too generally run 2-3 gal of product water before collecting for aquarium use if the unit hasn't been run for a few days.


Just my .02

 

[mfinn]

I flush the membrane but that's all.
The water that's in it got scrubbed by the previous filters and the di resin at the end will polish it.

 

[Snoopy 67]

I'm with mfinn on this one, a 1 minute flush before going into the RO tank.

 

[lpsouth1978]

My system automatically flushes the membrane before each use, but that is all I do. The little bit of TDS creep that does occur is QUICKLY removed by the DI resin. I have been doing it like this for years and have never had any issues.

 

[lapin]

So i guess I'm lazy. I do not flush my unit unless I'm replacing filters or resin. It does come on for 45 min each day to replenish the ATO. I manually flush my RO membrane every 2 weeks. About every 200 gallons. I'm on rain water. My incomming tds is very very low. I get 1 tds out of the RO membrane.

 

[LadyTang2]

Do you use the unit for drinking water? if so, its recommended that you store a unit that will not be used for a few days to a week in the refrigerator to reduce bacterial growth (recommend by both spectra pure and Air, water and Ice) otherwise, just have valves on input and output shut to prevent the cartridges/membrane drying out, as well as preventing impurities in the air that can prematurely exhaust DI resin.

I too generally run 2-3 gal of product water before collecting for aquarium use if the unit hasn't been run for a few days.


Just my .02

Thanks, I did not know you need to keep it wet. Does this mean I cant just turn off the water supply to the rodi but prior to that need to add/shut off a valve just after the rodi? It seems to me if there is no pressure, the water will stop exiting the top of the unit but some water would stay in the unit even with out a valve just after the rodi unit.

 

[C. Eymann]

Thanks, I did not know you need to keep it wet. Does this mean I cant just turn off the water supply to the rodi but prior to that need to add/shut off a valve just after the rodi? It seems to me if there is no pressure, the water will stop exiting the top of the unit but some water would stay in the unit even with out a valve just after the rodi unit.

Sure some water may stay in the unit, the dual input and output valves are generally for long non use storage, also, when I was using mine for drinking water(RO- bypassing DI stage) I would store mine in the fridge when I traveled or wasn't producing water for more than 5 days, the guest push fitting valve made its removal easy with no drips when moving the unit.

If you strictly use your unit for your tank, but only make large batches of water like I was with upto 1 mo periods of not running water through it, it's a good idea, if you have your ato via breakout box/solenoids Apex etc etc tied into your ATO it's being consistently used so not a problem.

 

[Dr. Phil]

but in order to do that you would need to physically move the tubing out of the freshwater barrel to the drain right? So it cant be fully automatic?

I was thinking of adding a sink w drain near it so i can do just this unless someone has a better idea which I am sure they do ;-)

I was thinking of adding a T off the line and using solenoid valves to facilitate this.

 

[LadyTang2]

Sure some water may stay in the unit, the dual input and output valves are generally for long non use storage, also, when I was using mine for drinking water(RO- bypassing DI stage) I would store mine in the fridge when I traveled or wasn't producing water for more than 5 days, the guest push fitting valve made its removal easy with no drips when moving the unit.

If you strictly use your unit for your tank, but only make large batches of water like I was with upto 1 mo periods of not running water through it, it's a good idea, if you have your ato via breakout box/solenoids Apex etc etc tied into your ATO it's being consistently used so not a problem.

I plan on draining the first gallon, I make water once monthly. I suppose I could refrigerate he unit but that sounds like a pain, you didnt right?

 

[C. Eymann]

I plan on draining the first gallon, I make water once monthly. I suppose I could refrigerate he unit but that sounds like a pain, you didnt right?

I did indeed refrigerate my unit when not in use for longer than a few days when I was using it for drinking water.