Clogged rodi
- Thread starter alemone
- Start date
Since the flow rate is relatively low the pressure drop is not much. It worked before. I can't flush it even manually, which tells me the line is clogged- most likely precipitates from the salt. It's not RODI but ready-to-use salt-water.
Thanks. The tubing is stapled to the wall running through my basement. I would hate to replace it after only a few weeks worth of use.
Any ideas on any filters I could attach to the 1/4" lines to prevent this from happening again?
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
My suggestions --
The tubing for the drain should have a drop as sharp as possible & be open @ the top to allow it to drain, but I think it will still give you problems.
OR use a .5 pipe, open both ends, that should do it & can be flushed with hot water or vinegar.
There are no filters to pull out salt & leave fresh that I know of.
The tubing for the drain should have a drop as sharp as possible & be open @ the top to allow it to drain, but I think it will still give you problems.
OR use a .5 pipe, open both ends, that should do it & can be flushed with hot water or vinegar.
There are no filters to pull out salt & leave fresh that I know of.
No, I don't want to remove the salt. Just the precipitate/particles. The water is driven by a peristaltic pump- I can't really leave it open.
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
The peristaltic pump can drain into a larger pipe leaving minimum tubing to clog.
Those particles come from evaporation, short of flushing right after shut off ???
Those particles come from evaporation, short of flushing right after shut off ???
I think those are impurities and CaCO3 from the salt. I do see sediments at the bottom of my saltwater container.
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
I have been following the BRS series on dissolving salt into RO water & how long it really takes to fully happen. Take a look, it has changed the way I do mine.
The only other way is to pull from above the bottom of the barrel.
The only other way is to pull from above the bottom of the barrel.
I'll check it out. Do you happen to have the link?
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
It's on You Tube. Just put in BRS dissolving salt.
hkgar
Active member
I mix up about 25 gallons of salt water for water change each week. I use the DOS pumps for my AWC and have not had a problem. I use the RO/DI tubing and have been doing it for a long time and never had a clog. I pull from the bottom (1.5" from bottom) of the storage tank with about 5 feet of head. I use a Sicce pump when mixing new salt water and let it mix at least 6 hours before putting the AWC back on line.
Oh, wait, I did. I did use clear tubing for a while and it clogged with internal algae growth.
Oh, wait, I did. I did use clear tubing for a while and it clogged with internal algae growth.
Clogged rodi
For what it's worth, I'm using a DOS for my AWC as well. My water reservoir is in the garage and my tubes run up into the attic, then down through the wall to the tank... probably a good 40 or 50 feet each.
I've been running it this way for a little over 3 years now and my drain tube has never clogged, but I have had an issue with the NSW line clogging about once every eight or ten months. When this happens I'll use disconnect both ends of the tube and use my air compressor at about 100psi to blow out the precipitate that's clogging the tube. After I clear the line I'll pumping vinegar through the line in an attempt to dissolve anything that's left, and, of course, flush it well with fresh water before I put it back in use.
I had been using soft vinyl tubes for these lines, but the last time I had a clog I was unable to clear it with the compressor, so I switched the NSW line to polyethylene because that feels "˜slipperier' to me and I'm hoping it will be less likely to clog. I'm still not totally sure if it will help or not, but I think it's been close to a year since I changed it out and so far so good.
I'm not sure why it's happening so frequently for you. What salt mix are you using? I use instant Ocean. I also have a pump that circulates the water in my NSW reservoir for a few minutes every few hours.
For what it's worth, I'm using a DOS for my AWC as well. My water reservoir is in the garage and my tubes run up into the attic, then down through the wall to the tank... probably a good 40 or 50 feet each.
I've been running it this way for a little over 3 years now and my drain tube has never clogged, but I have had an issue with the NSW line clogging about once every eight or ten months. When this happens I'll use disconnect both ends of the tube and use my air compressor at about 100psi to blow out the precipitate that's clogging the tube. After I clear the line I'll pumping vinegar through the line in an attempt to dissolve anything that's left, and, of course, flush it well with fresh water before I put it back in use.
I had been using soft vinyl tubes for these lines, but the last time I had a clog I was unable to clear it with the compressor, so I switched the NSW line to polyethylene because that feels "˜slipperier' to me and I'm hoping it will be less likely to clog. I'm still not totally sure if it will help or not, but I think it's been close to a year since I changed it out and so far so good.
I'm not sure why it's happening so frequently for you. What salt mix are you using? I use instant Ocean. I also have a pump that circulates the water in my NSW reservoir for a few minutes every few hours.
One more thing... if you do wind up replacing the lines I would suggest replacing them with 3/8 or even 1/2 inch tube instead of the 1/4 inch that you're using now. Obviously you'll need to use an adapter to bring it down to 1/4 inch to connect it to the DOS, but if most of the run is bigger tube then I'm thinking it will be much less likely to clog.
I was able to unclog the line by instilling about 50 mL vinegar and lock it in for 24h.
I am thinking of placing the end of the line in a smaller container (a bottle with the bottom cut off) with a large opening that is covered with filter material and putting the whole thing in the 50G saltwater barrel.
I also have another idea that I humbly think is ingenious. I will move my dosing pump and will run my vinegar/vodka mixture through the saltwater line. A daily dose of vinegar will keep it clean.
