Episode III of "The Lazy Reefkeeper" series (RO/DI for Dummies)

For those having some trouble with the performance of their membranes here is a short troubleshooting guide of the things
that can go wrong:

a) Leaking membrane seals inside the membrane housing forcing dirty water mixing with ouput. Disasemble the housing, check the rugger seal and O rings for damage. They must fit a bit tight inside the housing.

b) Wrong or plugged restrictor. If the output is restricted too much more water is forced to the membrane which acts more like a mechanical filter than an osmotic filter thus increasing TDS of the ouput. To check for the proper restrictor check the ratio of product to waste water. Waste shall be 4 to 5 times larger than product volume produced. Use a measuring cup and a stop watch.

c) Damaged ASO valve. The Auto shut off valve closes the inline water supply to the membrane when the ouput product water is closed. This valve measures the inlet and outlet pressure diferential. If the diaphragm inside the ASO is defective or leaking, input water can mix with product water.

d) Damaged membrane due to CHlorine or Chloramine passing the Carbon filter. TFC membranes are extremely sensitive to chlorine, an exausted carbon filter will allow chlorine passing into teh membrane damaging it permanently in a matter of hours. Use a chlorine test kit (tablets are good) to check for chlorine after the carbon filter.

e) Wrong piping of the membrane. Note the following sequence..
- All cartridges shall be marked IN and Out in the respective connectors, if they are not the In connection is the one that feeds the outer part of the cartridge.
- The Auto Shut Off valve has two of the four connections marked In and Out those are used for the feed water the ones not marked are used for the product water going out of the membrane.
- The membrane housing has three connections, On one end it has two and a single one on the opposite end. The end with the single connector is were the water enters the membrane. On the end that has two connectors, the connector installed in the center line of the housing is the product water and the one located off center is the connector of the waste water output.

Here is the sequence.

Tab>Sediment IN>Sediment Out>Carbon IN>ASOV valve IN. ASOV valve Out>Membrane IN>Membrane product out> Check Valve IN>Check Valve out>ASOV valve Unmarked>Oposite ASOV Valve unmarket> DI cartridge IN > DI cartridge Out>reservoir.
Membrane Waste out>Restrictor In>Restrictor Out>Drain.

This diagram may help:
http://www.spectrapure.com/huds/ASO-SYS.pdf

Enjoy!.
 
bassman57 said:
So, how's Episode IV commin along??? ;);)

Do you have any pics of the caddy you made for your pressure tank?
Click to expand...


Well, here is the updated cart for my Neptune system and pressure tank. The rolling carts are for ease of mobility during maintenance procedures, such as changing filters, testing output, pressure readings, etc.
Incidentily, I've also developed 5 other cart types to accomodate various configurations, such as the three and four canister models.


63874Neptune-and-Tank-_WEB_.jpg
 
:lol: -- I keep my pressure tank in the same type of storage vessle as my LP gas tanks... an old milk crate! ;)
 
tgreene said:
:lol: -- I keep my pressure tank in the same type of storage vessle as my LP gas tanks... an old milk crate! ;)
Click to expand...

Now that doesn't sound like the innovative kinda guy that Walter keeps telling me about! :lol:




Actually though...I've been advised to contact you and pick your brain for some entrepeneurial ideas regarding these carts. Word on the street is that you've got that progressive know-how for such things. ;)
 
Just thought I'd post an updated picture of the Reefmeister garage sump as well as bump the thread for any newcomers.

Notice the newest RO/DI output (#8) in the lower right corner of the picture. It's a standard stainless steel dishwasher nozzle and this thing is awesome! Not only does it make an extremely convient filling station and topoff tap for my nano tanks, but the "pressure stream" characteristics of the spray pattern somehow cleans filters/pads MUCH faster and easier than under a faucet. The hookup was very simple and the parts cost is like $12 or so. It's actually my favorite addition right now, LOL.

Speaking of additions, notice the BIG slurge to my budget in the left side of picture (ACIII Pro)....uhhh (sigh) let's just say that Mrs. Reefmeister does not have a clue how damn expensive those things are, otherwise your's truly would be constructing a doghouse for His Laziness's new residence :(

63874sumpcloseup_web_.jpg



The second photo shows an adjacent cabinet now occupied with my homemade calcium reactor, CO2 tank w/regulator, and new Nilsen Kalk reactor. Me been a busy boy.

tgreene,
you still around? are you affiliated with those guys making the Nilsen Reactor by chance? just curious.
It's an awesome value and quality unit IMO

63874DSC02857a_web_.jpg
 
Yep, I'm still around... Since Hurricane Katrina chased us out of NOLA, we're now living in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The only affiliation I have with ReefTek, is that I sold Reef-Relief to them in February of 2005. Jorge is a great guy, and since we had a close working relationship prior to the business transfer, it just seemed natural.
 
I have the Typhone III but i need a booster pump for it what should i get? I am on a well and the pressure gauge on ro/di unit only is reading about 40 lb. And if something else turns on pressure drops.
Thanks racer77
 
This page should put you in the right direction:

http://airwaterice.com/category/pumps/

If your source water is from a well, you may want to consider adding a UV sterilizer stage to your RO unit just as a precaution against pathogens.




Tgreene:
Are you working/tinkering on any new project lately??? As mentioned many times before, your ReefRelief invention was absolutely brilliant. I'm still waiting for a "Skimmer Buddy" or some product of that nature. Just as long as you don't start making RO-unit rolling carts, LOL :lol:
 
Nah, I haven't designed anything in awhile, but I do have a couple ideas in mind for the rock climbing industry...

So far, I have designed the following:
  • A multi-functional, portable targeting system
  • Several styles of ground & swinging plate targets
  • Large and small caliber bullet traps for home use (I've safely fired machine guns and numerous AR15's in my house!)
  • Camp cooking griddle
  • 24k BTU industrial grade portable camp stove
  • Reef-Relief products
I'm a graphic artist & programmer, not an inventor, so I figure I needed some time off!

BTW: the very first thing I invented, was when I was in 6th grade... I converted an old broken microscope into a photo enlarger, that made perfectly round B/W photos that were the size of a quarter. The light source was a margarine container with an incadescent bulb, duct taped to a funnel of some sort, to force the ligh through the microscope. This was my advent into photography, which ultimately lead me to becomming a photojournalist for several years during the 80's. I was best known for my "routinely bizarre" darkroom skills. :D
 
I came across this thread while looking up info on RO/DI systems. I got more than I was looking for - as usual.

Mr. ReefMeister2... Sir... hat's off you. Faaaaaaaaaaantasitc job on work and detail on this thread.

I am thinking about setting up my RO/DI system in my basement. I will probably setup the top off and mix reservoir down there also but I'm not sure if I'll have enough pressure to feed RO water to a faucet in the upstairs kitchen sink. I see you have a faucet by your bed. Did you use a pump to feed that? I also need to incorporate a water softener of some sort. The wife is complaining the bathing water is too harsh. I'd like to kill two birds with one stone. If you've got any suggestions on that also, that would be great.

Will you be able to give a schematic of you system? I'll understand if you can't let go of the family secret :D

Thanks again for an informative series.
 
Thanks for the compliments.

No need for a special pump. A standard pressurized storage tank should work just fine. I use two of them: One to supply the fish side (RO/DI) and another to supply the human side (RO-only).
that way, your significant other doesn't run outta drinking water immediately after you decide to mix a batch of saltwater.

My house is on a raised foundation so literally all my plumbing is routed through the crawl space under my house. In fact, when we repiped our house, I had the plumber run a few dedicated copper lines specifically for RO drinking water. (you'd never want to run DI water through metal pipes of course) So even that little sink over my bed has a small 3/8 copper line feeding it.
1/2 copper feeds my kitchen and an outdoor drinking spigot.

I kinda do things in extremes :)

(edit)
ya know....I kinda felt good about that statement (I "do things in extremes")...until I re-read tgreene's post above, LOL :lol:
 
So the pressure tank on the fish side is placed in front of your DI filter then into the reservoir?

[RO]-->[pressure tank]--->{DI filter}----> [reservoir for fish tank]

:confused:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9986106#post9986106 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agent007
So the pressure tank on the fish side is placed in front of your DI filter then into the reservoir?

[RO]-->[pressure tank]--->{DI filter}----> [reservoir for fish tank]

:confused:
Click to expand...

Yep, you got it right. The reason for this configuration is that you don't want to "store" DI water. Its more effective when used on demand.
I don't use a water reservior either. I've used one of tgreene's inventions, the "Reef Relief" auto topoff unit, for about 4 years now. I guess you could call it an "on demand" system as well.
Whatever you call it, its an awesome system

http://www.reeftek.com/reef-relief/
 
Whole House filters are generally sediment filtration only, with very limited chemical filtration/if any. There's only so much these filters can do under such mass volumes of water (and pressure).

Better than nothing, but not near the same filtration as Reverse Osmosis. Use the whole house filter for showering, dishes, etc. but not for drinking water
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9992693#post9992693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefMeister2
Whole House filters are generally sediment filtration only, with very limited chemical filtration/if any. There's only so much these filters can do under such mass volumes of water (and pressure).

Better than nothing, but not near the same filtration as Reverse Osmosis. Use the whole house filter for showering, dishes, etc. but not for drinking water
Click to expand...


I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone - aint working :(
I'm going to read up on your Neptune filters.


Thanks for the expert advice - much appreciated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Well pump and R/O system
Replies
12
Views
407
zappa
Z
Raptor72
Another RO/DI setup question(s)
Replies
19
Views
399
griss
griss
Dogs442
NEED HELP WITH RO/DI SYSTEM
2
Replies
34
Views
840
griss
griss
U
New build
Replies
3
Views
278
griss
griss
S
Phosphate flow out of live rock
Replies
0
Views
100
SantaMonica
S
Back
Top