How far can I run an RO line?

[Randrew215]

I'm planning out my build for tank 2.0 (still about 6 months out from actually building). Right now my RO unit is in the basement. My tank will be on the 2nd floor. How much head pressure can I run the output line against? I have a laundry chute that I could use to easily run the tubing from the basement to the second floor, but will that work?
-Andy

 

[jfl14609]

I wouldnt worry about the distance to the the unit at all if possible i would use copper lines to the unit though as they are less likely to dry out and break, and in a area you wont see often I would trust it more. after the ro unit use the normal plastic style lines

 

[cardiffgiant]

There is a lot of pressure coming through the RODI unit. I'm not aware of a limitation to distance. I run mine about 35 feet.

 

[Randrew215]

Okay, just to be sure: this is the line coming out of the RO unit that I want to run up two floors. The RO unit would remain in the basement, reservoir on the 2nd floor.

 

[tmz]

I think so. Don't use copper lines out of the unit. Copper will kill inverts in your tank.

Mine goes about thirty feet horizontally and 8 vertically to an outlet on the first floor from the basement.. Don't know abut two floors never tried it but most home plumbing will give you 60 or so psi into the unit in contrast a high pressure aquarium water pump gives abut 13psi which easily handles one floor without much head loss.

 

[tmz]

I think so. Don't use copper lines out of the unit. Copper will kill inverts in your tank.

Mine goes about thirty feet horizontally and 8 vertically to an outlet on the first floor from the basement.. Don't know abut two floors never tried it but most home plumbing will give you 60 or so psi into the unit in contrast a high pressure aquarium water pump gives abut 13psi which easily handles one floor without much head loss.

 

[sr07g6]

Shouldn't be a problem my RO unit is in the basement as well and when filling my tank I ran it up to flights with no problems. It was about 15'-20' of head and 35' of the standard plastic line and I didn't see any difference than running it a few feet!

 

[Randrew215]

Perfect. Sounds awesome.
I'll start a build thread sometime in January or February when the real work begins!
-Andy

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Test the production rate with ~5' of tube on the output, then test with your planned "long" run. If it's more than 10 - 20% difference (lower), I would swap out the flow restrictor for the next less-restrictive unit. Ask your RO/DI vendor for help if you can't pick it out yourself.

That said I really don't think you'll have a problem, or at worst your efficiency (reject ratio) will drop a teeeny tiny bit.

 

[acdraindrps]

Test the production rate with ~5' of tube on the output, then test with your planned "long" run. If it's more than 10 - 20% difference (lower), I would swap out the flow restrictor for the next less-restrictive unit. Ask your RO/DI vendor for help if you can't pick it out yourself.

That said I really don't think you'll have a problem, or at worst your efficiency (reject ratio) will drop a teeeny tiny bit.

I was going to say something along these lines.

Spectra Pure RO units call for a 1:4 ratio of good water to waste water. You are essentially adding restriction to the good water line by adding head pressure (probably not enough to make a noticeable difference) so you may have to cut your current restrictor down, or get a longer one to achieve that 1:4 ratio.

 

[iamwrasseman]

you will be fine for sure even the two or three stories that you are going up will not effect it by very much .