Isla Escondido - invincible569's Rimless 300g
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invincible569
New member
If it isnt one thing.. it's another! I've been busy all day trying to get my chiller set back to its correct temperature setting point and now my Kent Maxxima HiS 60 stopped extracting clean water. I took it apart and cleaned out all the parts and noticed the flow slows down tremendously at the membrane level. I've tried to clean it out, but it's still very slow. Have you guys ran into this and is the problem for sure the membrane and I just need to replace it?
Marc, Looks like Nick got you the answer.
It's been working great after activating it.
Marc, Looks like Nick got you the answer.
It's been working great after activating it.
melev
Well-known member
If you have good water pressure before the membrane, it could be the membrane is finally done. I've heard one way to test a membrane is to soak it in vinegar and water for a while. It will unclog it if it is clogged, but I tend to think it will probably damage it in the process. How old is it?
And how long is the warranty on that pump?
And how long is the warranty on that pump?
CAreefer
Premium Member
E, Did you check the waste line for blockage? I've heard of that line pluging on occasion and it basically stops water production. Do you have a flush kit on the unit? Make sure you get the flow restrictor back in also.
Good choice on the pump too. My PanWorld is almost as quiet as the Mak4 we talked about.
CAReefer
Good choice on the pump too. My PanWorld is almost as quiet as the Mak4 we talked about.
CAReefer
invincible569
New member
Marc, the membrane is 7 months old. It's possible that at some time the water was not as clean and it clogged it up. The vinegar idea does sound interesting. The warranty on the Coralife Pump is 2 yrs.
Marshall, I would of ordered a Mak4 like yours, but time was limited as I needed to get this chiller alive again. Im really glad fish gallery had this in stock. I didnt know it was a Panworld either. Good thing since its from one of the designers from Iwaki. Honestly, I cant hear the Coralife pump come on at all. I was wondering if it was on when I plugged it in. I dont have a flush kit and I do have the flow restrictor back in. I also checked the waste water and its flowing out freely. Thanks for the tips. Looks like I need to run out and buy a new membrane tomorrow if any is in stock.
Marshall, I would of ordered a Mak4 like yours, but time was limited as I needed to get this chiller alive again. Im really glad fish gallery had this in stock. I didnt know it was a Panworld either. Good thing since its from one of the designers from Iwaki. Honestly, I cant hear the Coralife pump come on at all. I was wondering if it was on when I plugged it in. I dont have a flush kit and I do have the flow restrictor back in. I also checked the waste water and its flowing out freely. Thanks for the tips. Looks like I need to run out and buy a new membrane tomorrow if any is in stock.
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melev
Well-known member
Check your waste line before you mess with the membrane. Maybe that is the problem after all. Is anything coming out of it? Also, this is rare but maybe the flow restrictor is kinked (this is in the waste line where it connects to the membrane housing on some units) and water can't get out.
The membrane should last years, not months. Maybe AZDesertRat could help you. Or the vendor, of course.
The membrane should last years, not months. Maybe AZDesertRat could help you. Or the vendor, of course.
invincible569
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10533539#post10533539 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Check your waste line before you mess with the membrane. Maybe that is the problem after all. Is anything coming out of it? Also, this is rare but maybe the flow restrictor is kinked (this is in the waste line where it connects to the membrane housing on some units) and water can't get out.
The membrane should last years, not months. Maybe AZDesertRat could help you. Or the vendor, of course.
Thanks Marc. I did check the waste line and the flow restrictor. I blew throuhg it and it had some restriction.. but blowing on it hard enough would let air pass by. Not sure if thats normal or not. WHen I plug everything back in.. I get about 2 drops a second. Usually its a consistent flow.
CAreefer
Premium Member
If you do find a membrane tomorrow, make sure it is the same capacity as the one you have, or you'll need to replace the flow restrictor as well. They need to be sized equally. Just a heads up. Being that yours is the Kent 60, does that mean 60 gpd? if so, that will be a bear to find on a Sunday. Even in Houston. If you can find a water filter store open, Culligan, or the like, just get a matching membrane and restrictor, it may only be 25 gpd or so, but you'll be making water again if that's your problem.
jnarowe
New member
and don't forget the famous suggestion made by Marc when I had a problem...have you recently changed out your resin? And is the cartidge installed in the right direction? You know there are arrows on them....damn that one made me feel stupid for days, especially after buying all new membranes and filters. 
invincible569
New member
Thanks guys for the help! I will investigate more this morning. It is 60 gpd. One thing I did notice when I was shopping for a membrane online was that the one i bought last time was not a Kent. My last Kent membrane lasted me for years. And in the last 6 months, I have changed out all my resins/cartridges. I think its time for a new change anyways.
CAreefer
Premium Member
I don't think there are many membrane manufacturers out there E. 2 maybe 3 at the most. Dow (Filmtec) is the biggest and the best IMO, Applied Membranes Inc., and Hydranautics come to mind. I know chlorine is a killer so If your water supply got an extra dose, it coulda wiped your membrane. The carbon blocks are only good for a small amount of chlorine, then they let it pass.
invincible569
New member
I think thats exactly what happened because all out of the sudden it stopped working. Im glad you are reassuring this with me because those membranes are a hefty price compared to everything else in the unit.
Buckeye Hydro
.Registered Member
Invincible - got your PM.
A few questions and some summary info to get us started with the troubleshooting:
All your prefilters are less than 6 months old.
Your membrane is less than a year old.
Do you have a flow restrictor installed that matches your "new" membrane capacity? Although that unit is advertised as a 60 gpd system, I believe it comes with a 50 gpd Filmtec membrane. What is the capacity of your new membrane?
What is your water pressure at the membrane? What is your water pressure at the tap?
What is the tds reading at the tap? Of your RO water? Of your DI water?
What is your waste to permeate ratio?
The most common cause of deceased production is clogged prefilters, regardless of the amount of time they've been in.
Russ
A few questions and some summary info to get us started with the troubleshooting:
All your prefilters are less than 6 months old.
Your membrane is less than a year old.
Do you have a flow restrictor installed that matches your "new" membrane capacity? Although that unit is advertised as a 60 gpd system, I believe it comes with a 50 gpd Filmtec membrane. What is the capacity of your new membrane?
What is your water pressure at the membrane? What is your water pressure at the tap?
What is the tds reading at the tap? Of your RO water? Of your DI water?
What is your waste to permeate ratio?
The most common cause of deceased production is clogged prefilters, regardless of the amount of time they've been in.
Russ
invincible569
New member
Russ, thanks for the follow up. Here are some answers:
1. Membrane - 60gpd - 60 GPD TFC Membrane (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~RO1179.html)
2. I didnt need to replace the restrictor as I was matching the 60gpd.
3. I dont have any pressure gauges. But it is very powerful. It squirts out like a car wash cleaner nozzle.
4. I have no TDS readings. But I do plan to order one.
5. How would I measure the permeate ratio?
What I did do is unplugged the line where it hits the membrane and its very strong at that level.
Buckeye Hydro
.Registered Member
So we know you have a matched membrane and restrictor.
Check your waste to permeate (water that has permeated through the membrane - your purified water) ratio by comparing the amount of water that comes out of your waste line to the amount of purified water that is produced in an identical period of time - OR - Time how long it takes to fill a quart container with permeate. Then time how long it takes to fill up the same container with waste water. It should fill 4 times faster with waste water.
You should think about getting a pressure gauge add on kit - that's one of the best ways to tell if your prefilters (sediment filters and carbon filter(s)) are clogged and robbing pressure from the membrane.
You'll also want to get a TDS meter - this is your primary tool to measure performance of your membrane and your DI resin.
Is there no purified water at all being produced?
Russ
Check your waste to permeate (water that has permeated through the membrane - your purified water) ratio by comparing the amount of water that comes out of your waste line to the amount of purified water that is produced in an identical period of time - OR - Time how long it takes to fill a quart container with permeate. Then time how long it takes to fill up the same container with waste water. It should fill 4 times faster with waste water.
You should think about getting a pressure gauge add on kit - that's one of the best ways to tell if your prefilters (sediment filters and carbon filter(s)) are clogged and robbing pressure from the membrane.
You'll also want to get a TDS meter - this is your primary tool to measure performance of your membrane and your DI resin.
Is there no purified water at all being produced?
Russ
Buckeye Hydro
.Registered Member
Although some folks like the inline meters, and we do sell a lot of them, I prefer the handhelds. They allow you to easily take readings in more than 2 locations, and in the case of a TDS3 or COM-100 HM Digital meter, the handhelds are more accurate.
Russ
Russ
stony_corals
New member
I've been getting my membranes from http://thefilterguyz.biz, really high quality membranes as well as other RO/DI stuff... great service as well.
The TDS meter at the top http://www.thefilterguys.biz/tds_meters.htm has been helpful too. I typically run between 0 and 1 ppm TDS after the membrane. I put one of the sensors after the membrane, and a second after my two DI cartridges...
The TDS meter at the top http://www.thefilterguys.biz/tds_meters.htm has been helpful too. I typically run between 0 and 1 ppm TDS after the membrane. I put one of the sensors after the membrane, and a second after my two DI cartridges...
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