need some assistance with RO-DI system

[kusanagiz]

Hey Guys,

Having a weird problem w/ my RO-DI system. I recently switched out my RO membrane and ever since then, my water output has been much slower than before. I tried pulling it the membrane out (had to use cooking oil as it was suctioned in way too tight) to see if i just didn't put it in correctly. Put the membrane back into the container and proceeded to see if the water flow would come out faster. It didn't. Fast forward today, I'm turning on the water but no water is coming out of the RO container. I open the RO container and take out the RO membrane and still no water is coming out! So I unscrew the connector from the line to the RO container and noticed that there is a small spring type of contraption in the connector which prevents the water from coming out. If I push down on the spring contraption water comes out. I can't seem to get the water to go past the spring. Any ideas???

 

[savethereef]

Man i think you broke it!

Try and PM Reefmeister2 he can help you maybe

 

[kusanagiz]

uh oh. Alright will do. Thanks.

Btw..how did you figure it was broken?

 

[Bebo77]

you sure you got the right membrane? the come in GPD...

 

[kusanagiz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13314095#post13314095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bebo77
you sure you got the right membrane? the come in GPD...

it fits in the membrane tank. I got it from APS model# 1812T-100 (whatever that means). But the problem I'm having is before it even makes it to the membrane, that spring in the connector from the line to the membrane tank is not allowing water to pass through unless I manually push down on the spring.

 

[Bebo77]

can you link me to it?

there are 35, 50 and 75 GPD membranes...

cooking oil may have destroyed the membrane....

you should be able to pull the membrane out with needle nose pliers or a coat hanger...

 

[wishntoboutside]

do you run di resin... recently i put my di catartige upsidedown and caught it an hour later.. it was acting like my float switch was set off but barrell still empty.. just a thought. learning from my mistakes. lol

 

[kusanagiz]

couldn't find the exact model (1812T-100) but find a 1812T-50 model at the website below.

http://www.labwater.com/shopexd.asp?id=138&Product=P-1812T-50_RO_50_Reverse_Osmosis_Membrane_-_RO50

I tried needle nose pliers and wrenches but there was just no way of pulling it out. I was basically scratching the plastic away in my failed attempts. had to use cooking oil to get it out. hopefully it didn't get ruined . But I only did it w/ the new ro membrane and not the old one.

still stuck on the spring issue though.

 

[kusanagiz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13314467#post13314467 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wishntoboutside
do you run di resin... recently i put my di catartige upsidedown and caught it an hour later.. it was acting like my float switch was set off but barrell still empty.. just a thought. learning from my mistakes. lol

yes I run it through a DI resin but the water doesn't even come out past the connector from the line to the ro container. Has to do w/ that spring that controls the water flow not allowing water to come through.

 

[savethereef]

the spring should go down with the force of the water though. why did you use cooking oil though i never heard of that. maybe it ruined the membrane also

 

[kusanagiz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13314591#post13314591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by savethereef
the spring should go down with the force of the water though. why did you use cooking oil though i never heard of that. maybe it ruined the membrane also

that's what i think should happen too but it doesn't. i actually have to push "up" on the spring whereas the water goes "down".

the oil was a last resort. I simply could not pull the membrane out of the tank.

 

[ReefMeister2]

I can't tell without looking at it, but it sounds like the spring you are talking about is from a check valve (or 'one-way valve)
here are some possibilities:

1) you simply installed the check valve in reverse

2) you've got the product line and waste line mixed up

3) the check valve has stuck or malfunctioned

4) the waste line is somehow obstructed

first confirm that you've got a steady stream of full pressure water supplying the RO membrane and is entering the correct port.

second, confirm that you've got the product water and waste water lines correct

third, make sure that the waste line is unobstructed and can drain properly.

any of the above are equally likely to be your culprit

I hope this helps

Kevin

 

[savethereef]

LOL i knew you would Chime in Kevin (reefmeister). Lol anytime RODI comes to play you jump out LOL.

 

[kusanagiz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13315008#post13315008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefMeister2
I can't tell without looking at it, but it sounds like the spring you are talking about is from a check valve (or 'one-way valve)
here are some possibilities:

1) you simply installed the check valve in reverse

2) you've got the product line and waste line mixed up

3) the check valve has stuck or malfunctioned

4) the waste line is somehow obstructed

first confirm that you've got a steady stream of full pressure water supplying the RO membrane and is entering the correct port.

second, confirm that you've got the product water and waste water lines correct

third, make sure that the waste line is unobstructed and can drain properly.

any of the above are equally likely to be your culprit

I hope this helps

Kevin

Hey Kevin thanks for your response.

1) I haven't touched the check-valve until after it stopped working today.

2) Was hoping for that mistake too but I looked at pictures on the web and I have the right lines in the right places.

3) That's what I'm thinking but how can you tell for sure? If I turn on the water, the water goes through the line but once it hits the connector with the check valve inside, the water doesn't come through. If I push down on the check valve the water comes out.

4) Haven't checked that but I'm stuck on just having the water come out of the check valve first. I guess my question is, should I be worrying first about the check valve not working correctly or the other points?

Here are some pics - sorry for the bad quality:

This is membrane container and I'm pointing to the hole where the line connects to bring water into the tank. The line in the picture is the line from the hose w/ the connector attached to it.

Here is the check valve where the water isn't coming out.