ro and phosphates?

surfingdude

New member
I have been using my ro unit underneath my sink for tank water, not di. Iam on a well and my tds readings before ro is around 190 . My phosphate was very high, between 1 and 3. Now this is all through my regular tap water. When I use my ro water, tds reads between 0 and 2 and now my phosphates are at 0.

My question is, I thought about getting a separate ro/di unit because I thought the di part is what removes the phosphates. Is this not the case? Would it still be necessary to purchase the di part, since my readings are good?

Thanks!
 
The trouble comes when the TDS reads higher than 0, you do not know what exactly that value is standing for. Copper, Phosphate, Iron, etc. You could run as is for years with no issues. On the other hand you could run for a month and then see problems with algae, cyano, etc.
 
DI Resin just take the last 1 or 2 from your TDS meter and removes it. You can get 0 TDS with just using DI Resin and no RO membrane, although this would be a very expensive method.

As Robzilla said, the problem is that you do not know what makes up that 1 or 2 that you are reading on your TDS meter.

DI Resin is not necessary. RO alone is much better than tap water. But if you can swing the price for the DI Resin, it's much safer todo so. One thing to look at would be to put a bypass in and install a DI chamber after your existing RO system. Therefore, when you want regular tap you can take it from after the RO but before the DI, and when you need tank water you can take it from after the DI cartage.
 
Is the 1-3 phosphate reading from your tank or your tap water?

Phosphate is removed by both the membrane and DI stage..

And in case you didn't know a DI stage can be added to your existing RO filter..
You can just purchase something like this..
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/single-deionization-canister.html

1-3 from my tap...0 after ro water.

I like that idea...going to look into it...I just dont want to drink di water and the ro is under my sink...probably no big deal, but it looks like some prefer not to drink it. gotta figure a way to hook it up and do a quick disconnect.
 
1-3 from my tap...0 after ro water.

I like that idea...going to look into it...I just dont want to drink di water and the ro is under my sink...probably no big deal, but it looks like some prefer not to drink it. gotta figure a way to hook it up and do a quick disconnect.

Does your RO unit already have a pressure tank for it?

You can just "T" off right after the RO membrane and run the one line to your faucet for drinking the RO and then the other side goes to the DI stage..

There is really no harm in drinking RO/DI water though.. But its "lack of taste" is what I just don't like about it.. Most bottle water has minerals added in for taste only (baking soda/calcium chloride)

Frankly.. with that low TDS output already.. I wouldn't even waste my time/money with a DI stage though..
 
Does your RO unit already have a pressure tank for it?

You can just "T" off right after the RO membrane and run the one line to your faucet for drinking the RO and then the other side goes to the DI stage..

There is really no harm in drinking RO/DI water though.. But its "lack of taste" is what I just don't like about it.. Most bottle water has minerals added in for taste only (baking soda/calcium chloride)

Frankly.. with that low TDS output already.. I wouldn't even waste my time/money with a DI stage though..

I do have a pressure tank. I think right now gonna use the ro water for top off, and buy a separate rodi unit for the garage. My tap water has 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates. I was worried that ro water would not get rid of the phosphates, which it did...just always thought the di took care of those.

Right now using distilled water for water changes...in the long run, rodi unit would pay off...and I dont feel like carrying jugs.
 
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