ro di filter help please

[Mrs. Music]

I have a coralife rodi resin filter, four stage, upgraded to a 90 gallon per day spectrapure membrane, with the 90 gallon a day restrictor. I removed the sneaky hidden restrictor with in the outflow elbow. The ratio od good water to waste 1:4. I removed the after martket BRS back flush because it kept clogging every time I used it. My psi is around 50-70 every time I checked it. I removed the psi monitor from the prefilter to the carbon block because it broke after a year. My prefilter TDS is around 100-120, my TDS after the membrane prior to di resin quickey raises to 35-45. Much sooner than 2-3 years as they say. I faithfully change the filters, carbon blocks. I use the spectrapure .5 micron or 1 micron for the prefilter and carbon block. When the filters are all new TDS are 0 at the final outlet. I have watched the BRS videos. But I have found the spectrapure products last longer. My question is do I need up grade the prefilter? maybe add an extra pre filter for chloramines? What am I missing?

 

[Opus123]

So you are saying you don't think your RO membrane is lasting as long as it should? If your tap tds is 120 then you should get several years out of your membrane unless you are making a LOT of water. When you take your tds reading after the membrane are you letting it run for a minute or so before you take the reading? If not, you are reading the tds creep. You need to let it run for a minute or 2 to get your true tds reading from the membrane.
If you are buying the 1 or .5 micron filters and changing them timely then there is nothing left to do there. Prefilters don't affect tds, they just protect the membrane from large particles and harmful chemicals.

 

[Mrs. Music]

I am sorry I was not very clear. I was tired after a long day I am wondering if chlorine or chloramine is getting thru my prefilters to the ro membrane and shortening the life span. I have spoken to my municiple water treatment people and I get the PC answer. Sometimes they use chloramine.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I would double check with Spectrapure on a carbon filter for Chloramines since you like their products. Jeremy will get you set up right, you may need a new membrane.

 

[Opus123]

The carbon block you mentioned in your first post should work just fine unless they are using a lot of chloramines. If your water district has a website they may have their most current water analysis online. I believe most districts post theirs.
If you are really worried, another option would be to add another carbon block, so you have prefilter, carbon block, carbon block and then RO membrane.

 

[Mrs. Music]

I would double check with Spectrapure on a carbon filter for Chloramines since you like their products. Jeremy will get you set up right, you may need a new membrane.

Thank you Vinny. I am considering that option too.

 

[Mrs. Music]

The carbon block you mentioned in your first post should work just fine unless they are using a lot of chloramines. If your water district has a website they may have their most current water analysis online. I believe most districts post theirs.
If you are really worried, another option would be to add another carbon block, so you have prefilter, carbon block, carbon block and then RO membrane.

Thank you Opus. I will check online too. The additional carbon block was one of the options I have been considering.

 

[Arthur1]

Mr. Music, I'm not really telling you anything that hasn't been already mentioned but adding another carbon block as mentioned, will be easy enough and wise, since your water department is spontaneously using chloramines. You could also invest in chloramine specific carbon blocks as well. Spectra Pure 90 gpd membranes are the only ones that I now use. :beer:

 

[Mrs. Music]

Mr. Music, I'm not really telling you anything that hasn't been already mentioned but adding another carbon block as mentioned, will be easy enough and wise, since your water department is spontaneously using chloramines. You could also invest in chloramine specific carbon blocks as well. Spectra Pure 90 gpd membranes are the only ones that I now use. :beer:

thank you for all the helpful information.

 

[tkeracer619]

If they are using chloramines which more and more supplies are it will thrash your membrane in short order.

Test the waste water with a total chlorine test kit.

The carbon block you are using is useless against chloramines. Depending on how much water you make you may be in for a revamp. Chlorine is easy, chloramine isn't.

 

[Opus123]

That carbon block will break down chloramines just fine.

 

[125mph]

That carbon block will break down chloramines just fine.

Not really.. Carbon blocks will have chloramine breakthrough very fast depending on the brand/type. I installed new BRS universal carbon blocks two of them each six months but had serious chloramine issues. I finally upgraded to the chloramine monster pentek BB block and that resolved my chloramine issue.

 

[Opus123]

You are basing that strictly on BRS carbon blocks.

 

[125mph]

You are basing that strictly on BRS carbon blocks.

Kind of basing that on what I've read on peoples experiences and BRS's video where they tested for chloramine breakthrough.

Now, the chloramine monster -- I can be very confident with that!

 

[Mrs. Music]

I really did not feel like going thru all the stages and checking the tds, but I guess that I will have to. I watched that BRS video too. very interesting.

 

[Mrs. Music]

If they are using chloramines which more and more supplies are it will thrash your membrane in short order.

Test the waste water with a total chlorine test kit.

The carbon block you are using is useless against chloramines. Depending on how much water you make you may be in for a revamp. Chlorine is easy, chloramine isn't.

I went thru my fish tank app to remember when I replaced everything in the filter.
RO membrane new in Feb 2016
new prefilters and di resin in October 2016
The TDS after the membrane was 48. It was 10 when brand new.
The TDS out of the tap was 120. It is usually 100-120.
I flush the membrane every few months. I just did it in December.

I have been burning thru membranes like this for years. I started putting all the info in my app to remember when I bought what and it sends me reminders to change filters and stuff. So Last two filters switched to Spectra pure, and have beenfaithful about changing everything on time, and still high TDS prematurely. It has to be the chloramines. The membrane is shot isn't it?

 

[tkeracer619]

You are basing that strictly on BRS carbon blocks.

That isn't true. While most carbon blocks used will break down chloramines they take a long contact time to do so. Buying a specialty block meant for chloramine removal is strongly advised.

All of these people dealing with chloramines is making filter suppliers a lot of money. The op for instance is going to have to replace everything including the membrane again and stated that they have been doing so for a long time. I've been told by many people during my hunt to fix my chloramine issue that standard carbon blocks will work fine and the amount I spent trusting them was ridiculous.

This is a good read related to the subject.
https://www.wqa.org/Portals/0/Technical/Technical Fact Sheets/2014_Chloramine.pdf

A bed contact time
of 10 minutes or greater can be required for complete catalysis of chloramines with traditional activated
carbons. New types of activated carbons have been developed with increased catalytic activity that is
especially effective at the removal of chloramines.

 

[tkeracer619]

I went thru my fish tank app to remember when I replaced everything in the filter.
RO membrane new in Feb 2016
new prefilters and di resin in October 2016
The TDS after the membrane was 48. It was 10 when brand new.
The TDS out of the tap was 120. It is usually 100-120.
I flush the membrane every few months. I just did it in December.

I have been burning thru membranes like this for years. I started putting all the info in my app to remember when I bought what and it sends me reminders to change filters and stuff. So Last two filters switched to Spectra pure, and have beenfaithful about changing everything on time, and still high TDS prematurely. It has to be the chloramines. The membrane is shot isn't it?

You should take a look at this thread. It shows my struggles dealing with this issue. I lost my entire tank to chloramines during a move.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483520

How much water do you make?

Your membrane is toast if it is a spectrapure pushing 45tds.

I would stick with spectrapure products, I too have found they last longer.

Go with a spectrapure .5micron sediment, 1micron chlorplus 20BB in a BB housing, .5micron carbon, and a 99% membrane. If you have another chamber add a chlorplus 10 in front of the .5micron carbon.

Your carbon blocks, di, and membrane will all last a lot longer.

 

[Mrs. Music]

You should take a look at this thread. It shows my struggles dealing with this issue. I lost my entire tank to chloramines during a move.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483520

How much water do you make?

Your membrane is toast if it is a spectrapure pushing 45tds.

I would stick with spectrapure products, I too have found they last longer.

Go with a spectrapure .5micron sediment, 1micron chlorplus 20BB in a BB housing, .5micron carbon, and a 99% membrane. If you have another chamber add a chlorplus 10 in front of the .5micron carbon.

Your carbon blocks, di, and membrane will all last a lot longer.

Thank you for taking so much time to help me.