RO/DI help

[lpsouth1978]

I replaced the sediment and carbon block filters and saw a very small improvement. I will have the new membrane on Wednesday and will see if that helps. I also tested my source water for ammonia and did not detect anything. How would I go about testing it for Co2?

 

[mcgyvr]

I replaced the sediment and carbon block filters and saw a very small improvement. I will have the new membrane on Wednesday and will see if that helps. I also tested my source water for ammonia and did not detect anything. How would I go about testing it for Co2?

You shouldn't have seen any improvement for the most part..
Dissolved solids will not be removed by a sediment filter and a carbon block will also have little/no effect on them..
The membrane is doing all the work on the TDS levels..

Going with that fine of a micron will likely just cause them to get clogged faster thus lowering pressure post prefilters thus reducing efficiency of the membrane.. Probably wasn't the best move you could have made..
Thats still a 96-98% membrane too.. (96 min..98 typical)..
You are maybe getting around that now..

So don't expect much..
I should have asked if you had 75GPD or 100GPD or what..

 

[lpsouth1978]

You shouldn't have seen any improvement for the most part..
Dissolved solids will not be removed by a sediment filter and a carbon block will also have little/no effect on them..
The membrane is doing all the work on the TDS levels..

Going with that fine of a micron will likely just cause them to get clogged faster thus lowering pressure post prefilters thus reducing efficiency of the membrane.. Probably wasn't the best move you could have made..
Thats still a 96-98% membrane too.. (96 min..98 typical)..
You are maybe getting around that now..

So don't expect much..
I should have asked if you had 75GPD or 100GPD or what..

Yeah, I didn't see much change at all, just a couple of points and that could be from changes in the source water. 700 TDS is on the high side, it normally ranges around 530-620, but can vary from time to time. I figured I am getting roughly 93% rejection rate from my current membrane. Last night my source water was at 598 TDS and after RO was 39 which equates to roughly that 93%. I am using a 100gpd system and the new membrane should do better with specs stating 96-98% rejection. This should put my post RO between 12-24 TDS. Not perfect, but better than 40.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I got the new membrane today and installed. NO improvement. I am still getting just under 93% rejection. The system has a 600 mlm flow restrictor, but most of the things I am reading say that 800 is ideal for a 100gpd system. Would replacing the flow restrictor improve my rejection rate?

 

[mcgyvr]

I got the new membrane today and installed. NO improvement. I am still getting just under 93% rejection. The system has a 600 mlm flow restrictor, but most of the things I am reading say that 800 is ideal for a 100gpd system. Would replacing the flow restrictor improve my rejection rate?

Call Russ at Buckeye Hydro..
He will get you hooked up/down the right path..

A proper flow restrictor is important and will effect membrane performance..

 

[lpsouth1978]

Call Russ at Buckeye Hydro..
He will get you hooked up/down the right path..

A proper flow restrictor is important and will effect membrane performance..

Thanks for the help. I will continue to troubleshoot. In the meantime, I think it may be a losing battle due to the quality of my source water. I tested again tonight and got a RIDICULOUS reading of 856 TDS. I swear my water just keeps getting worse. The utility company is in the midst of several lawsuits and investigation because of the water quality and for their business practices. The owner has even been charged for bribery and fraud. It is seriously crazy!

Even if I were able to get the RO working at it's max 98% rejection, which is not likely to happen, My RO water would still be 17+. Unless my source water improves I think I am either doomed to spend a FORTUNE on DI resin, or will have to stick to a fish only system. I am really quite discouraged and bummed about my water problems.

 

[crimsontopper]

I don't know if you would consider this an option, but water at walmart in those refillable jugs is $.37 a gallon. Probably not a long term solution, but it could get you through until you have a better idea of how to handle it.

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