RO/DI problem...membrane bad?

[t4zalews]

So I just replaced all the filters on my RO/DI unit (1 filter, 1 carbon block, 1 DI resin). The TDS coming out of my RO is around 25 but 0 after my DI...but that 25ppm after the RO membrane is really high, considering that the two prefilters are brand new.

The reject water like blurps out of the line and shoots water, not a constant stream. When I turn off the water to the RO/DI unit it sounds like im opening an oxygen tank and it like blows the pressure out and is loud. Its never done this before.

Did the membrane randomly go bad? Im tying to open the housing of the RO membrane but its like impossible, does anyone know a better way to open it?

I looked at the skimmer build date it was 2008. Any ideas. thanks

 

[Malyon18]

How high is the TDS before entering the Membrane? How old is the membrane?

 

[aquaman67]

Did you flush the new carbon block filter before you put it inline to your membrane?

 

[t4zalews]

How high is the TDS before entering the Membrane? How old is the membrane?

I have my TDS meter after my RO membrane and after the DI. So I'm not sure what the TDS is. The unit is 3 years old. I never flushed it (dont know how to), so I think I'm just gunna buy a new membrane.

 

[t4zalews]

Did you flush the new carbon block filter before you put it inline to your membrane?

No I didnt flush it...did I need to?

 

[t4zalews]

I loosed the housings on the filters and retightened them. The pressure has seemed to escape, but my water after the RO is at 28ppm. I went ahead and just ordered a new membrane.

I wonder if this was spawning my algae issue

 

[aquaman67]

No I didnt flush it...did I need to?

Yes,

From Buckeye Field Supply's website;

Do I need to do anything special when I install new cartridges in my RO or RO/DI system?


New sediment filters can simply be installed, and you're done. As for carbon blocks, RO membranes, and DI resin, that's another story...

Manufacturers recommend flushing new carbon block cartridges for at least 10 minutes before using the product water. Don't run the flush water through the rest of your system. Don’t run flush water through other stages in your system.

Carbon, even blocks put off a lot of dust.

You may have clogged your membrane. Maybe not, just keep checking until you're sure what's going on.

 

[t4zalews]

What do they mean by flush? just running water out of the faucet over the carbon block, like rinsing carbon when you put it in a reactor?

 

[aquaman67]

What do they mean by flush? just running water out of the faucet over the carbon block, like rinsing carbon when you put it in a reactor?

What I do is, after changing it, take the line off that comes out of the carbon block chamber and turn the water on and let it run for 10 - 15 minutes.

 

[t4zalews]

that makes sense...although i hate playing with those fittings.

thanks, ill do that from now on when I replace the carbon block

 

[leblasco]

I have a 8 station Ro/DI system but it's not working fine. I have 4 pre-filter station, 1 Carbon filter, 2 DI resin systems and 1 RO Membrane. before RO membrana TDS show 701 ppm and after RO show 5-6. tap water TDS show 488.....

My system if for 150g/d, pressure is between 55-65.

I already changed prefilters, carbon and resins, I have just 1 month with this systems, I'm specting 0 ppm.

what could be wrong here???

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Something seems odd here. Your tap water TDS (488) and your pre RO TDS (701) should be nearly identical, as your 4 sediment filters and your 1 carbon filter have little effect on TDS. So first, figure out what is causing the odd readings you're getting.

Without knowing what the true readings are, it's had to comment on the performance of your RO membrane. Is the 5-6 ppm of the RO water accurate?

You never reported the TDS of your DI water, so you very well may be getting 0 TDS there.

Russ

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

So I just replaced all the filters on my RO/DI unit (1 filter, 1 carbon block, 1 DI resin). The TDS coming out of my RO is around 25 but 0 after my DI...but that 25ppm after the RO membrane is really high, considering that the two prefilters are brand new.

The reject water like blurps out of the line and shoots water, not a constant stream. When I turn off the water to the RO/DI unit it sounds like im opening an oxygen tank and it like blows the pressure out and is loud. Its never done this before.

Did the membrane randomly go bad? Im tying to open the housing of the RO membrane but its like impossible, does anyone know a better way to open it?

I looked at the skimmer build date it was 2008. Any ideas. thanks

Sounds like you just have some air trapped in the system.

 

[t4zalews]

after installing new membrane, my TDS is zero after RO so back to normal. I got a different membrane than the original spectrapure membrane and I had to get a new flow restrictor. I got the right sized one for the membrane but I'm noticing that the pressue is lower in the system..its running at 50-55 psi rather than 60-65 psi. The new flow restrictor is an external one rather than internal one that came with system...is this the main reason? I also see that the pressure varies more than before, it will swing rather than stay a constant pressure. The new membrane says 100 gph, my old one was 90 gph but it seems like the old one produced water faster.

Any ideas on why the pressure doesnt stay constant? Still produced ~16 gallons in 3.5 hours with 0 TDS

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Your "90 gpd" membrane was likely a re-labeled 75 gpd membrane, spec'ed to run at pressures higher than the manufacturer's spec.

Unless you have very very good tap water, its unlikely water coming out of the membrane is 0 TDS.

Russ

 

[Gen21]

I have similar issues with my RO/DI...

The TDS meter show 630TDS of tap water inlet, before membrane 500, after membrane 40TDS but after the DI resin mixed bed 180TDS!!!!!!! so... it's too rare... how is possible that DI raise the TDS level?¿

I have a vertex puratek RO/DI 200gpd... this is 2x 100gpd membranes...

 

[t4zalews]

Your "90 gpd" membrane was likely a re-labeled 75 gpd membrane, spec'ed to run at pressures higher than the manufacturer's spec.

Unless you have very very good tap water, its unlikely water coming out of the membrane is 0 TDS.

Russ[/QUOTE

When I first turn on the water my TDS coming out of the RO is 25ppm, then within 2 minutes its at 0ppm. This is before my DI

 

[sporto0]

u need an inline flush kit for your membrane, very easy to install on your current set up, then you just open the flush valve once a week for 30-45 seconds & it cleans your membrane and probably adds a year to it's life