RO unit and hard water question

[81Shaun]

Hello, I just got the aqua fx RO unit and was curious about hard water going through the unit. I notice hard water is in my tap and was wondering what one could expect out of the unit as far as membrane life span? now I do understand that soft water is reccomended but do not have a water softener in my home and from what ive seen there a bit to pricy although I did see a electronic scale blaster device that wouldn't be to expensive but see mixed reviews about them and was wondering if one would benefit me or not ? so do any of you use hard water through your RO unit ? would replacing the sediment filter and the carbon block frequently help with keeping the membrane life span longer? im only going to be using RO for a 24 gallon nano cube only and my unit is the 4 stage 50 gpd . any help with this would be good. thanks

 

[das75]

hard water bit of a general term, what's the tds out of the tap?

Water company here says our water is moderately hard and I'll measure 150-200ppm yet around 5 years on same membrane.

 

[postie1686]

I have a 5 stage unit and the water out of my tap reads anywhere from 320 to 380ppm. i replace my sediment filters every 6 months. but the membrane was used when i got it and i used it for 2 years after. just make sure to flush it every few weeks it really seems to help!

 

[81Shaun]

hard water bit of a general term, what's the tds out of the tap?

Water company here says our water is moderately hard and I'll measure 150-200ppm yet around 5 years on same membrane.

right, ya its hard to really say without the tds reading I got to thinking that after the posting but I did purchase a tds hand held unit it should arrive tomorrow so i will post what im coming up with tomorrow sometime. Thank you for the help.

 

[81Shaun]

I have a 5 stage unit and the water out of my tap reads anywhere from 320 to 380ppm. i replace my sediment filters every 6 months. but the membrane was used when i got it and i used it for 2 years after. just make sure to flush it every few weeks it really seems to help!

well hopefully mine is not severe also sure would make nice but I got a tds meter hand held unit should arrive tomorrow but I will post what im coming up with. Thanks much for the help

 

[81Shaun]

okay guys just got the test and im getting 442 ppm so what do you guys think?

 

[azjohnny]

I live in Phoenix and our water is very hard. TDS 600-700, PH around 8.5 and very hard (lots of minerals in the soil). Spectrapure is a local company that designs their filters for hard water. My house doesn't have a softener

Make sure your waste to good water ratio is 4/1 and you will be ok

Use quality replacement filters

 

[81Shaun]

wow, thanks man for the reply that is quite a bit. how often do you change out the sediment filters and carbon? yeah was going to buy a spectapure system at my local fish store but was a bit short so I purchased a aqua fx barracuda system. ya the most im getting is like 450 ppm using a TDS EZ blue hand held unit.

 

[azjohnny]

wow, thanks man for the reply that is quite a bit. how often do you change out the sediment filters and carbon? yeah was going to buy a spectapure system at my local fish store but was a bit short so I purchased a aqua fx barracuda system. ya the most im getting is like 450 ppm using a TDS EZ blue hand held unit.

about once a year, ( or when the water pressure drops) but I use their best sediment and carbon filters
http://spectrapure.com/AQUARIUM/SED...te-ZetaZorb-Sediment-Filter-Cartridge-10-inch
http://spectrapure.com/AQUARIUM/SED...r-Cart/0.5-Micron-Carbon-Block-Filter-10-inch


They have a good budget system for $129 which was my 1st Spectrapure system
http://spectrapure.com/FACTORY-REFURBISHED/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System

I know have a Maxcap 5 stage which I am very happy with and I feel a flush system is a waste of money if you have the waste to good water ratio set right

http://spectrapure.com/AQUARIUM/RO-...I-Systems/MaxCap-Standard-90-GPD-RO-DI-System


The new SpecraSelect Plus membranes rock....99% removal rate. It will be my next membrane

http://spectrapure.com/NEW-99-percent-rejection-SpectraSelect-Plus-Tested-90-GPD-RO-Membrane

 

[81Shaun]

heck that is a good buy on that spectapure $129 .00 isnt bad. wow, that maxcap 5 does look like it would produce some great water. Nice with those two gauges also. I just found out that the water using this handheld unit is suppose to be used with water 77 degrees so im checking that now with a digital thermometer to see what reading I get. what temperature do you run through your unit? anyhow thanks man for the help

 

[Colorado1]

I have a 5 stage Filter Guys system ( Ocean 1 I think) and I have about 200 plus gallons thru it. I live in CO and the water is pretty hard- lots of deposits. No water softener- but I had the same concerns.

Anyways, still getting 000tds on the outlet, but I can see my resin starting to change color. Very happy with it. I flush it per instructions every 5 gallons or so.
If you have a small tank you shouldn't have any problems for longevity imo. I am running a 120 with a 40 sump - and replacing about a gallon a day in evap water.

 

[azjohnny]

heck that is a good buy on that spectapure $129 .00 isnt bad. wow, that maxcap 5 does look like it would produce some great water. Nice with those two gauges also. I just found out that the water using this handheld unit is suppose to be used with water 77 degrees so im checking that now with a digital thermometer to see what reading I get. what temperature do you run through your unit? anyhow thanks man for the help

Don't be too caught up with the temp of the feed water it's more of an average temp when rating the membrane. When its colder the membrane won't produce as much but will remove more TDS since the water is denser.

In Phoenix I estimate the feed water temp ranges from 60-80 degs

there are a few TDS meters that compensate for temperature automatically

 

[81Shaun]

I have a 5 stage Filter Guys system ( Ocean 1 I think) and I have about 200 plus gallons thru it. I live in CO and the water is pretty hard- lots of deposits. No water softener- but I had the same concerns.

Anyways, still getting 000tds on the outlet, but I can see my resin starting to change color. Very happy with it. I flush it per instructions every 5 gallons or so.
If you have a small tank you shouldn't have any problems for longevity imo. I am running a 120 with a 40 sump - and replacing about a gallon a day in evap water.

thanks for the reply. just out of curiosity what is your TDS from the tap?

 

[81Shaun]

Don't be too caught up with the temp of the feed water it's more of an average temp when rating the membrane. When its colder the membrane won't produce as much but will remove more TDS since the water is denser.

In Phoenix I estimate the feed water temp ranges from 60-80 degs

there are a few TDS meters that compensate for temperature automatically

great thanks for the help. was going to ask you though it says the water should be 77 degrees so my ro water should be 77 degrees also ? to get an accurate reading. wouldn't really matter would it if the RO water came out a bit cool and i use a heater to raise the water back up. ya i should of purchased the atc one probably going to get a inline unit gauge. is it a bunch of trouble hooking up? sorry so many questions just new to this kinda stuff