TDS Calibration fluid
- Thread starter Spiffyguy
- Start date
Buckeye Hydro
.Registered Member
If that's all you were to order, we would send it Priority USPS and refund the excess shipping cost. The USPS would likely run $4 to $4.50.
We have 342, 800, and 1382 ppm calibration fluids.
Russ @ BFS
We have 342, 800, and 1382 ppm calibration fluids.
Russ @ BFS
Spiffyguy
New member
That is good to know russ. What is the difference between the different fluids? I can't remember what the one was that came with my TDS meter.
Is it normal to swapp all 3 canisters or just the one. The filter one is still white, I see no dirt in it. Not sure about the carbon one. The DI one, I think, has some parts that have changed from black to a gold or brown. I heard that is when they start to go.
Is it normal to swapp all 3 canisters or just the one. The filter one is still white, I see no dirt in it. Not sure about the carbon one. The DI one, I think, has some parts that have changed from black to a gold or brown. I heard that is when they start to go.
Buckeye Hydro
.Registered Member
The only difference between the fluids is really the tds levels. Best to use a fluid that is closer to the tds levels you will be measuring with your meter (which would mean the 342 would be better to use). However, some meters require a specific fluid for calibration (e.g. 800 pmm or 1382 ppm).
A good rule of thumb is to replace your sediment filter and carbon block after six months. A more precise way to maximize the useable life of these two filters is to use a pressure gauge to identify when pressure reaching the membrane starts to decline. This is your indication one or both of the filters is beginning to clog.
Also be cognizant of the chlorine capacity of the carbon block. The Matrikx+1 (“Chlorine Guzzlerâ€Â) for example will remove 99% of chlorine from 20,000 gallons of tap water presented at 1 gpm. Original equipment suppliers commonly provide carbon cartridges rated at 2,000 to 6,000 gallons.
Regarding your RO membrane and DI resin, use your TDS meter to measure, record, and track the tds (expressed in parts per million) in three places:
1. Tap water
2. After the RO but before the DI
3. After the DI.
The TDS in your tap water will likely range from about 50 ppm to upwards of 1000 parts per million (ppm). Common readings are 100 to 400 ppm. So for sake of discussion, let's say your tap water reads 400 ppm. That means that for every million parts of water, you have 400 parts of dissolved solids. How do we go about getting that TDS reading down to somewhere near zero?
If you do some experimenting with your TDS meter, you'll note that your sediment filter and carbon block filter (collectively called prefilters) do very little to remove dissolved solids. So with your tap water at 400 ppm, you can measure the water at the “in†port on your RO housing and you'll see its still approximately 400 ppm.
The RO membrane is really the workhorse of the system. It removes most of the TDS, some membranes to a greater extent than others. For instance, 100 gpd Filmtec membranes have a rejection rate of 90% (i.e., they reject 90% of the dissolved solids in feed water). So the purified water coming from your 100 gpd membrane would be about 40 ppm (a 90% reduction). Filmtec 75 gpd (and below) membranes produce less purified water (aka “permeateâ€Â), but have a higher rejection rate (96 to 98%). The life span of a RO membrane is dependant upon how much water you run through it, and how dirty the water is. Membranes can function well for a year, two years, or more. To test the membrane, measure the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water coming in to the membrane, and in the purified water (permeate) produced by the membrane. Compare that to the membrane’s advertised rejection rate, and to the same reading you recorded when the membrane was new. Membranes also commonly produce less water as their function declines.
After the RO membrane, water will flow to your DI housing. DI resin in good condition will reduce the 40 ppm water down to 0 or 1 ppm. When the DI output starts creeping up from 0 or 1 ppm to 3 ppm, 5 ppm, and higher, you know that your resin needs to be replaced. Sometimes people complain that their DI resin didn't last very long. Often the culprit is a malfunctioning RO membrane sending the DI resin “dirty†water. This will exhaust the resin quicker then would otherwise have been the case. Sometimes the problem is poor quality resin â€"œ remember that all resins are not created equal!
Russ
A good rule of thumb is to replace your sediment filter and carbon block after six months. A more precise way to maximize the useable life of these two filters is to use a pressure gauge to identify when pressure reaching the membrane starts to decline. This is your indication one or both of the filters is beginning to clog.
Also be cognizant of the chlorine capacity of the carbon block. The Matrikx+1 (“Chlorine Guzzlerâ€Â) for example will remove 99% of chlorine from 20,000 gallons of tap water presented at 1 gpm. Original equipment suppliers commonly provide carbon cartridges rated at 2,000 to 6,000 gallons.
Regarding your RO membrane and DI resin, use your TDS meter to measure, record, and track the tds (expressed in parts per million) in three places:
1. Tap water
2. After the RO but before the DI
3. After the DI.
The TDS in your tap water will likely range from about 50 ppm to upwards of 1000 parts per million (ppm). Common readings are 100 to 400 ppm. So for sake of discussion, let's say your tap water reads 400 ppm. That means that for every million parts of water, you have 400 parts of dissolved solids. How do we go about getting that TDS reading down to somewhere near zero?
If you do some experimenting with your TDS meter, you'll note that your sediment filter and carbon block filter (collectively called prefilters) do very little to remove dissolved solids. So with your tap water at 400 ppm, you can measure the water at the “in†port on your RO housing and you'll see its still approximately 400 ppm.
The RO membrane is really the workhorse of the system. It removes most of the TDS, some membranes to a greater extent than others. For instance, 100 gpd Filmtec membranes have a rejection rate of 90% (i.e., they reject 90% of the dissolved solids in feed water). So the purified water coming from your 100 gpd membrane would be about 40 ppm (a 90% reduction). Filmtec 75 gpd (and below) membranes produce less purified water (aka “permeateâ€Â), but have a higher rejection rate (96 to 98%). The life span of a RO membrane is dependant upon how much water you run through it, and how dirty the water is. Membranes can function well for a year, two years, or more. To test the membrane, measure the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water coming in to the membrane, and in the purified water (permeate) produced by the membrane. Compare that to the membrane’s advertised rejection rate, and to the same reading you recorded when the membrane was new. Membranes also commonly produce less water as their function declines.
After the RO membrane, water will flow to your DI housing. DI resin in good condition will reduce the 40 ppm water down to 0 or 1 ppm. When the DI output starts creeping up from 0 or 1 ppm to 3 ppm, 5 ppm, and higher, you know that your resin needs to be replaced. Sometimes people complain that their DI resin didn't last very long. Often the culprit is a malfunctioning RO membrane sending the DI resin “dirty†water. This will exhaust the resin quicker then would otherwise have been the case. Sometimes the problem is poor quality resin â€"œ remember that all resins are not created equal!
Russ
Spiffyguy
New member
it is possible. I am not all that happy with the RODI unit. Had some shipping pains and the carbon canister still leaks no matter what I do. I don't make that much water though so I can't complain. The TDS is a Hanna Watercheck 1. Has PH and TDS on it. PH side seems to work. I used the TDS portion once maybe twice after I first got it and never really used it until now. I am having hair algae problems and wanted to make sure it was not my water giving me the issue. New tank so it is probably just that. But never hurts to check.
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