Typhoon III Users, help please

[doox00]

Ok, I purchased a typhoon III, got it, all was good. I was getting 1 tds readings... good enough for me. I had made about 150-200 gallons worth total and decided to check with my tds meter, it was over 200.. ouch.

My tap water is 160-170 tds.

So I dumped the ro water I had made that was reading so high, cleaned the containers with vinegar, and tried making more water, I kept getting 40's ratings, in 3 seperate containers with either ro or ro/di water.

So I called airwaterice and they had me try a few things with no luck, still 40's rating. They determined it was the membrane that was bad so sent me a new one to replace it. (great customer service btw). I received it yesterday, I decided to change all the filters in the unit as well, as airwaterice told me the di was definately burned through (they sent me 2 replacements of that as well). So I put in a new membrane, new sediment filter, new charcoal filter and new di. let the it waste water for about 10 minutes.

I decided to let it make just ro water first, I was getting 20's reading with that, after wasting the first couple gallons. I switched to ro/di and it was getting 0 and 1, switching back and forth, that is fine.. but I am concerned, shouldn't just ro water be less than 20's tds rating? I am afraid I am going to burn through my di again real fast. Wondering if there isn't something else wrong with my unit...

 

[arizona tech]

i had the same problem they finally sent me a new top rail and it worked my tap tds is 375-ro is 8 you should be around 10 or less if your tap tds is 160 -170, you wont burn through di very fast with a 20 but it should be lower ,make some more ro water

 

[doox00]

what is the top rail exactly btw?

 

[arizona tech]

if you took the 4 canisters off and looked at the unit that is the top rail, i was getting a ro tds of 60 and i knew something was wrong they sent me a new membrane and that did'nt work then they sent me a top rail, it consists of everything

 

[doox00]

ok, I have more ro water goin now, I will let a couple more gallons waste and then see what I get, I am am not getting 10ish though I guess I need the new top rail also.

 

[AZDesertRat]

The top rail is a bracket that holds everything together, doesn't do a thing for treatment. I don't know where that is coming from.
Now, which membrane do you have, the 75 or the 100? If you have the 100 your readings are in line with what they should be. If you have the 75 it a little high. What are your raw water, RO only and combined RO/DI TDS readings right now? You need all there numbers to determine if things are working correctly.
Use a squeaky clean glass to hold the water for testing and be sure to triple rinse it and the meter with DI between each use so you don't get false readings. How fast is the unit producing water? Does it seem slow or fast? You can use a measuring cup and time the flow to calculate the gallons per day. If its running fast your mebrane may not be seated correctly in the housing.

 

[doox00]

I have the 75 membrane, or should be anyways.. this is what I ordered.

tap water is 160-170
ro is mid 20's
ro/di is 0 and 1 readings

Its burning off some more ro water right now.. gunna go out and dump it in a few and get more ro readings

It seems to be flowing like it was before, I was getting roughly 50ish gallons per day out of it, its pretty cold water going into it, with about 50-55 psi.

 

[doox00]

well, I just let it fill up the cap to the tds meter (this is what airwaterice had me do to test), and ro is at 35 tds output..sigh

 

[arizona tech]

az desert rat is right about making sure the membrane is seated right and make sure the membrane has no paper or plastic on it.the reason i said the top rail made a differance is maybee the unit was not plumbed right from the shop, when i talked to walter he could not believe that another membrane did not cure it, so they sent me a new top rail and i have never looked back

 

[doox00]

yep, I think the plumbing is wrong on mine too, following the diagram that came with it, its different.. I think this may be my problem also.

wonder if I should attempt to replumb it or just have them send me a new one.

 

[arizona tech]

send a new one you spent the money, believe me i was frustrated as you were. I tried to switch hoses around, and that did nothing, e-mail them and call bryon, he is also a great person to talk to

 

[doox00]

yeah, bryan is the person I have talked to each time I have called, very friendly and helpful.

 

[old salty]

I might have to try this.

My tap reads 250, RO 21-23, and RO/DI is zero. AWI sent me a free replacment RO filter (75gpd Filmtec) and the RO is still the same. I have since replaced all three prefilters, and no change. I have accepted the fact that the Dow membrane may not be all that it is cracked up to be, but since reading the posts above that may not be so. I admit, I have sometimes coveted DesertRat's tap being over 500 and his RO less than 10.

 

[Unresistible Blue]

Try taking your tds readings in a VERY clean GLASS container rather than in the plastic cap of the handheld tds meter.

Have you calibrated the tds meter?

 

[willie301]

I purchased the Typhoon Reefkeeping RODI
Totally automatic with ASOV and Float valve from Air, Water & Ice, Inc.
My supply water is 170 TDS and my out put RO/DI is 0 (zero).
It has the 100 gpd. membrane.
I added a flush kit and gauge to my unit.

 

[smleee]

I agree with Blue, everyone MUST remember to take their readings in a glass container that is rinsed in the water you are trying to measure. A lot of people forget this (not saying anyone particular in this thread).

I have ~125 TDS input and 1-2 TDS RO only output.

eee

 

[Drewcipher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7040416#post7040416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
I might have to try this.

My tap reads 250, RO 21-23, and RO/DI is zero. AWI sent me a free replacment RO filter (75gpd Filmtec) and the RO is still the same. I have since replaced all three prefilters, and no change. I have accepted the fact that the Dow membrane may not be all that it is cracked up to be, but since reading the posts above that may not be so. I admit, I have sometimes coveted DesertRat's tap being over 500 and his RO less than 10.

How is the membrane not what it is cracked up to be if you are getting 0 TDS on the RO/DI. I have an input of 190, RO of 20-25, and TDS of 0. That seems like exactly what should happen. Am I wrong?

 

[smleee]

A properly installed/working 75GPD DOW FilmTec membrane should give you a 98% rejection ratio. Hence, 200 TDS input ---> 4 TDS RO only output.

eee

 

[Drewcipher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7043989#post7043989 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smleee
A properly installed/working 75GPD DOW FilmTec membrane should give you a 98% rejection ratio. Hence, 200 TDS input ---> 4 TDS RO only output.

eee

Ah, so my RO isn't all it should be, but as long as my RO/DI tests 0 TDS I don't believe I care. My Typhoon is in the garage and only for the tank. Have a different RO in the house for drinking.

 

[Unresistible Blue]

The only reason you might want to think about this a bit more is that if your membrane isn't operating properly, you'll end up burning through DI resin faster than would otherwise be the case.