RODI TDS 3 Already

[lrs183]

Hey everyone,

I bought a new 5 stage rodi system from BRS a few weeks ago and it's already hitting 3 TDs. I'd say I've ran maybe 50 gallons of water through it? At the most. I don't get the best PSI but it does have a dual meter and incoming to the deionization filter is 13 and out of the deion is 3. I just don't get it. Why so fast and should I be worried? All of the other filters look alright but the deion filter is already turning yellowish.

How high can I let it go? I'm going to order another filter but this isn't going to be nearly as cost efficient as what I thought before but I'll have to live with it I guess.

Any suggestions?

[bnumair]

flush the membrane, then let the unit run for about 5-10gal.
At first my unit says tds 3 for initial 1-3 gals then goes to 0.

[lrs183]

How do I flush that specific membrane? I know there's the flush lever on top but that doesn't do anything to the deion filter I think.

[ryansc]

He is suggesting to try flushing the membrane. Do you flush it before and after use like it says in the directions that came with the Filter?

Could be chloramines. Ask your city if they use those. If they do you will need to add another stage.

Don't use any water that tests higher than 0. I would dump the batch. Look up my city water on the web and see what they use to treat the water.(thats what i did when determining if i needed to filter for chloramines). Then build a filter that works for your water supply.

[Palting]

How do I flush that specific membrane? I know there's the flush lever on top but that doesn't do anything to the deion filter I think.

That flush lever allows most of the water to run across the RO membrane without going through the membrane. It basically cleans out the inside of the membrane. You should notice a drop in the pressure gauge when you open the flush lever. This should be done for a few seconds before and after each use.

Anyhow, a TDS of 13 before the DI is high. Most membranes that do 75 gallons a day have a 99% rejection rate. Unless your tap water has very high TDS, like 1,000, something is amiss with your membrane. I have the BRS 5 stage deluxe. My tap water TDS is 200 (that's about average for city water), the TDS before the DI resin is 2, and the final TDS is 0. I have literally run thousands of gallons in 4 years through the same membrane. The rest of the filters, including the DI resin, last me about 3-6 months or several hundred gallons for each use.

Like I said, most likely something is wrong with your membrane if your DI resin is getting consumed after 50 gallons. Call BRS. They may just replace your unit.

[lrs183]

I just think though even if it's 13 going in after 50g it shouldn't be eaten up. I just don't get it honestly. If you can run yours for years at a few tds then mine should last longer than 2-3 weeks. Even at a rate of 13. I may call them Monday when they're open.

[lrs183]

The other membranes don't even look touched.

[lrs183]

As well, I'll have to call them I guess because my city doesn't do anything in a modern or efficient way so looking it up didn't work. I've been using the water for a few weeks now as noted. However, I'll be inquiring. If it's at 3 its obviously been progressing

Sigh. Wonder what LFS TDS's are? My LFS I booted the tank up with only did RO. Lol. If I go dumping batches I won't even have top off water not to mention water change water for tomorrows change

[lrs183]

Last self reply I'm sorry. But, after letting it flush for a bit its down to 2. I'm gonna finish topping my fresh water off then let it flush for an hour or two. I must have missed somewhere in the directions to flush it after every use. I'll look at it again but I would think I wouldn't have missed that.

[bnumair]

honestly i have never flushed mine ever since i got my 2 ro/di units from BRS. my tds from tap are abut 130 and before DI 2-3 and after DI 0.
I did flush the system once when i first purchased them 2 yrs back. i have replaced all filter once every yr just as regular maintenance.
Though i dont make small amounts of water. I have Genesis Renew Storm system that monitors the ro/di bin and only turns it on when i am low to 1 gal left in bin. Then fills it up all the way to 55 gal and shut off.
Small amount of water will tend to have higher tds than large amounts.

[Amatuer21]

Palting, I'm right outside of akron and my tap tds is in the 600's!!!!

[lrs183]

When I first turn it mine on and its going down quickly in its TDs its around 300-400 incoming. I'm not sure if this is actually making a difference. Its still going between 2-3. Gonna let it go a while longer

[julie180]

Last self reply I'm sorry. But, after letting it flush for a bit its down to 2. I'm gonna finish topping my fresh water off then let it flush for an hour or two. I must have missed somewhere in the directions to flush it after every use. I'll look at it again but I would think I wouldn't have missed that.

Flushing for an hour or two sounds like a waste of water to me.

[fishysteve]

I was chewing through DI cartridges once a month before I got a booster pump. My house psi is only 35-40. I have the booster pump set at 90 psi now and my DI cartridges last for about 6 to 8 months. I don't know why it made a difference, but it did.

[lrs183]

Flushing for an hour or two sounds like a waste of water to me.

Well thank you for the fruitless comment but I don't waste the water.

But again, thank you

[DjScRiBbLe]

Mt fairly new BRS 4 stage plus has already burned through di and outputs between 0-3 tds... Also went through a sediment after about 200 gallons. Flush before and after each use

[lrs183]

I was chewing through DI cartridges once a month before I got a booster pump. My house psi is only 35-40. I have the booster pump set at 90 psi now and my DI cartridges last for about 6 to 8 months. I don't know why it made a difference, but it did.

You really think that was it? I get 65-70psi at the moment. Flushing for the 1.5 hours didn't end up doing anything other than lowering the incoming TDS to 10. No end tds drop though.

[lrs183]

Mt fairly new BRS 4 stage plus has already burned through di and outputs between 0-3 tds... Also went through a sediment after about 200 gallons. Flush before and after each use

I'm just worried this isn't going to be nearly as cost efficient as it was originally intended to be if I have to replace the di every month

[fishysteve]

I'm fairly confident the pressure is what made the difference in my case.

[fishysteve]

Just checked my filter change log. Looks like the DI cartridges last more like 10 months.


Check out this thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1832684

[DjScRiBbLe]

Di shouldnt last 10 months? At least not after talking to people who stopped running di because of cost to replace.

I've made around 300 gallons tops and mine is depleted. Along with sediment filter.

[fishysteve]

I use the Spectrapure MaxCap followed by a Silica buster. There are many factors that determine how long any kind of cartridges last. Lots of combinations. Mine last a long time because I only get 1TDS coming out of my RO membrane.

I'm positive there are a **** load of people that get there DI to last as long as mine.

[bnumair]

Mine last 1.5 yrs if left alone with no flushing the membrane either but I do change all filters every 12 months. Tap tds about 130. Before Di 2 to 3 and after 0.
I have 2 BRS chloramine deluxe 7 stage units.

This all depends on setup and initial tds from city and proper placement of membrane. Sometimes it's not seated in property or O ring fails etc causing such issues like urs

[fishysteve]

The doctor knows best ! Lol. Very nice.
I'd like to see a poll on how long everyone's different cartridges last, Now that my curiosity is peaked.

[lrs183]

So is the general consensus that I need to increase psi or contact BRS? Or neither?

Obviously it could just be the water but I wouldn't think its that terrible

[fishysteve]

What is your TDS out of the tap?

[bnumair]

what PSI are you running. also have you opened the membrane housing to make sure its installed properly, check the O rings while ur in there.

[lrs183]

Honestly I don't know what the tds is from the tap :/ though it's likely incorrect but what the inbound to di membrane reads before it adjusts down to its 10-11 is in the 300 range up to 400.

Psi is 60-65.

[lrs183]

And I haven't ripped it apart yet. Will it have any pressure

[bnumair]

psi of 60-65 is what BRS recommends. so thats not the issue. i bet either ur membrane is not seated properly or seals/ O rings failed or just simply bad membrane. either way you will have to open and inspect the unit for such issues. Contact BRS they might tell you the same to inspect before anything.

[lrs183]

For the time being is using this 3tds water ok for a water change or two while this issue is resolved? If not I have a lot of scrambling to do as I don't want to start missing maint. And I won't have top off water.

I'll give them a call though and see what they think. Perhaps YouTube will have a video too

[fishysteve]

Do you mean inbound to the RO membrane ?

[fishysteve]

It's fine to use it.

[syilk1]

Try having well water, I burn through 2 DI cartridges in about 300 gallons. Ughhhhh. Due to high CO2 in water. PAIN IN THE A$$

[lrs183]

The di piece is where the dual meter is at. Its inbound to the di starts at a high number then spirals down to a low number. Ie the 10-11. The outbound from the di remains the 3

[fishysteve]

Gotcha.

[lrs183]

Yeah I need to buy a standard meter for external use. And I feel like I'm on well water with this burning up on about 50 gallons of use lol

[fishysteve]

A CTA membrane is needed for well water right? Not a TFC membrane?

[Ontheway]

As far as I know, TDS meters need calibration. Can you test it with other RoDi waters around?

[shifty51008]

well water with high co2 will burn through DI fast, your best bet is to buy or build a co2 scrubber.

[fishysteve]

I got the CTA /TFC thing wrong. CTA shouldn't be used on well water.