RO Membrane Issue - Page 2

outy · 01/24/2018, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opus123

.1 sediment filters. .

I have been using washable pleated pre filters

move the decimal they are 10. 2 X carbon by 5.

Opus123 · 01/24/2018, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ostrow

Yeah, I have it at the end of my waste line. It's a valve. At 3o'clock it's closed, and you get product water. At 6 O'clock, it's open, and it flushes the membrane (which I am not instructed not to do any more).

I believe that's what they all are.
https://airwaterice.com/fast-flush-b...ictor-223.html

This is what I'm talking about. You cut it shorter to "tune" it to the ratio you want though if you buy the correct gpd for your membrane it should not need "tuning".

As for flushing, that doesn't work at the consumer level. In theory it should clean the membrane and therefore make it last longer but we don't have the equipment to really make it work.

http://www.buckeyehydro.com/capillary-flow-restrictors/

Vinny Kreyling · 01/24/2018, 04:49 PM

What waste ratio is generally 4-1.
There are exceptions depending on your water supply.
I am running 2-1 because I have very soft water.
Spectrapure now makes a unit for 1-1, but I don't know anything about it except it has a booster pump included. OH - And it's $600

outy · 01/24/2018, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

There are exceptions depending on your water supply.

Which is an important point.

every system should be tuned

ostrow · 01/24/2018, 05:20 PM

4-1.

Spot on for Filmtec.

outy · 01/24/2018, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ostrow

4-1.

Spot on for Filmtec.

Its not the membrane that matters as much as the whole system and incoming TDS.

I can get away with much more restriction because of lower TDS.

thus the actual need for tuning the system.

Water pressure also plays into this.

4/1 is a guideline not an absolute rule

ostrow · 01/24/2018, 06:14 PM

Well maybe but this rate is normal and isn't a cause of a 6 month life on a membrane. This is the puzzle I am trying to solve.

I don't know how else to communicate to you my incoming tds value.

outy · 01/24/2018, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ostrow

Well maybe but this rate is normal and isn't a cause of a 6 month life on a membrane. This is the puzzle I am trying to solve.

I don't know how else to communicate to you my incoming tds value.

understand you have 220 and recently you have 20 outgoing, normally just 2 or something low like that.

Something is not normal with that much TDS in such a short time, its not an easy problem to solve, but you did change the restrictor.

Maybe your getting a bad batch of membranes

alton · 01/25/2018, 06:11 AM

Go to a pool supply and grab a bottle of test strips that checks for free and total chlorine. Test your water before your carbon blocks, and then after to make sure it is 0. My local water supply many times when I test is way over the printed numbers on their website. I have seen as high as 4 ppm on chlorine levels

ostrow · 01/25/2018, 06:39 AM

I use a Lamotte chlorine test kit. No chloramine is added to our water and very little chlorine in the first place. Zero out of the second carbon.

Opus123 · 01/25/2018, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ostrow

I use a Lamotte chlorine test kit. No chloramine is added to our water and very little chlorine in the first place. Zero out of the second carbon.

I read how your water is treated. Pretty complex system it sounds like. Amazing they supply water to that many people.

I'm at a loss on your problem. Unless the stopping the flushing fixes things I don't know what else to do. One last thought, do you know your water pressure?

ostrow · 01/25/2018, 12:21 PM

Yeah, Chicago water treatment is pretty awesome even still. It's pretty massive. And right, I'm at a loss too.

My booster pump is slightly underrated. When I bought the 6800 it said up to 75 but now they say up to 50. I may get an 8800. I am 60psi right at the membrane now. So I think it's certainly not maximally efficient but also not the cause of the short life of the membranes.

I'm going to try more expensive, .5 micron carbon blocs too. But am skeptical. Will stop the flushing and just see what happens over the next few months.

But tds out of the membrane has already gone from 2 to 3. And that's filling just 2 50gal containers and maybe 10 gal for the drinking water in the kitchen.

Opus123 · 01/25/2018, 01:48 PM

I'm with you, pressure is not the issue. My house pressure is around 60 and I've never had a problem.

Good Luck!

01/24/2018, 04:49 PM	#28
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	What waste ratio is generally 4-1. There are exceptions depending on your water supply. I am running 2-1 because I have very soft water. Spectrapure now makes a unit for 1-1, but I don't know anything about it except it has a booster pump included. OH - And it's $600 __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

01/24/2018, 05:20 PM	#30
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	4-1. Spot on for Filmtec. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

01/24/2018, 06:14 PM	#32
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Well maybe but this rate is normal and isn't a cause of a 6 month life on a membrane. This is the puzzle I am trying to solve. I don't know how else to communicate to you my incoming tds value. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

01/25/2018, 06:39 AM	#35
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	I use a Lamotte chlorine test kit. No chloramine is added to our water and very little chlorine in the first place. Zero out of the second carbon. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

01/25/2018, 12:21 PM	#37
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Yeah, Chicago water treatment is pretty awesome even still. It's pretty massive. And right, I'm at a loss too. My booster pump is slightly underrated. When I bought the 6800 it said up to 75 but now they say up to 50. I may get an 8800. I am 60psi right at the membrane now. So I think it's certainly not maximally efficient but also not the cause of the short life of the membranes. I'm going to try more expensive, .5 micron carbon blocs too. But am skeptical. Will stop the flushing and just see what happens over the next few months. But tds out of the membrane has already gone from 2 to 3. And that's filling just 2 50gal containers and maybe 10 gal for the drinking water in the kitchen. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

01/25/2018, 06:11 AM	#34
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Go to a pool supply and grab a bottle of test strips that checks for free and total chlorine. Test your water before your carbon blocks, and then after to make sure it is 0. My local water supply many times when I test is way over the printed numbers on their website. I have seen as high as 4 ppm on chlorine levels

01/25/2018, 01:48 PM	#38
Opus123 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Texas Posts: 605	I'm with you, pressure is not the issue. My house pressure is around 60 and I've never had a problem. Good Luck!