RO/DI Booster Pump surging/starving for water

trmiv · 01/24/2016, 12:56 AM

For years I ran a booster pump before the feed on my RO/DI unit. Recently though I was changing my pre-filters and membrane and decided to hook the booster pump up after the pre-filters as I've seen recommended. The issue now is as the pump runs it's like it wants more water than the pre-filters can provide. My tap pressure is only around 25psi, and the booster is running at 80psi. The pre-filter housings will start to run low, and the pump will begin to surge like it's starving for water. Takes about 10 minutes of running for this behavior to begin. The only way to correct it is to turn off the booster, let the pre-filters fill up all the way again, and then plug the booster back in. After about 10-15 minutes the behavior will start again. Any ideas how to correct this? The booster is an Aquatec 8800 with 1/4" fittings. I'm running a 90gpd membrane on the unit. Three pre-filters: Sediment and two carbon blocks. I've heard of these issues with old prefilters but these are almost brand new. I've run maybe 50-75g of water through them since replacing them a couple of weeks ago.

Buckeye Hydro · 01/24/2016, 04:43 AM

How is your feed water tube hooked up to your plumbing? I'll bet you a dollar I know what you are going to say!

By the way, there's no such thing as a 90 gpd membrane. It's simply a 75 gpd membrane that the vendor tells you to run at 10 psi higher than the factory spec. If you take any 75 gpd Filmtec membrane and turn the pressure up to 60 psi - you'll get 90 gpd.

trmiv · 01/24/2016, 09:20 AM

Its hooked up via a saddle

Yes this is one of the pretested Spectraselect plus membranes that spectrapure sells. The prefilters are from Buckeye though!

Buckeye Hydro · 01/24/2016, 09:23 AM

I win a dollar!

THAT is what is starving your pump for water. We recommend against the self piercing saddles in all cases, but when you have a booster pump they are an absolute non-starter. You'll need to tap into your plumbing in a better way.

Where is the tap into the pipe - under a sink? There are loads of much better, inexpensive options available.

Russ

trmiv · 01/24/2016, 09:29 AM

I'd have to look. I may be moving in a month or so to a house that is on well water so I'll probably reevaluate the whole setup then. I'll need to make a lot of water when I move at the new house. What kind of hookup options do I have? I may just get a sink adapter to use while moving and worry about getting it right after we get the tank up and running again.

EDIT: I see the different hookups on your site. I'm sure I can get something like that working. I may just order the faucet adapter as a temporary solution until we move and after for a bit. Would the faucet adapter supply enough water?

Buckeye Hydro · 01/24/2016, 09:48 AM

Yep. Going through a faucet adapter typically causes to loss of a bit of pressure, but because you have a booster that shouldn't be an issue.

Yes - there are lots of options available - give us a call when you're ready and we can figure out what will work best given your installation location.

Russ

01/24/2016, 12:56 AM	#1
trmiv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,082	RO/DI Booster Pump surging/starving for water For years I ran a booster pump before the feed on my RO/DI unit. Recently though I was changing my pre-filters and membrane and decided to hook the booster pump up after the pre-filters as I've seen recommended. The issue now is as the pump runs it's like it wants more water than the pre-filters can provide. My tap pressure is only around 25psi, and the booster is running at 80psi. The pre-filter housings will start to run low, and the pump will begin to surge like it's starving for water. Takes about 10 minutes of running for this behavior to begin. The only way to correct it is to turn off the booster, let the pre-filters fill up all the way again, and then plug the booster back in. After about 10-15 minutes the behavior will start again. Any ideas how to correct this? The booster is an Aquatec 8800 with 1/4" fittings. I'm running a 90gpd membrane on the unit. Three pre-filters: Sediment and two carbon blocks. I've heard of these issues with old prefilters but these are almost brand new. I've run maybe 50-75g of water through them since replacing them a couple of weeks ago. __________________ Current tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 Deluxe, Avast Marine Pegleg 180 skimmer, Gyre 150, Eheim 1262 return Last edited by trmiv; 01/24/2016 at 01:31 AM.

01/24/2016, 09:20 AM	#3
trmiv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,082	Its hooked up via a saddle Yes this is one of the pretested Spectraselect plus membranes that spectrapure sells. The prefilters are from Buckeye though! __________________ Current tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 Deluxe, Avast Marine Pegleg 180 skimmer, Gyre 150, Eheim 1262 return

01/24/2016, 09:29 AM	#5
trmiv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,082	I'd have to look. I may be moving in a month or so to a house that is on well water so I'll probably reevaluate the whole setup then. I'll need to make a lot of water when I move at the new house. What kind of hookup options do I have? I may just get a sink adapter to use while moving and worry about getting it right after we get the tank up and running again. EDIT: I see the different hookups on your site. I'm sure I can get something like that working. I may just order the faucet adapter as a temporary solution until we move and after for a bit. Would the faucet adapter supply enough water? __________________ Current tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 Deluxe, Avast Marine Pegleg 180 skimmer, Gyre 150, Eheim 1262 return Last edited by trmiv; 01/24/2016 at 09:37 AM.

01/24/2016, 04:43 AM	#2
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	How is your feed water tube hooked up to your plumbing? I'll bet you a dollar I know what you are going to say! By the way, there's no such thing as a 90 gpd membrane. It's simply a 75 gpd membrane that the vendor tells you to run at 10 psi higher than the factory spec. If you take any 75 gpd Filmtec membrane and turn the pressure up to 60 psi - you'll get 90 gpd.

01/24/2016, 09:23 AM	#4
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	I win a dollar! THAT is what is starving your pump for water. We recommend against the self piercing saddles in all cases, but when you have a booster pump they are an absolute non-starter. You'll need to tap into your plumbing in a better way. Where is the tap into the pipe - under a sink? There are loads of much better, inexpensive options available. Russ

01/24/2016, 09:48 AM	#6
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	Yep. Going through a faucet adapter typically causes to loss of a bit of pressure, but because you have a booster that shouldn't be an issue. Yes - there are lots of options available - give us a call when you're ready and we can figure out what will work best given your installation location. Russ