New pre/post filters but still hight TDS

cpucpu · 12/04/2016, 02:55 PM

First I'll start with a question.

Does a RO membrane, by itself, achieve a low TDS and clean water for human compsumtion? If I figuratively have a 99% RO membrane-only sytem, a 1000 TDS tap water, should the water come out clean at around 10 TDS? by the action of the membrane itself, regardless of it becoming damaged by chroline or whatever.

The thing is I have a 5 stages RO system

My stats:
tap 630 TDS
faucet after new membrane ~560 TDS
faucet after pre and post filters, and sanitizing (mechanically cleanning the housings, and the usage of sanisystem solution) 410 TDS

I dont know what else to do, I have assured the membrane is properly seated, the booster pump works at around 80 PSI, cleaned the system...

The only thing i can think of is the RO membrane came defective in the first place. How likely is that?

ericarenee · 12/04/2016, 04:55 PM

If you are starting with 1000 tds.

you will need a pre filter a 5 micron and 1 micron then dual carbon filters min before your Membrane.. then after the membrane (that will still prob only last a year ) You will NEED DUAL DI RESIN..

If you do the above and change the pre filters regular and di resin properly you should be able to maintain 0 tds..

With such high tds to start you should talk directly with one of the Water Filtration Specialist who are sponsored here on RC

cpucpu · 12/04/2016, 06:15 PM

Well, as I stated my tap water tds is 630.My current configuration is:

Flowpro 1 micron sediment
2 KX Matrikx 5 micron carbon block
Dow Filmtec 50 GPD membrane
Watts aicro post filter

Everything is new, yet my TDS is 410.

shifty51008 · 12/04/2016, 07:00 PM

deff sounds like the membrane is bad if you made sure it was seated properly. I have heard of people getting bad membranes before when they bought new but it is rare. IMO I would get a new membrane and look at a 98-99% rejection rate membrane that is a 75gpd one from spectrapure or buckeye hydro, the 75gpd membranes have the best rejection rates out of all membranes. also make sure to pick up the correct flow restrictor for the 75gpd membrane if you go that route.

you will also have to get new DI as if you ran that high of tds through your di it killed it.

cpucpu · 12/04/2016, 08:18 PM

I am under the assumption that my system system has no flow restrictor. It instead has a valve before the drain line, that you can adjust to restrict flow. Is this usual?

Also i suppose the DI resin is for the last mile, to get tds down to zero. Am i correct?

shifty51008 · 12/04/2016, 08:26 PM

the valve before the drain line is not usual but it will work as long as it is adjusted correctly, you want around 4 gal of waste water for every 1 gal good water so adjust the valve to that, you can use cups of water to make it easier to adjust. the reason for the 4:1 waste to good is that it keeps the membrane flushed better and can have the membrane last longer.

as for the DI you are correct that is the last stage to bring the TDS down to 0.

for my system my tap TDS is 534ppm, after the sediment and carbon filters it stays the same TDS, after my buckeyehydro MAXRO membrane the TDS drops to 2-3ppm and then the DI brings it down to 0ppm. hope this gives an idea of what to look for in search of TDS readings,

cpucpu · 12/05/2016, 12:18 AM

It will, definitely. Thank you very much.

Buckeye Hydro · 12/10/2016, 12:05 PM

cpucpu - feel free to give us a call when you are in front of the system if you want some help getting it squared away.

You don't need more than one sediment filter or more than one carbon block, or more than one DI stage unless you have some water quality issues you haven't mentioned here.

Looks like you have a drinking water RO and the vendor scabbed on a horizontal DI stage. Less than ideal configuration. We can help you with that too.

Russ

12/04/2016, 02:55 PM	#1
cpucpu Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 21	New pre/post filters but still hight TDS First I'll start with a question. Does a RO membrane, by itself, achieve a low TDS and clean water for human compsumtion? If I figuratively have a 99% RO membrane-only sytem, a 1000 TDS tap water, should the water come out clean at around 10 TDS? by the action of the membrane itself, regardless of it becoming damaged by chroline or whatever. The thing is I have a 5 stages RO system My stats: tap 630 TDS faucet after new membrane ~560 TDS faucet after pre and post filters, and sanitizing (mechanically cleanning the housings, and the usage of sanisystem solution) 410 TDS I dont know what else to do, I have assured the membrane is properly seated, the booster pump works at around 80 PSI, cleaned the system... The only thing i can think of is the RO membrane came defective in the first place. How likely is that?

12/04/2016, 04:55 PM	#2
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	If you are starting with 1000 tds. you will need a pre filter a 5 micron and 1 micron then dual carbon filters min before your Membrane.. then after the membrane (that will still prob only last a year ) You will NEED DUAL DI RESIN.. If you do the above and change the pre filters regular and di resin properly you should be able to maintain 0 tds.. With such high tds to start you should talk directly with one of the Water Filtration Specialist who are sponsored here on RC __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

12/04/2016, 07:00 PM	#4
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	deff sounds like the membrane is bad if you made sure it was seated properly. I have heard of people getting bad membranes before when they bought new but it is rare. IMO I would get a new membrane and look at a 98-99% rejection rate membrane that is a 75gpd one from spectrapure or buckeye hydro, the 75gpd membranes have the best rejection rates out of all membranes. also make sure to pick up the correct flow restrictor for the 75gpd membrane if you go that route. you will also have to get new DI as if you ran that high of tds through your di it killed it. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

12/04/2016, 08:26 PM	#6
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	the valve before the drain line is not usual but it will work as long as it is adjusted correctly, you want around 4 gal of waste water for every 1 gal good water so adjust the valve to that, you can use cups of water to make it easier to adjust. the reason for the 4:1 waste to good is that it keeps the membrane flushed better and can have the membrane last longer. as for the DI you are correct that is the last stage to bring the TDS down to 0. for my system my tap TDS is 534ppm, after the sediment and carbon filters it stays the same TDS, after my buckeyehydro MAXRO membrane the TDS drops to 2-3ppm and then the DI brings it down to 0ppm. hope this gives an idea of what to look for in search of TDS readings, __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

12/04/2016, 06:15 PM	#3
cpucpu Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 21	Well, as I stated my tap water tds is 630.My current configuration is: Flowpro 1 micron sediment 2 KX Matrikx 5 micron carbon block Dow Filmtec 50 GPD membrane Watts aicro post filter Everything is new, yet my TDS is 410.

12/04/2016, 08:18 PM	#5
cpucpu Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 21	I am under the assumption that my system system has no flow restrictor. It instead has a valve before the drain line, that you can adjust to restrict flow. Is this usual? Also i suppose the DI resin is for the last mile, to get tds down to zero. Am i correct?

12/05/2016, 12:18 AM	#7
cpucpu Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 21	It will, definitely. Thank you very much.

12/10/2016, 12:05 PM	#8
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	cpucpu - feel free to give us a call when you are in front of the system if you want some help getting it squared away. You don't need more than one sediment filter or more than one carbon block, or more than one DI stage unless you have some water quality issues you haven't mentioned here. Looks like you have a drinking water RO and the vendor scabbed on a horizontal DI stage. Less than ideal configuration. We can help you with that too. Russ