Just refilled DI, should it look like this? (pic)

gummyworms · 08/14/2008, 01:47 PM

Hello,

I just replaced my filters on my RO/DI and refilled my DI chamber last night. After making about 40 gallons of water (at 0 TDS), it now looks like this:

My TDS after RO is 21, why does my DI look like it is already 1/3 used up?

-Shawn

ryancaudill · 08/14/2008, 07:53 PM

I dont know why so much would have been used up so I will give you a bump.

kau_cinta_ku · 08/14/2008, 07:59 PM

well 21 TDS going into the DI will use it up fast. but if that is the color changing DI don't go by the color change to know how much is used up. use the TDS meter.

that fact that your getting 21 TDS after your RO means you have some bad filters or a bad membrane.

what is your TDS before RO, what is your PSI? how long ago did you change the carbon and sed. filters?

atvdave · 08/14/2008, 08:06 PM

also was the new DI resin stored in a air tight container, or baggie?

If air does get in on stored resin it will make it go bad over time.

but like kau_cinta_ku said, you can't go by the color of the resin.

Also make sure you have all the lines connected right. Just to double check.

AZDesertRat · 08/14/2008, 08:11 PM

Did you pack the cartridge tightly? If not the resin could have seperated into layers of cation and anion beads.
Always pack the cartridge as full as possible, tap it on the tabletop or counter a few times, top it off, tap it again, top it off again, tap it a few times, add the sponge to the top and screw the lid on. Resin shrinks slightly with use so make sure it is packed tightly to begin with so it does not seperate and lead to channelling or short circuiting.
I agree a RO only TDS of 21 is not very good, my tap water TDS is over 830 and my RO TDS is only 5 to 6.

gummyworms · 08/14/2008, 09:53 PM

Hmmm, I do not know my source RO, as my TDS meter is inline and hooked up to my RO output and DI outputs. I just changed the carbon and sediment filters, but had not done so for the 1st year of operation.

Could the overdue change on my filters lead to some damage to the RO membrane, resulting in these high TDS values?

-Shawn

gummyworms · 08/14/2008, 09:55 PM

I also did not pack the chamber tightly at all, and noticed there is a layer of water between the brown resin layer and the blue resin layer. I will pack some more into the chamber.

-Shawn

kau_cinta_ku · 08/14/2008, 10:28 PM

the overdue change could have caused damage. but hard to tell how good your membrane is without knowing the tap water TDS.

AZDesertRat · 08/15/2008, 08:07 AM

Chances are the membrane is OK unless you made a huge amount of water and exhausted the carbon filter causing chlorine damage to the membrane.
I think the resins just stratified. Dump it out, mix it all up again adding more resin to it and repack the cartridge as I showed above.
Keep up with the regular filter changes, they are there to protect your membrane.

I hate inline meters! They are inaccurate and limit you to two test locations. Do yourself a favor and get a HM Digital COM-100 handheld. I have two of the dual inlines but only use them as a rough guide or indicator, I always depend on my handheld for accurate readings.

08/14/2008, 01:47 PM	#1
gummyworms Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 205	Just refilled DI, should it look like this? (pic) Hello, I just replaced my filters on my RO/DI and refilled my DI chamber last night. After making about 40 gallons of water (at 0 TDS), it now looks like this: My TDS after RO is 21, why does my DI look like it is already 1/3 used up? -Shawn

08/14/2008, 07:53 PM	#2
ryancaudill Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 217	I dont know why so much would have been used up so I will give you a bump.

08/14/2008, 07:59 PM	#3
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	well 21 TDS going into the DI will use it up fast. but if that is the color changing DI don't go by the color change to know how much is used up. use the TDS meter. that fact that your getting 21 TDS after your RO means you have some bad filters or a bad membrane. what is your TDS before RO, what is your PSI? how long ago did you change the carbon and sed. filters?

08/14/2008, 08:06 PM	#4
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	also was the new DI resin stored in a air tight container, or baggie? If air does get in on stored resin it will make it go bad over time. but like kau_cinta_ku said, you can't go by the color of the resin. Also make sure you have all the lines connected right. Just to double check.

08/14/2008, 08:11 PM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Did you pack the cartridge tightly? If not the resin could have seperated into layers of cation and anion beads. Always pack the cartridge as full as possible, tap it on the tabletop or counter a few times, top it off, tap it again, top it off again, tap it a few times, add the sponge to the top and screw the lid on. Resin shrinks slightly with use so make sure it is packed tightly to begin with so it does not seperate and lead to channelling or short circuiting. I agree a RO only TDS of 21 is not very good, my tap water TDS is over 830 and my RO TDS is only 5 to 6.

08/14/2008, 09:53 PM	#6
gummyworms Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 205	Hmmm, I do not know my source RO, as my TDS meter is inline and hooked up to my RO output and DI outputs. I just changed the carbon and sediment filters, but had not done so for the 1st year of operation. Could the overdue change on my filters lead to some damage to the RO membrane, resulting in these high TDS values? -Shawn

08/14/2008, 09:55 PM	#7
gummyworms Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 205	I also did not pack the chamber tightly at all, and noticed there is a layer of water between the brown resin layer and the blue resin layer. I will pack some more into the chamber. -Shawn

08/14/2008, 10:28 PM	#8
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	the overdue change could have caused damage. but hard to tell how good your membrane is without knowing the tap water TDS.

08/15/2008, 08:07 AM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Chances are the membrane is OK unless you made a huge amount of water and exhausted the carbon filter causing chlorine damage to the membrane. I think the resins just stratified. Dump it out, mix it all up again adding more resin to it and repack the cartridge as I showed above. Keep up with the regular filter changes, they are there to protect your membrane. I hate inline meters! They are inaccurate and limit you to two test locations. Do yourself a favor and get a HM Digital COM-100 handheld. I have two of the dual inlines but only use them as a rough guide or indicator, I always depend on my handheld for accurate readings.