Coralife - PureFlo II RO Unit Broken

TheBends · 09/12/2010, 06:22 AM

Disclaimer: Yes, I have already contacted Coralife in an attempt to remedy the issue. No, this is not a vendor bashing thread. No, I don't want to send it back to the original retailer because I want to get this thing up and going and the original retailer's advertised defective item return time is 3-4 weeks. No, I can not install a saddle valve or change the hard plumbing in any way since I live in an apartment complex and thus far my landlord still likes me.

So why am I posting here? I want to find out if anyone else has had similar experiences and what they have done to remedy the issue.

I received my PureFlo II RO Unit in the mail, unpacked it, followed the instructions and hooked it up. I goofed on a few fittings not being tight enough and water quickly drenched my kitchen counter. Not a big deal.

After tightening all of the fittings and giving the unit a THOROUGH check over, I turned the water back on. To my dismay, water was finely misting out of the black sink faucet to 3/8" disconnect adapter. Before I could turn the water off that fine mist turned into a small river. Once I turned the water off and could inspect the adapter, I found a large (1/2" to 3/4") crack down the side (vertically). If you look "through" the adapter, you can see daylight places where you shouldn't.

After doing some googling it seems as this piece is fairly common in the tap water filtration world but upon multiple excursions to Lowes and Ace Hardware I have to find a replacement.

Here is the closest thing I have found:

http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Gilm...t-2459402.html

What has anyone else done / what are the recommendations?

Disclaimer: Yes, I have already contacted Coralife in an attempt to remedy the issue. No, this is not a vendor bashing thread. No, I don't want to send it back to the original retailer because I want to get this thing up and going and the original retailer's advertised defective item return time is 3-4 weeks. No, I can not install a saddle valve or change the hard plumbing in any way since I live in an apartment complex and thus far my landlord still likes me.

shifty51008 · 09/12/2010, 06:49 AM

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...ct-murlok.html

looks like that is what your looking for.

TheBends · 09/12/2010, 07:01 AM

That looks close, that is for a garden hose and is for 1/4" quick connect. I need sink and 3/8" - but thanks for the link, I will poke around and see what I can come up with.

TheBends · 09/12/2010, 07:09 AM

It looks like I could install this:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...t-mur-lok.html

Under the sink and then install this:

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...-murlok-1.html

After the diverter.

This would allow the RO unit to hide under the sink and with the valve I would be able to turn the unit on or off by stopping waterflow to the unit. Am I missing something here?

shifty51008 · 09/12/2010, 07:18 AM

that idea would be a good one, and solve your problem.

one thing I am wondering is how your gonna run your drain if it is under the sink and you don't want to change any of the plumbing?

TheBends · 09/12/2010, 07:29 AM

As I hit "reply" that thought crept upon me. I think what I will do is just store the RO unit down there but when I use it bring it up top. The water inlet is long enough to run it down under the sink and that way it can waste into the sink and drop good water into a bucket.

Also, I only had the unit going for a few minutes but the waste water looked much more clear than the "good" water. Yes, I have triple checked the manufacturer's instructions and I have the lines set up properly but the RO water looked almost brownish - is this a result of the membrane breaking in or...? I was also getting far more water out the waste line than the RO line and it looked very clear.

shifty51008 · 09/12/2010, 08:05 AM

the only real way to tell is with a TDS meter, but I have never seen RO water come out brown even after I have changed membranes. and yes you should be getting more waste to RO water. almost 3:1

TheBends · 09/12/2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

the only real way to tell is with a TDS meter, but I have never seen RO water come out brown even after I have changed membranes. and yes you should be getting more waste to RO water. almost 3:1

Unfortunately I did not buy a TDS meter - yes I know, I should have. I went ahead and purchased the two items I listed earlier, hopefully they will be in early this week. Once I get everything plumbed I will run the system for a couple of hours and discard the water as it instructs me to. After that I will take some pictures and post up - maybe it will have cleared up by then, who knows.

shifty51008 · 09/12/2010, 10:58 AM

if you did order from bulk reef supply and your in mankato then they should be there prob. tuesday. whenever I ordered from them it takes 2 days and I am 30 min. south of worthington.

TheBends · 09/16/2010, 07:42 AM

Got everything hooked up yesterday and it has been working flawlessly! The first two gallons did come out brownish and I discarded them as per the instructions, all the water that has been produced after that has been crystal clear.

Thanks for your help!

09/12/2010, 06:22 AM	#1
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	Coralife - PureFlo II RO Unit Broken Disclaimer: Yes, I have already contacted Coralife in an attempt to remedy the issue. No, this is not a vendor bashing thread. No, I don't want to send it back to the original retailer because I want to get this thing up and going and the original retailer's advertised defective item return time is 3-4 weeks. No, I can not install a saddle valve or change the hard plumbing in any way since I live in an apartment complex and thus far my landlord still likes me. So why am I posting here? I want to find out if anyone else has had similar experiences and what they have done to remedy the issue. I received my PureFlo II RO Unit in the mail, unpacked it, followed the instructions and hooked it up. I goofed on a few fittings not being tight enough and water quickly drenched my kitchen counter. Not a big deal. After tightening all of the fittings and giving the unit a THOROUGH check over, I turned the water back on. To my dismay, water was finely misting out of the black sink faucet to 3/8" disconnect adapter. Before I could turn the water off that fine mist turned into a small river. Once I turned the water off and could inspect the adapter, I found a large (1/2" to 3/4") crack down the side (vertically). If you look "through" the adapter, you can see daylight places where you shouldn't. After doing some googling it seems as this piece is fairly common in the tap water filtration world but upon multiple excursions to Lowes and Ace Hardware I have to find a replacement. Here is the closest thing I have found: http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Gilm...t-2459402.html What has anyone else done / what are the recommendations? Disclaimer: Yes, I have already contacted Coralife in an attempt to remedy the issue. No, this is not a vendor bashing thread. No, I don't want to send it back to the original retailer because I want to get this thing up and going and the original retailer's advertised defective item return time is 3-4 weeks. No, I can not install a saddle valve or change the hard plumbing in any way since I live in an apartment complex and thus far my landlord still likes me.

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09/12/2010, 06:49 AM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...ct-murlok.html looks like that is what your looking for.

09/12/2010, 07:01 AM	#3
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	That looks close, that is for a garden hose and is for 1/4" quick connect. I need sink and 3/8" - but thanks for the link, I will poke around and see what I can come up with.

09/12/2010, 07:09 AM	#4
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	It looks like I could install this: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...t-mur-lok.html Under the sink and then install this: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...-murlok-1.html After the diverter. This would allow the RO unit to hide under the sink and with the valve I would be able to turn the unit on or off by stopping waterflow to the unit. Am I missing something here?

09/12/2010, 07:18 AM	#5
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	that idea would be a good one, and solve your problem. one thing I am wondering is how your gonna run your drain if it is under the sink and you don't want to change any of the plumbing?

09/12/2010, 07:29 AM	#6
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	As I hit "reply" that thought crept upon me. I think what I will do is just store the RO unit down there but when I use it bring it up top. The water inlet is long enough to run it down under the sink and that way it can waste into the sink and drop good water into a bucket. Also, I only had the unit going for a few minutes but the waste water looked much more clear than the "good" water. Yes, I have triple checked the manufacturer's instructions and I have the lines set up properly but the RO water looked almost brownish - is this a result of the membrane breaking in or...? I was also getting far more water out the waste line than the RO line and it looked very clear.

09/12/2010, 08:05 AM	#7
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	the only real way to tell is with a TDS meter, but I have never seen RO water come out brown even after I have changed membranes. and yes you should be getting more waste to RO water. almost 3:1

09/12/2010, 10:58 AM	#9
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	if you did order from bulk reef supply and your in mankato then they should be there prob. tuesday. whenever I ordered from them it takes 2 days and I am 30 min. south of worthington.

09/16/2010, 07:42 AM	#10
TheBends Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 99	Got everything hooked up yesterday and it has been working flawlessly! The first two gallons did come out brownish and I discarded them as per the instructions, all the water that has been produced after that has been crystal clear. Thanks for your help!