Which hose from the membrane goes to the DI chamber?

agoutihead · 02/16/2008, 07:23 PM

Still trying to figure this out. I'm filling up a 5 gallon bucket now and it will take probably about 10 minutes.

Which tube that is coming off of the membrane chamber goes to the DI chamber? The one that connects to the middle of the membrane, or the one that is off to the side of the middle of the membrane?

Tang Salad · 02/16/2008, 07:38 PM

One of those is the waste water; you need to figure out which.

Did your unit come with a diagram?

hubris007 · 02/16/2008, 07:45 PM

very easy to determine one of two ways.

The one that is flowing out faster is the waste, the other goes to the DI.

Or, test the TDS of each. The lower one (MUCH lower) goes to the DI.

Roy G. Biv · 02/16/2008, 07:49 PM

On mine, the center is the good water and the off center is the waste. As stated above.. The waste will be way faster.
Also I think 5 gallons in 10 minutes is WAY too fast for quality water.

agoutihead · 02/16/2008, 07:59 PM

Well the tube coming from the center of the membrane is the one that flows so quickly.

But why would my membrane work differently than others? It's a standard kind?

there is no way that the waste water could even flow this fast... it would be just too much waste I thought it was a 1 to 3 or 4 ratio?

That just seems like so much waste. to get 5 gallons I need to waste 20. Thats just crazy.

agoutihead · 02/17/2008, 11:22 AM

Alright so I flipped the two tubes coming out of the membrane and I actually think it started to flow quicker.

Could I possibly have a defective membrane?

csb · 02/17/2008, 11:36 AM

Did your RO unit not come with a diagram? Yes, there is a lot of waste water. This time of year (winter) with colder water temps, and depending on your water pressure, the waste line is typically more like 1:6 rather than 1:4

--csb

agoutihead · 02/17/2008, 12:54 PM

no diagram, someone else had given me a diagram to double check it all.

I'm wondering if perhaps my flow rate coming from my sink line is too strong.

It isn't attached using a saddle valve with a small pin hole. It has a special T fitting that has a 1/4" hole feed line for my ro/di.

Could that maybe be why my flow rate is so high?

Roy G. Biv · 02/17/2008, 02:31 PM

Typically house pressure is under what the recommended pressure for it unit calls for. You cannot know unless you have a guage.

Quote:

Originally posted by Pmolan
If you need to know right now:
At Home depot, in the sprinkler isle, they sell guages that hook up to an outside faucet. Hook it to the one closest to where the water main comes in. That will tell you how much you are getting from the street. Then hook it up closest to where the RO will go and that will give you your answer. I think its around 10 bux.

If you can wait:
http://www.thefilterguys.biz/ro_di_add-ons.htm

12 bux

magnetic1 · 02/17/2008, 03:13 PM

If flow is high on both waste and membrane water, check that the membrane is seated correctly.

agoutihead · 02/18/2008, 08:04 AM

I brought my machine over my buddies to hook it up to his saddle valve and there was def a difference in water pressure coming out of the final stage of the machine.

So I'm betting that because I have a 1/4" hole that my feed line is hooked up to is pushing more water through it.

And then on top of that I have that pressure thing on my waste valve allowing minimal waste and forcing more water through my DI chamber.

So everything is working like normal, just a bit quicker than normal.

So if things are all working normally and everything is going through the stages, how would it not get filtered properly just because it is going through it quicker than normal?

AZDesertRat · 02/18/2008, 09:28 AM

The size of the hole makes no difference. You want an unrestricted inlet at between 50 and 90 psi to work efficiently.
Here is a hook up diagram:
http://www.spectrapure.com/huds/DWS-DLX.pdf

If you are using it for reef water only disregard the final carbon filter, that should be used for drinking water only.

If you have a DI and drinking water both it may look more like this:
http://www.spectrapure.com/huds/4-ST...K-RODI-NAG.pdf

The good water is the line closer to the center of the housing and the waste is closer to the outside.

To troubleshoot the system you need a pressure gauge, thermometer, TDS meter, measuring cup and watch or clock.

First what is the incoming pressure?
What is the water temperature?
What is the tap water TDS? RO only TDS and finally the RO/DI TDS?
Time and measure the good flow for a minute then do the same with the waste flow. The waste should be 4 times the good or 4:1 waste ratio.

What are your results from all these tests?

02/16/2008, 07:23 PM	#1
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	Which hose from the membrane goes to the DI chamber? Still trying to figure this out. I'm filling up a 5 gallon bucket now and it will take probably about 10 minutes. Which tube that is coming off of the membrane chamber goes to the DI chamber? The one that connects to the middle of the membrane, or the one that is off to the side of the middle of the membrane? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

02/16/2008, 07:38 PM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	One of those is the waste water; you need to figure out which. Did your unit come with a diagram? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

02/16/2008, 07:59 PM	#5
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	Well the tube coming from the center of the membrane is the one that flows so quickly. But why would my membrane work differently than others? It's a standard kind? there is no way that the waste water could even flow this fast... it would be just too much waste I thought it was a 1 to 3 or 4 ratio? That just seems like so much waste. to get 5 gallons I need to waste 20. Thats just crazy. __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

02/17/2008, 11:22 AM	#6
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	Alright so I flipped the two tubes coming out of the membrane and I actually think it started to flow quicker. Could I possibly have a defective membrane? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

02/17/2008, 11:36 AM	#7
csb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 541	Did your RO unit not come with a diagram? Yes, there is a lot of waste water. This time of year (winter) with colder water temps, and depending on your water pressure, the waste line is typically more like 1:6 rather than 1:4 --csb __________________ Winter ski bum, summer reef bum. Tank pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/snojrnl Current Tank Info: 30g mixed reef

02/16/2008, 07:45 PM	#3
hubris007 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Springfield, Il Posts: 1,520	very easy to determine one of two ways. The one that is flowing out faster is the waste, the other goes to the DI. Or, test the TDS of each. The lower one (MUCH lower) goes to the DI.

02/16/2008, 07:49 PM	#4
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	On mine, the center is the good water and the off center is the waste. As stated above.. The waste will be way faster. Also I think 5 gallons in 10 minutes is WAY too fast for quality water.

02/17/2008, 12:54 PM	#8
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	no diagram, someone else had given me a diagram to double check it all. I'm wondering if perhaps my flow rate coming from my sink line is too strong. It isn't attached using a saddle valve with a small pin hole. It has a special T fitting that has a 1/4" hole feed line for my ro/di. Could that maybe be why my flow rate is so high? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

02/17/2008, 03:13 PM	#10
magnetic1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 127	If flow is high on both waste and membrane water, check that the membrane is seated correctly. __________________ Eric W. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon

02/18/2008, 08:04 AM	#11
agoutihead Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,720	I brought my machine over my buddies to hook it up to his saddle valve and there was def a difference in water pressure coming out of the final stage of the machine. So I'm betting that because I have a 1/4" hole that my feed line is hooked up to is pushing more water through it. And then on top of that I have that pressure thing on my waste valve allowing minimal waste and forcing more water through my DI chamber. So everything is working like normal, just a bit quicker than normal. So if things are all working normally and everything is going through the stages, how would it not get filtered properly just because it is going through it quicker than normal? __________________ Experience the Liquid Realm...

02/18/2008, 09:28 AM	#12
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The size of the hole makes no difference. You want an unrestricted inlet at between 50 and 90 psi to work efficiently. Here is a hook up diagram: http://www.spectrapure.com/huds/DWS-DLX.pdf If you are using it for reef water only disregard the final carbon filter, that should be used for drinking water only. If you have a DI and drinking water both it may look more like this: http://www.spectrapure.com/huds/4-ST...K-RODI-NAG.pdf The good water is the line closer to the center of the housing and the waste is closer to the outside. To troubleshoot the system you need a pressure gauge, thermometer, TDS meter, measuring cup and watch or clock. First what is the incoming pressure? What is the water temperature? What is the tap water TDS? RO only TDS and finally the RO/DI TDS? Time and measure the good flow for a minute then do the same with the waste flow. The waste should be 4 times the good or 4:1 waste ratio. What are your results from all these tests?