new ro/di system! help me avoid making stupid mistakes!

sabazerehi · 03/24/2010, 11:06 AM

so i finally got an ro/di system, can't wait to get it up and running! but i'd love to make sure i'm going to be doing everything right and not make any beginner mistakes and end up shortening the lifespan of the system or something. i'm planning on just hooking it up to my garden hose. is it bad if i just turn it on when i need it, does it need to be continuously running or something? does it make a difference if i hook it up under the sink?
also are there any add ons that are recommended? someone told me about chloramine filters, but honestly i have no idea what that is or where to get it lol.

here's a link to the system i got:
http://filterdirect.com/product_info...products_id=29

any advice at all will be greatly appreciated!! i'm really new to this! thanks

JMcAz7 · 03/24/2010, 12:30 PM

It shouldn't really matter if it runs or not. I'd think that not running it unless needed would extend the life of your filters.

Lyfey · 03/24/2010, 01:06 PM

I always flush the membrain for a couple of minutes before letting the water run to the DI section. This cleans the membrain and less nasties can get to your DI so your DI lasts longer.

another tip. If you dont perminately set this RO/DI system up somewhere and its a RO/DI like mine that I pull out and hook it up when I need it, keep an eye on it while making water. Ive had many small floods lol

dlmkmm · 03/24/2010, 01:09 PM

Chlorimines will distroy the RO membrain. You can get a test kit i believe to test for it. I just called my water company and asked them, make sure you get in touch with someone in the water plant so they know what your talking about. Customer service will have no idea what your talking about.

sabazerehi · 03/24/2010, 07:30 PM

lyfey- what do you mean by flush the membrane? the ro membrane? and how do i flush it?

the guy who told me to get a chloramine filter suggested it because where i live there's apparantly chloramine in the water. is it just a special filter to replace some of the other filters? or do i need to add another entire thing to the ro/di system?

Mike31154 · 03/24/2010, 09:41 PM

The specs for your system say it will remove chloramines. If you have two carbon stages as shown, you should be ok. You need a flush valve to flush the membrane, this is listed as optional equipment on the system you have. Not sure if you have a TDS meter, if not, get one to monitor TDS at the DI output as well as after the RO stage. DI filtration works more efficiently with upright canisters, those on your system are horizontal. Not sure how to remedy that. Will still work, but vertical DI cartridge is better. Oh yeah, almost forgot, don't trust the auto shutoff valve to turn off the system, especially the first time you try it. Mine has never worked and I always monitor the system when it's running to minimize wastage & floods.

sabazerehi · 03/24/2010, 11:55 PM

great! thanks so much. i have a tds meter arriving tomorrow. looks like i'm covered for most of the stuff then. i'm planning on only having the system running while i'm there. so i'll be manually turning it on and off and wont' be worrying about an auto shut off valve. thanks so much for the info and answering my questions!

03/24/2010, 11:06 AM	#1
sabazerehi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, 90049 Posts: 2,491	new ro/di system! help me avoid making stupid mistakes! so i finally got an ro/di system, can't wait to get it up and running! but i'd love to make sure i'm going to be doing everything right and not make any beginner mistakes and end up shortening the lifespan of the system or something. i'm planning on just hooking it up to my garden hose. is it bad if i just turn it on when i need it, does it need to be continuously running or something? does it make a difference if i hook it up under the sink? also are there any add ons that are recommended? someone told me about chloramine filters, but honestly i have no idea what that is or where to get it lol. here's a link to the system i got: http://filterdirect.com/product_info...products_id=29 any advice at all will be greatly appreciated!! i'm really new to this! thanks Last edited by sabazerehi; 03/24/2010 at 11:14 AM.

03/24/2010, 01:09 PM	#4
dlmkmm Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Homestead, Fl Posts: 61	Chlorimines will distroy the RO membrain. You can get a test kit i believe to test for it. I just called my water company and asked them, make sure you get in touch with someone in the water plant so they know what your talking about. Customer service will have no idea what your talking about. __________________ 29g sps & lps budget build 4 years in the making, 175w Iwasaki 15k, 2 Powerbright actinics, Koralia 1 & 2, 29g sump, Octopus NW-110, phosban reactor, DIY hanging light hood, stand, and sump. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon sps and lps, 175w se 20k XM, Vorteck MP10, 29 gallon sump, octopus nw-110

03/24/2010, 09:41 PM	#6
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	The specs for your system say it will remove chloramines. If you have two carbon stages as shown, you should be ok. You need a flush valve to flush the membrane, this is listed as optional equipment on the system you have. Not sure if you have a TDS meter, if not, get one to monitor TDS at the DI output as well as after the RO stage. DI filtration works more efficiently with upright canisters, those on your system are horizontal. Not sure how to remedy that. Will still work, but vertical DI cartridge is better. Oh yeah, almost forgot, don't trust the auto shutoff valve to turn off the system, especially the first time you try it. Mine has never worked and I always monitor the system when it's running to minimize wastage & floods. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps.....

03/24/2010, 12:30 PM	#2
JMcAz7 Vanilla Ice Impersonator Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 366	It shouldn't really matter if it runs or not. I'd think that not running it unless needed would extend the life of your filters.

03/24/2010, 01:06 PM	#3
Lyfey Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 842	I always flush the membrain for a couple of minutes before letting the water run to the DI section. This cleans the membrain and less nasties can get to your DI so your DI lasts longer. another tip. If you dont perminately set this RO/DI system up somewhere and its a RO/DI like mine that I pull out and hook it up when I need it, keep an eye on it while making water. Ive had many small floods lol

03/24/2010, 07:30 PM	#5
sabazerehi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, 90049 Posts: 2,491	lyfey- what do you mean by flush the membrane? the ro membrane? and how do i flush it? the guy who told me to get a chloramine filter suggested it because where i live there's apparantly chloramine in the water. is it just a special filter to replace some of the other filters? or do i need to add another entire thing to the ro/di system?

03/24/2010, 11:55 PM	#7
sabazerehi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, 90049 Posts: 2,491	great! thanks so much. i have a tds meter arriving tomorrow. looks like i'm covered for most of the stuff then. i'm planning on only having the system running while i'm there. so i'll be manually turning it on and off and wont' be worrying about an auto shut off valve. thanks so much for the info and answering my questions!