RO/DI Questions

[Aqua_DHMO_Tech]

Alright, so I'm on well water at my current residence (well is about 100ft down), and it's time for me to change my sediment cartridge (it's totally black after 5 months of using well). I believe it's a cheap 5 micron cartridge. Right now, my unit goes through sediment, carbon, an additional carbon, then to RO, then through the DI canisters. What I want to do, is go through the 5 micron sediment, and then next, instead of carbon, go through a spectrapure zetazorb .2 micron sediment, and then next through carbon. Basically, I want to know if it's ok to just go through 1 carbon cartridge, instead of 2. If I move into a house on city water (chlorinated), would it be advised to switch back to using 2 carbon cartridges? Also, any recommendations on what carbon block to go through? And is it true you are supposed to replace them only if they start changing colors? Would I be able to do a TDS test after the carbon, to determine if it's worn out? Also, my membrane is 100gpd, what should I adjust my wastewater to? I think I read for a 100gpd it should be 1 part RODI, 3 parts waste- correct?

Thanks for any help!

[somewherre]

I'm not really able to answer most of your questions, but since I too am on well water, I thought I'd at least offer an opinion.

My water goes thru 2 sediment filters - 5 micron 1st, then a 1 micron. Then it goes through 2 carbon filters - I think they are 5 micron and 0.5 micron. Then onto a dual RO (the waste line from the 1st feeds into the input for the 2nd), and finally thru color changing DI. Probably overkill, but when I look at what the sediment filters pull out, I feel reassured it's probably not.

Take a look through The Filter Guys site - they have a bunch of options and also offer some explanations re the different filters. You can also get the extra filter canisters if you want to expand the system rather than make substitutions.

Oh, and you probably want to change out the sediment filters more often - waiting til they're black can't be good. As you said, they're cheap...far easier to replace them frequently than the other filters.

[Buckeye Hydro]

Originally Posted by Aqua_DHMO_Tech

Alright, so I'm on well water at my current residence (well is about 100ft down), and it's time for me to change my sediment cartridge (it's totally black after 5 months of using well). I believe it's a cheap 5 micron cartridge. Right now, my unit goes through sediment, carbon, an additional carbon, then to RO, then through the DI canisters. What I want to do, is go through the 5 micron sediment, and then next, instead of carbon, go through a spectrapure zetazorb .2 micron sediment, and then next through carbon. Basically, I want to know if it's ok to just go through 1 carbon cartridge, instead of 2. If I move into a house on city water (chlorinated), would it be advised to switch back to using 2 carbon cartridges?

In short, yes. Even if your were on chlorinated (city) tap water, a single good quality block is sufficient to remove chlorine. You use nonchlorinated well water (assuming you don't have a chlorine injection system), so you need for multiple carbon block is even less.

The only time you'd need two carbon blocks to provide some added assurance would be if your tap water contained chloramine, rather than chlorine.

You may find that with your heavy sediment load a combination of a 5 mic sed and a 1 mic sed will work better for you than a 5 mic + 0.2 mic. And given the price of 0.2 mic sediment filters (including ours), I think I would try the 5 + 1 combo first.

Also, any recommendations on what carbon block to go through?

Assuming you are on non-chlorinated water, I think a good quality 5 mic block would be fine. Probably no need to go with a higher capacity 0.5 mic block.

And is it true you are supposed to replace them only if they start changing colors? Would I be able to do a TDS test after the carbon, to determine if it's worn out?

A good rule of thumb is to replace your sediment filter(s) and carbon block (s) after six months. A more precise way to maximize the usable life of these two filters is to use a pressure gauge to identify when pressure reaching the membrane starts to decline. This is your indication one or both of the filters is beginning to clog.

Also, my membrane is 100gpd, what should I adjust my wastewater to? I think I read for a 100gpd it should be 1 part RODI, 3 parts waste- correct?

Not sure what you mean by "adjust" your waste water. Do you have an adjustable flow restrictor? 4 to 1 is the standard ratio.

Russ