barrucada RO/DI TDS readings.. confused

[johnny313]

i just got a barracuda 4 stage 100gpd RO/DI. everything is going well except the TDS levels. I have a dual TDS meter. one side is after the membrane and the other side is after the DI part, which then is my final water.

I noticed the TDS level after the membrane is measuring 114 and after the DI ( last stage ) is 0. I thought the membrane takes out the TDS.

My tap TDS is 201

is this ok?

[Buckeye Hydro]

Something isn't right.



With your tap water at 201 ppm, your RO should be close to 20 ppm, and your DI should be 0 ppm.

With your RO at 114 ppm, you'll burn through a DI cartridge in less than 50 gallons.

So the question is: Why isn't your RO membrane doing it's job? Some things to check:
-Is the membrane fully seated (pushed in all the way)? My guess is this is your issue.
-Do you have adequate pressure to run the system?

Feel free to give us a call if you'd like to troubleshoot it over the phone.

Russ
513-312-2343

[johnny313]

Hello Russ! I just reseated the membrane and when I turn the unit back on its at 100. The pressure is at 60psi. here is the strange part....I can see the TDS going down as the water pumps thru it. almost to the second... it started at 103... then a second later, 102.. like a countdown.
I guess it did this last night because the TDS was at 114 and after 2 hours and 5 gallons it was at 7.

[Buckeye Hydro]

That's typical/common.

When you first turn any RO system on, the first bit of water out of it will be high TDS water. That should only last 30 to 90 seconds however.

This is called "TDS Creep."

Russ

[johnny313]

thanks... After 10 minutes it goes down to 7

Thanks again Russ

[johnny313]

thanks... After 10 minutes it goes down to 7

Thanks again Russ

[Buckeye Hydro]

Yeow - should take a lot less than 10 minutes...

[johnny313]

Great! next time I run I will see how long it actually takes....

[Buckeye Hydro]

Also - make sure the probes on your inline tds meter are aligned properly...

Russ