Long-term hose timer for RODI?

Nlangan · 01/27/2012, 11:55 AM

When I winterized my house this year I pulled a hose timer from a spigot in the yard and mounted it to the spigot that feeds my RODI system - which fills a Brute 44 Gallon trash can. I'm always forgetting to turn off the RODI, wasting expensive cartridges and spilling all over the place. Overall I'm pretty pleased - I use the manual setting when I need to top off, set it to run for the maximum time of 4 hours. But I really wish the maximum was longer - takes 14+ hours to completely fill the Brute in winter. And I've read that RODI's work much more efficiently when run for long periods of time instead of being cycled on and off. Does anyone know of a hose timer with longer manual settings? I've looked up a bunch of them online and can't find this information out.

dublo8 · 01/27/2012, 05:18 PM

Why not get a float valve?

Reefmedic79 · 01/27/2012, 05:31 PM

Float valve w/ auto shut off, your correct that it will run more efficiently the longer it runs.

Nlangan · 01/27/2012, 07:45 PM

Not sure I understand your suggestion. I already use a float valve in conjunction w/ my ReefKeeper - it shuts off the feed pump when the top off is complete. But in this case there is no pump to shut off. I want to manually turn on the faucet that feeds the RODI and have it automatically shut itself off 10 or 12 hours later.

zigzag1 · 01/27/2012, 09:39 PM

They are suggesting a mechanical float valve on the output of your ro/di into the brute. Used with an autoshutoff on the ro/di.

BRS has a kit. This - http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...s-systems.html

Agu · 01/27/2012, 10:06 PM

I use a manual hose timer also to run my RO/DI. However since I need a lot less water than you I set the timer on my Microwave oven to remind me to check if it shut off (Once in a while it fails in the on position.) Just set the timer to remind you to reset it every 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Since I doubt there are hose timers you can set for 14 hours that seems like a viable alternative ......

Nlangan · 01/28/2012, 07:54 AM

Cool, thanks everyone.

DHyslop · 01/28/2012, 09:11 AM

+1 on the BRS shutoff kit.

If you JUST get the float valve, then when your bin is full the flow into the bin shuts off but water will still go through your prefilters and out your RO waste line.

If you get both the float valve AND the shutoff solenoid then when the bin is full the solenoid senses the back pressure from the float valve being closed and actualy turns off the incoming water so none is wasted. No silly timers required, you can leave your spigot on 24/7 with no waste and no spills.

D-Nak · 01/28/2012, 11:47 AM

I use both the BRS kit and a hose timer. I have the timer set on a 2x day cycle on for 4 hours, every two days. This is enough to fill my top off. I know that long runs supposedly make for a more efficient cycle, but I also question when it reaches maximum efficiency. In other words, once the RO kit runs for 2 hours or so, I wonder if at that point it has reached maximum efficiency. In other words, I don't think we gain much efficiency by running a single 8 hour cycle versus two 4 hour ones.

Regardless, the system works great for me, and I rarely check it or maintain it. All I need to do is check the TDS meters every once in a while.

DHyslop · 01/28/2012, 02:02 PM

D-Nak, Do you ever watch the TDS meter between the RO and the DI when you're making water? I maintain several different hobby grade RODI systems and find that when the system first turns on I frequently see TDS between 15 and 35, depending on the tank. TDS drops down to its final value (usually between 2 and 7) within three or four minutes.

If you do just one long hour cycle instead of two smaller ones, you save one of those TDS spikes from eating DI unnecessarily. If it were just two smaller ones a week it probably isn't a big deal but if you're running it for just a short period every two days you're probably spending more on DI than you need to.

Buckeye Hydro · 03/22/2012, 08:26 PM

That initial burst of high TDS water from an RO membrane looked like this in one of our recent tests:

01/27/2012, 11:55 AM	#1
Nlangan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	Long-term hose timer for RODI? When I winterized my house this year I pulled a hose timer from a spigot in the yard and mounted it to the spigot that feeds my RODI system - which fills a Brute 44 Gallon trash can. I'm always forgetting to turn off the RODI, wasting expensive cartridges and spilling all over the place. Overall I'm pretty pleased - I use the manual setting when I need to top off, set it to run for the maximum time of 4 hours. But I really wish the maximum was longer - takes 14+ hours to completely fill the Brute in winter. And I've read that RODI's work much more efficiently when run for long periods of time instead of being cycled on and off. Does anyone know of a hose timer with longer manual settings? I've looked up a bunch of them online and can't find this information out. __________________ Hench 4 Life Current Tank Info: Peaceful mixed reef, 100 g DT, basement sump w/ 40 g fuge, MSX-250, 2x250 w MH lumen bright, GEO 618, RKE runs the show.

01/27/2012, 05:18 PM	#2
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	Why not get a float valve? __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

01/27/2012, 05:31 PM	#3
Reefmedic79 Life and Reef Saver Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tavares, Florida Posts: 6,202	Float valve w/ auto shut off, your correct that it will run more efficiently the longer it runs. __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> How much deeper would the ocean be if it didn't have sponges? P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sid Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 20L Sump, 10G Fuge, JBJ A.T.O, 4" Reef Octopus, DIY Stand & Canopy, RapidLED Dimmable 36 Kit on 3 6" MakersLED Heatsink, MP10es

01/27/2012, 07:45 PM	#4
Nlangan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	Not sure I understand your suggestion. I already use a float valve in conjunction w/ my ReefKeeper - it shuts off the feed pump when the top off is complete. But in this case there is no pump to shut off. I want to manually turn on the faucet that feeds the RODI and have it automatically shut itself off 10 or 12 hours later. __________________ Hench 4 Life Current Tank Info: Peaceful mixed reef, 100 g DT, basement sump w/ 40 g fuge, MSX-250, 2x250 w MH lumen bright, GEO 618, RKE runs the show.

01/27/2012, 09:39 PM	#5
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	They are suggesting a mechanical float valve on the output of your ro/di into the brute. Used with an autoshutoff on the ro/di. BRS has a kit. This - http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...s-systems.html __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

01/27/2012, 10:06 PM	#6
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I use a manual hose timer also to run my RO/DI. However since I need a lot less water than you I set the timer on my Microwave oven to remind me to check if it shut off (Once in a while it fails in the on position.) Just set the timer to remind you to reset it every 3 hours and 50 minutes. Since I doubt there are hose timers you can set for 14 hours that seems like a viable alternative ...... __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

01/28/2012, 07:54 AM	#7
Nlangan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 98	Cool, thanks everyone. __________________ Hench 4 Life Current Tank Info: Peaceful mixed reef, 100 g DT, basement sump w/ 40 g fuge, MSX-250, 2x250 w MH lumen bright, GEO 618, RKE runs the show.

01/28/2012, 09:11 AM	#8
DHyslop Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,085	+1 on the BRS shutoff kit. If you JUST get the float valve, then when your bin is full the flow into the bin shuts off but water will still go through your prefilters and out your RO waste line. If you get both the float valve AND the shutoff solenoid then when the bin is full the solenoid senses the back pressure from the float valve being closed and actualy turns off the incoming water so none is wasted. No silly timers required, you can leave your spigot on 24/7 with no waste and no spills.

01/28/2012, 11:47 AM	#9
D-Nak Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 5,797	I use both the BRS kit and a hose timer. I have the timer set on a 2x day cycle on for 4 hours, every two days. This is enough to fill my top off. I know that long runs supposedly make for a more efficient cycle, but I also question when it reaches maximum efficiency. In other words, once the RO kit runs for 2 hours or so, I wonder if at that point it has reached maximum efficiency. In other words, I don't think we gain much efficiency by running a single 8 hour cycle versus two 4 hour ones. Regardless, the system works great for me, and I rarely check it or maintain it. All I need to do is check the TDS meters every once in a while.

01/28/2012, 02:02 PM	#10
DHyslop Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,085	D-Nak, Do you ever watch the TDS meter between the RO and the DI when you're making water? I maintain several different hobby grade RODI systems and find that when the system first turns on I frequently see TDS between 15 and 35, depending on the tank. TDS drops down to its final value (usually between 2 and 7) within three or four minutes. If you do just one long hour cycle instead of two smaller ones, you save one of those TDS spikes from eating DI unnecessarily. If it were just two smaller ones a week it probably isn't a big deal but if you're running it for just a short period every two days you're probably spending more on DI than you need to.

03/22/2012, 08:26 PM	#11
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	That initial burst of high TDS water from an RO membrane looked like this in one of our recent tests: