Clogged rodi

alemone · 07/01/2019, 02:11 PM

I started automatic water changes with a DOS pump a few weeks ago. Both lines- about 20 ft long seem to be clogged. Any experience unclogging RODI lines?

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Uncle99 · 07/01/2019, 03:41 PM

That’s a long way, many pumps cant do better than 5.
RODI 0 TDS, should never plug a line

outssider · 07/01/2019, 05:15 PM

I'm betting precipitation but don't have a fix ….other than shooting vinegar through the lines but it will happen again...maybe bigger diameter tubing ?

alemone · 07/01/2019, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle99

That’s a long way, many pumps cant do better than 5.
RODI 0 TDS, should never plug a line

Since the flow rate is relatively low the pressure drop is not much. It worked before. I can't flush it even manually, which tells me the line is clogged- most likely precipitates from the salt. It's not RODI but ready-to-use salt-water.

mcgyvr · 07/02/2019, 07:31 AM

Pull tubes...blow in one end to check...if clogged soak in freshwater and massage till flushed/clean..
Then add that process to your preventative maintenance routine list..

Or tube is cheap...remove/replace when needed..

alemone · 07/02/2019, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Pull tubes...blow in one end to check...if clogged soak in freshwater and massage till flushed/clean..
Then add that process to your preventative maintenance routine list..

Or tube is cheap...remove/replace when needed..

Thanks. The tubing is stapled to the wall running through my basement. I would hate to replace it after only a few weeks worth of use.

Any ideas on any filters I could attach to the 1/4" lines to prevent this from happening again?

Vinny Kreyling · 07/02/2019, 05:23 PM

My suggestions --
The tubing for the drain should have a drop as sharp as possible & be open @ the top to allow it to drain, but I think it will still give you problems.
OR use a .5 pipe, open both ends, that should do it & can be flushed with hot water or vinegar.
There are no filters to pull out salt & leave fresh that I know of.

alemone · 07/02/2019, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

My suggestions --
The tubing for the drain should have a drop as sharp as possible & be open @ the top to allow it to drain, but I think it will still give you problems.
OR use a .5 pipe, open both ends, that should do it & can be flushed with hot water or vinegar.
There are no filters to pull out salt & leave fresh that I know of.

No, I don't want to remove the salt. Just the precipitate/particles. The water is driven by a peristaltic pump- I can't really leave it open.

Vinny Kreyling · 07/02/2019, 06:06 PM

The peristaltic pump can drain into a larger pipe leaving minimum tubing to clog.
Those particles come from evaporation, short of flushing right after shut off ???

alemone · 07/02/2019, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

The peristaltic pump can drain into a larger pipe leaving minimum tubing to clog.
Those particles come from evaporation, short of flushing right after shut off ???

I think those are impurities and CaCO3 from the salt. I do see sediments at the bottom of my saltwater container.

Vinny Kreyling · 07/02/2019, 06:26 PM

I have been following the BRS series on dissolving salt into RO water & how long it really takes to fully happen. Take a look, it has changed the way I do mine.
The only other way is to pull from above the bottom of the barrel.

alemone · 07/02/2019, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

I have been following the BRS series on dissolving salt into RO water & how long it really takes to fully happen. Take a look, it has changed the way I do mine.
The only other way is to pull from above the bottom of the barrel.

I'll check it out. Do you happen to have the link?

Vinny Kreyling · 07/02/2019, 06:54 PM

It's on You Tube. Just put in BRS dissolving salt.

hkgar · 07/03/2019, 01:32 PM

I mix up about 25 gallons of salt water for water change each week. I use the DOS pumps for my AWC and have not had a problem. I use the RO/DI tubing and have been doing it for a long time and never had a clog. I pull from the bottom (1.5" from bottom) of the storage tank with about 5 feet of head. I use a Sicce pump when mixing new salt water and let it mix at least 6 hours before putting the AWC back on line.

Oh, wait, I did. I did use clear tubing for a while and it clogged with internal algae growth.

alemone · 07/03/2019, 05:58 PM

I had my saltwater circulating in the container for a few minutes every day. Maybe that was a mistake.

BrettDS · 07/04/2019, 07:02 AM

For what it’s worth, I’m using a DOS for my AWC as well. My water reservoir is in the garage and my tubes run up into the attic, then down through the wall to the tank... probably a good 40 or 50 feet each.

I’ve been running it this way for a little over 3 years now and my drain tube has never clogged, but I have had an issue with the NSW line clogging about once every eight or ten months. When this happens I’ll use disconnect both ends of the tube and use my air compressor at about 100psi to blow out the precipitate that’s clogging the tube. After I clear the line I’ll pumping vinegar through the line in an attempt to dissolve anything that’s left, and, of course, flush it well with fresh water before I put it back in use.

I had been using soft vinyl tubes for these lines, but the last time I had a clog I was unable to clear it with the compressor, so I switched the NSW line to polyethylene because that feels ‘slipperier’ to me and I’m hoping it will be less likely to clog. I’m still not totally sure if it will help or not, but I think it’s been close to a year since I changed it out and so far so good.

I’m not sure why it’s happening so frequently for you. What salt mix are you using? I use instant Ocean. I also have a pump that circulates the water in my NSW reservoir for a few minutes every few hours.

BrettDS · 07/04/2019, 07:51 AM

One more thing... if you do wind up replacing the lines I would suggest replacing them with 3/8 or even 1/2 inch tube instead of the 1/4 inch that you’re using now. Obviously you’ll need to use an adapter to bring it down to 1/4 inch to connect it to the DOS, but if most of the run is bigger tube then I’m thinking it will be much less likely to clog.

alemone · 07/04/2019, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettDS

One more thing... if you do wind up replacing the lines I would suggest replacing them with 3/8 or even 1/2 inch tube instead of the 1/4 inch that you’re using now. Obviously you’ll need to use an adapter to bring it down to 1/4 inch to connect it to the DOS, but if most of the run is bigger tube then I’m thinking it will be much less likely to clog.

I was able to unclog the line by instilling about 50 mL vinegar and lock it in for 24h.

I am thinking of placing the end of the line in a smaller container (a bottle with the bottom cut off) with a large opening that is covered with filter material and putting the whole thing in the 50G saltwater barrel.

I also have another idea that I humbly think is ingenious. I will move my dosing pump and will run my vinegar/vodka mixture through the saltwater line. A daily dose of vinegar will keep it clean.

alemone · 07/10/2019, 04:48 PM

Just a quick update. It looks like my problem was the DOS pump head and not an occluded line.

07/01/2019, 02:11 PM	#1
alemone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 226	Clogged rodi I started automatic water changes with a DOS pump a few weeks ago. Both lines- about 20 ft long seem to be clogged. Any experience unclogging RODI lines? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

07/01/2019, 05:15 PM	#3
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	I'm betting precipitation but don't have a fix ….other than shooting vinegar through the lines but it will happen again...maybe bigger diameter tubing ? __________________ Please don't feed the bears because the bears will become dependent on free handouts and forget how to take care of themselves …... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mixed reef mostly sps

07/02/2019, 07:31 AM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Pull tubes...blow in one end to check...if clogged soak in freshwater and massage till flushed/clean.. Then add that process to your preventative maintenance routine list.. Or tube is cheap...remove/replace when needed.. __________________ Who me?

07/02/2019, 05:23 PM	#7
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	My suggestions -- The tubing for the drain should have a drop as sharp as possible & be open @ the top to allow it to drain, but I think it will still give you problems. OR use a .5 pipe, open both ends, that should do it & can be flushed with hot water or vinegar. There are no filters to pull out salt & leave fresh that I know of. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/02/2019, 06:06 PM	#9
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	The peristaltic pump can drain into a larger pipe leaving minimum tubing to clog. Those particles come from evaporation, short of flushing right after shut off ??? __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/01/2019, 03:41 PM	#2
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	That’s a long way, many pumps cant do better than 5. RODI 0 TDS, should never plug a line

07/02/2019, 06:26 PM	#11
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	I have been following the BRS series on dissolving salt into RO water & how long it really takes to fully happen. Take a look, it has changed the way I do mine. The only other way is to pull from above the bottom of the barrel. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/02/2019, 06:54 PM	#13
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	It's on You Tube. Just put in BRS dissolving salt. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/03/2019, 01:32 PM	#14
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I mix up about 25 gallons of salt water for water change each week. I use the DOS pumps for my AWC and have not had a problem. I use the RO/DI tubing and have been doing it for a long time and never had a clog. I pull from the bottom (1.5" from bottom) of the storage tank with about 5 feet of head. I use a Sicce pump when mixing new salt water and let it mix at least 6 hours before putting the AWC back on line. Oh, wait, I did. I did use clear tubing for a while and it clogged with internal algae growth. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

07/03/2019, 05:58 PM	#15
alemone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 226	I had my saltwater circulating in the container for a few minutes every day. Maybe that was a mistake.

07/04/2019, 07:02 AM	#16
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	Clogged rodi For what it’s worth, I’m using a DOS for my AWC as well. My water reservoir is in the garage and my tubes run up into the attic, then down through the wall to the tank... probably a good 40 or 50 feet each. I’ve been running it this way for a little over 3 years now and my drain tube has never clogged, but I have had an issue with the NSW line clogging about once every eight or ten months. When this happens I’ll use disconnect both ends of the tube and use my air compressor at about 100psi to blow out the precipitate that’s clogging the tube. After I clear the line I’ll pumping vinegar through the line in an attempt to dissolve anything that’s left, and, of course, flush it well with fresh water before I put it back in use. I had been using soft vinyl tubes for these lines, but the last time I had a clog I was unable to clear it with the compressor, so I switched the NSW line to polyethylene because that feels ‘slipperier’ to me and I’m hoping it will be less likely to clog. I’m still not totally sure if it will help or not, but I think it’s been close to a year since I changed it out and so far so good. I’m not sure why it’s happening so frequently for you. What salt mix are you using? I use instant Ocean. I also have a pump that circulates the water in my NSW reservoir for a few minutes every few hours.

07/04/2019, 07:51 AM	#17
BrettDS Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,109	One more thing... if you do wind up replacing the lines I would suggest replacing them with 3/8 or even 1/2 inch tube instead of the 1/4 inch that you’re using now. Obviously you’ll need to use an adapter to bring it down to 1/4 inch to connect it to the DOS, but if most of the run is bigger tube then I’m thinking it will be much less likely to clog.

07/10/2019, 04:48 PM	#19
alemone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 226	Just a quick update. It looks like my problem was the DOS pump head and not an occluded line.