is ro/di slow to produce quality water?

reg828 · 02/14/2006, 01:07 PM

is ro/di slow to produce quality water? and is it ok to just use ro?

Ridley · 02/14/2006, 01:10 PM

Yes....takes about 2 1/2 hours to produce 8 gallons out of my unit.

WaterKeeper · 02/14/2006, 01:16 PM

Unless you bought a Mega unit you probably only get 35-75 gallons every 24 hours. For more on this read [rodifaq].

bankspower · 02/14/2006, 02:09 PM

I just got my compact reefkeeper 75 gpd from Air Water & Ice going the day before yesterday and the output is very slow imo, but as you can imagine the incoming water temp is very low up here in North Dakota in the winter. It's putting out less than 1gph.

keeperofthefish · 02/14/2006, 02:18 PM

You may also have low water pressure coming in. Get in touch with AWI and maybe they have a suggestion. You could use a pressure pre-pump to help increase production.

bankspower · 02/14/2006, 02:40 PM

I may give them a call to see what they have to say, but in the manual I got with the system it states that for every degree below 72 degrees F output will be decreased by approx 1.3%. So if my water is 40 degrees my output will be decreased by 41.6%. Take that from the max output of 3gph at proper input pressure and I can expect 1.75gph, and I'm only getting about half that much. Not much I can do about the temp I guess, but maybe a boost pump would help out.

Shawn

sheepdawg · 02/14/2006, 04:44 PM

If you're concerned about the output rate, you may want to look into adding a holding tank for your ro/di system. I have one on mine and love the idea of having ro/di on tap.

jcraft · 02/14/2006, 04:59 PM

its all a matter of prospective . . .

yes, it seems slow when you're trying to fill up a container for water changes, etc . . .
but as a victim of my own stupidity having flooded my apartment a couple times, i'd have to say that when the water's already overflowing, the RO/DI unit sure does work FAST

(or at least not slow enough)

But yeah, I usually can fill a 5 gal storage container in about 1.5 hours . . . a 16 g rubbermaid that i use for WC's takes about 3.5-4 hours to fill

Fast Fred · 02/14/2006, 05:22 PM

Dittos to what sheepdog said. Look into a pressurized holding tank.

MrChico · 02/14/2006, 05:56 PM

I bought a water timer and put it just before my ro/di, it gives me 2 hrs at a time or about 5 gal. which is perfect for my situation and I don't need anything more than a $10 timer. Just a thought... some of the the more expensive ones will give you more than 2 hours.

liao · 02/14/2006, 06:45 PM

What you can do for the input line is buy an extra 20+ feet from an improvement store and run it through a bucket of water that is heated to say 80 deg C with an aquarium heater. That will help production during the winter.(Courtesy of
Melev's Reef )

bankspower · 02/14/2006, 06:55 PM

I thought about that, but space is a little bit restricted under the kitchen sink for extra 5 gallon pails. Maybe I'll buy a pressure gauge and see if i need a booster pump.

Sorry about hijacking the thread, should've started my own.

Shawn

atkinsg · 02/14/2006, 08:56 PM

I think the original question had to do with the speed of producing ro/di compared to ro alone, and if it is OK to use ro without the di.

The ro production is the rate limiting step here. Removing the di from the process will not increase output.

Is it OK to use just ro? Sure.

JimR · 02/14/2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bankspower
I thought about that, but space is a little bit restricted under the kitchen sink for extra 5 gallon pails. Maybe I'll buy a pressure gauge and see if i need a booster pump.

Sorry about hijacking the thread, should've started my own.

Shawn

Shawn:

Tap into both your cold and hot water line. Then put a spigot on each line, then "Y" those 2 line together, into your RO/DI. That will allow you to control the temp as it enters your RO/DI. This way you can custom set your water temp right up to the recommended 76F. Once you have it set, leave it there. Before using again, turn your main faucet on to bring the hot water up the pipes. Once it's there, turn it off and turn on your RO/DI.

bankspower · 02/14/2006, 11:05 PM

Jim,

That's not a bad idea at all. Is there any worry about getting nasties from the water heater, or will the ro/di take care of those too? Another potential problem would be temp regulation. The hot water starts out at about 180 degrees(dangerous, i know), and after everyone in the apartment building takes showers, does laundry, etc. it's down to 130 or so(guestimate). I guess if its mixed out for 75 with the hottest water, the worst that could happen is it get slightly colder at times throughout the day. Thanks for the advice. It's definitely slow, I had it going all day today, for 13 hours, It put out around 9 gallons.

Shawn

JimR · 02/14/2006, 11:07 PM

Nothing that the filters should be able to handle.

purelyh2o · 02/15/2006, 09:24 PM

BINGO!!

That is the correct way to handle a temp issue

A bucket with a heater would be a good idea given no source of hot water but with a hot water source available the absolute best option is to T a hot water line with a mixing valve to tune it to between 75 to 80 degrees. Be careful however that you use a hose that can handle the heat. Otherwise it will rupture and a hot water disaster is BAD!!

JimR · 02/16/2006, 01:41 AM

Thanx purelyh2o...I learned that one from the best...

02/14/2006, 01:07 PM	#1
reg828 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 320	is ro/di slow to produce quality water? is ro/di slow to produce quality water? and is it ok to just use ro?

02/14/2006, 01:16 PM	#3
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Unless you bought a Mega unit you probably only get 35-75 gallons every 24 hours. For more on this read [rodifaq]. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

02/14/2006, 05:22 PM	#9
Fast Fred Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northfield, NJ 08225 Posts: 1,170	Dittos to what sheepdog said. Look into a pressurized holding tank. __________________ Ya know, for a clown fish, you're not very funny! Member of the New Jersey Reefers Club Current Tank Info: 125g Reef Ready AGA /55g Top Fin Tank for a sump/refugium/ LifeReef Skimmer/ Changing over to SPS only

02/14/2006, 05:56 PM	#10
MrChico Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 273	I bought a water timer and put it just before my ro/di, it gives me 2 hrs at a time or about 5 gal. which is perfect for my situation and I don't need anything more than a $10 timer. Just a thought... some of the the more expensive ones will give you more than 2 hours. __________________ The solution to pollution is dilution Current Tank Info: 120 w/ a 55 fuge, 220 CSS, (2) 250w MH

02/14/2006, 06:45 PM	#11
liao Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 96	What you can do for the input line is buy an extra 20+ feet from an improvement store and run it through a bucket of water that is heated to say 80 deg C with an aquarium heater. That will help production during the winter.(Courtesy of Melev's Reef ) __________________ Hook'em Horns <*}}}}<

02/14/2006, 01:10 PM	#2
Ridley Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 57	Yes....takes about 2 1/2 hours to produce 8 gallons out of my unit.

02/14/2006, 02:09 PM	#4
bankspower Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 89	I just got my compact reefkeeper 75 gpd from Air Water & Ice going the day before yesterday and the output is very slow imo, but as you can imagine the incoming water temp is very low up here in North Dakota in the winter. It's putting out less than 1gph.

02/14/2006, 02:18 PM	#5
keeperofthefish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 228	You may also have low water pressure coming in. Get in touch with AWI and maybe they have a suggestion. You could use a pressure pre-pump to help increase production.

02/14/2006, 02:40 PM	#6
bankspower Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 89	I may give them a call to see what they have to say, but in the manual I got with the system it states that for every degree below 72 degrees F output will be decreased by approx 1.3%. So if my water is 40 degrees my output will be decreased by 41.6%. Take that from the max output of 3gph at proper input pressure and I can expect 1.75gph, and I'm only getting about half that much. Not much I can do about the temp I guess, but maybe a boost pump would help out. Shawn

02/14/2006, 04:44 PM	#7
sheepdawg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 178	If you're concerned about the output rate, you may want to look into adding a holding tank for your ro/di system. I have one on mine and love the idea of having ro/di on tap.

02/14/2006, 04:59 PM	#8
jcraft Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Baton Rouge, La Posts: 274	its all a matter of prospective . . . yes, it seems slow when you're trying to fill up a container for water changes, etc . . . but as a victim of my own stupidity having flooded my apartment a couple times, i'd have to say that when the water's already overflowing, the RO/DI unit sure does work FAST (or at least not slow enough) But yeah, I usually can fill a 5 gal storage container in about 1.5 hours . . . a 16 g rubbermaid that i use for WC's takes about 3.5-4 hours to fill

02/14/2006, 06:55 PM	#12
bankspower Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 89	I thought about that, but space is a little bit restricted under the kitchen sink for extra 5 gallon pails. Maybe I'll buy a pressure gauge and see if i need a booster pump. Sorry about hijacking the thread, should've started my own. Shawn

02/14/2006, 08:56 PM	#13
atkinsg Chemist/Software Dev Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 312	I think the original question had to do with the speed of producing ro/di compared to ro alone, and if it is OK to use ro without the di. The ro production is the rate limiting step here. Removing the di from the process will not increase output. Is it OK to use just ro? Sure. __________________ GTA Current Tank Info: 125 gal Reef, 45 gal sump, 20 gal fuge, SRO XP 2000, Apex, 1X250 MH + 2 Maxspect Razors, Ca Reactor

02/14/2006, 11:05 PM	#15
bankspower Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 89	Jim, That's not a bad idea at all. Is there any worry about getting nasties from the water heater, or will the ro/di take care of those too? Another potential problem would be temp regulation. The hot water starts out at about 180 degrees(dangerous, i know), and after everyone in the apartment building takes showers, does laundry, etc. it's down to 130 or so(guestimate). I guess if its mixed out for 75 with the hottest water, the worst that could happen is it get slightly colder at times throughout the day. Thanks for the advice. It's definitely slow, I had it going all day today, for 13 hours, It put out around 9 gallons. Shawn

02/14/2006, 11:07 PM	#16
JimR Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 247	Nothing that the filters should be able to handle.

02/15/2006, 09:24 PM	#17
purelyh2o Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Altamonte Springs, FL Posts: 454	JimR BINGO!! That is the correct way to handle a temp issue A bucket with a heater would be a good idea given no source of hot water but with a hot water source available the absolute best option is to T a hot water line with a mixing valve to tune it to between 75 to 80 degrees. Be careful however that you use a hose that can handle the heat. Otherwise it will rupture and a hot water disaster is BAD!!

02/16/2006, 01:41 AM	#18
JimR Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 247	Thanx purelyh2o...I learned that one from the best...