RO Unit Very Slow In making Water - Any ideas?

Maldivan · 02/18/2006, 08:17 PM

Hey All,
Ive had this 100 GPD unit with a 3 gal holding tank now for about 1 year. Its usually very fast in making water but now it takes about 8 hours for it to make 2 gals or so. I have a feeling that somethings clogged somewhere. Is it normal for filters to become clogged? Its just a 5-Stage NON DI unit. I can see the 1st stage as it has a clear housing and the filter looks new still. Should I just change the filters? Ive been unable to find the Part #'s of the filters but they look to be a standard size. 9" tall and 4" housings ... give or take a 1/2 ". Any cheaqp on-line places anyone reccomend for filters is appreciated! Thx

Andy

saltwaterfishlover · 02/18/2006, 08:25 PM

well have you changed the carbon and sediment filter at all..... thats my first guess... second would be do you flush your membrane and third how does the di cartridge look......any one of those may cause the slowness but first guess would be the cabond and sediment

Maldivan · 02/18/2006, 08:38 PM

I havent changed any of the filters as of yet. Im going to look in HD or Loews tomorrow for the Carbon and sediment fiklters. Hopefully they will carry them. Thx

saltwaterfishlover · 02/18/2006, 08:39 PM

those should be pretty standard but are also pretty cheap for an aquarium related thing at a fish store

roons · 02/18/2006, 08:44 PM

membrane should be changed every 2-3 years, sediment and carbon every 6 months....................id bet you having a years worth of debri in filters that should be replaced after 6 months of use is your problem

Zigzag Man · 02/18/2006, 09:22 PM

The HD and Lowe's around here only carry the 'mini' and 'maxi' filters... the only thing they carry that'll fit your RO unit is the membrane.

The 'mini' filters are for those little GE under-the-counter faucet filters, and the 'maxi' filters are for the 'whole house' filters that filter your water main.

I only know this because I just looked for them two weeks ago as I was reconditioning my RO/DI unit... the only option really is either online, or finding a specialty store locally that sells RO/DI parts and replacement filters.

Entropy · 02/18/2006, 10:23 PM

I am guessing you filters are clogged and the membrane may be as well. I just switched out all my filters and the membrane and water production went back to how it was when I first set it up. The worse your water is the faster it will clog everything. Of course is might also be the temperature of your incoming water since it is so cold in a lot of places right now. Not sure if you have a way of prewarming your water, but that will help increase production.

toccata · 02/21/2006, 02:49 PM

Water pressure, temp will have an affect on output as well as old filters and if the waste tube is restricted...

twkenny · 02/21/2006, 03:36 PM

I'd start with your sediment and carbon filters. Your membrane is probably okay unless yuor incoming water had a VERY high TDS and you make a lot of water.
You really should change them out every 6 months or so...they get pretty funky.

02/18/2006, 08:17 PM	#1
Maldivan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller , Texas Posts: 495	RO Unit Very Slow In making Water - Any ideas? Hey All, Ive had this 100 GPD unit with a 3 gal holding tank now for about 1 year. Its usually very fast in making water but now it takes about 8 hours for it to make 2 gals or so. I have a feeling that somethings clogged somewhere. Is it normal for filters to become clogged? Its just a 5-Stage NON DI unit. I can see the 1st stage as it has a clear housing and the filter looks new still. Should I just change the filters? Ive been unable to find the Part #'s of the filters but they look to be a standard size. 9" tall and 4" housings ... give or take a 1/2 ". Any cheaqp on-line places anyone reccomend for filters is appreciated! Thx Andy __________________ Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects. --Will Rogers Current Tank Info: 100 gal , 2x250W MH , 260W PC's, AquaC Remora Pro

02/18/2006, 08:25 PM	#2
saltwaterfishlover Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 1,983	well have you changed the carbon and sediment filter at all..... thats my first guess... second would be do you flush your membrane and third how does the di cartridge look......any one of those may cause the slowness but first guess would be the cabond and sediment __________________ {andy} saltwater since 1982..its such a love hate relationship

02/18/2006, 08:38 PM	#3
Maldivan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller , Texas Posts: 495	I havent changed any of the filters as of yet. Im going to look in HD or Loews tomorrow for the Carbon and sediment fiklters. Hopefully they will carry them. Thx __________________ Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects. --Will Rogers Current Tank Info: 100 gal , 2x250W MH , 260W PC's, AquaC Remora Pro

02/18/2006, 08:39 PM	#4
saltwaterfishlover Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 1,983	those should be pretty standard but are also pretty cheap for an aquarium related thing at a fish store __________________ {andy} saltwater since 1982..its such a love hate relationship

02/18/2006, 09:22 PM	#6
Zigzag Man Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 491	The HD and Lowe's around here only carry the 'mini' and 'maxi' filters... the only thing they carry that'll fit your RO unit is the membrane. The 'mini' filters are for those little GE under-the-counter faucet filters, and the 'maxi' filters are for the 'whole house' filters that filter your water main. I only know this because I just looked for them two weeks ago as I was reconditioning my RO/DI unit... the only option really is either online, or finding a specialty store locally that sells RO/DI parts and replacement filters. __________________ David Current Tank Info: 125g 3/4" Acrylic Cube (36"x36"x24") - 312w T5HO - 250w 10K XDE HQI PFO - Mag 18 return, 6 MJ-1200 • Downsizing to a 24g Nano! Ain't life strange?

02/18/2006, 08:44 PM	#5
roons Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: saugerties ,ny Posts: 1,240	membrane should be changed every 2-3 years, sediment and carbon every 6 months....................id bet you having a years worth of debri in filters that should be replaced after 6 months of use is your problem

02/18/2006, 10:23 PM	#7
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I am guessing you filters are clogged and the membrane may be as well. I just switched out all my filters and the membrane and water production went back to how it was when I first set it up. The worse your water is the faster it will clog everything. Of course is might also be the temperature of your incoming water since it is so cold in a lot of places right now. Not sure if you have a way of prewarming your water, but that will help increase production. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/21/2006, 02:49 PM	#8
toccata Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 234	Water pressure, temp will have an affect on output as well as old filters and if the waste tube is restricted... __________________ Life is what happens to you While you’re busy making other plans -JL Current Tank Info: 350gal Starphire: fowlr, some corals

02/21/2006, 03:36 PM	#9
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,081	I'd start with your sediment and carbon filters. Your membrane is probably okay unless yuor incoming water had a VERY high TDS and you make a lot of water. You really should change them out every 6 months or so...they get pretty funky.