RO/DI not producing water?

nemofish2217 · 03/02/2006, 09:06 PM

my RO/DI unit is turned on, but there is no water coming from the pure end, and very very little coming out of the drainage end... what the heck could be causing this? time to get new filters? iam in a bind now... please help...

OnTheReef · 03/02/2006, 09:23 PM

Does your unit have a backflush mode? If so, try backflushing it for 20 minutes and see if that improves the situation. Check your source and waste tubes to make sure they are not plugged up by something too. If your unit has a pressure gauge, is the system coming up to operating pressure? If none of those things helps, then you need new filters or possibly a new membrane. Our water here in the Dublin / Pleasanton area is horrific (only place I have heard of doctors treating people getting sick from tap water) and I am pretty much forced to replace all my cartridges every 6 months.

nemofish2217 · 03/02/2006, 09:24 PM

im prett sure it doesnt have a backflush mode or pressure gauge.... the pipes are not clogged up.... where is a good place to get a new membrane or filters? thanks....

nemofish2217 · 03/02/2006, 11:42 PM

i need to bump this so that i can get some more responses....i am kind of in a bind....

OnTheReef · 03/03/2006, 01:13 AM

If you have Home Depot in your area, they carry the sediment filters and charcoal block filters. Membranes are a little harder, typically the easiest way to get a replacement is from the mfr of your RO/DI unit.

cfarrow2 · 03/03/2006, 02:09 AM

It sounds like it's a new unit? If so, you're probably not getting enough pressure. In that case, you need to buy a pump for it to get the pressure high enough for the unit to work.

nemofish2217 · 03/03/2006, 02:20 AM

hey guys, i have actually had the unit for almost two years......it has worked great up until now.... i guess its time to change the filters.... how much do the membranes run? would it be easier just to buy a new unit off of ebay? thanks

ohioreef · 03/03/2006, 03:12 AM

If you've had it for 2 years w/o changing filters I'd say that is definately your problem!!

cyclgrl · 03/03/2006, 03:17 AM

I had a problem like this recently and it ended up being that my waste to good water ratio got turned up incredibly high by accident--made it look like it wasn't producing.

Your membrane should last longer than 2 years. Other filters should be replaced.

melev · 03/03/2006, 04:22 AM

The filters should be replaced every six months. The membrane should still be good, assuming there hasn't been any damage via chlorine. Chlorine will deteriorate the membrane, which is why it is so important to change the prefilters on schedule.

Many online venders sell standard 10" refills. If you ordered your unit off of ebay, you may have to contact that vendor again IF your unit is proprietary. If you need filters immediately, take them out and bring them to your LFS fo them to sell you a matching set.

Im14abeer · 03/03/2006, 05:32 AM

Probably the aforementioned pre-filters. I would however, disconnect the unit from the supply and make sure nothing got into the valve. Also, there's a little orifice on the waste side of the membrane that may be plugged, and that would block the membrane pretty quickly.

Sk8r · 03/03/2006, 09:09 AM

Also make sure your RODI isn't having to push water uphill: this slows down the flow terribly.

nemofish2217 · 03/03/2006, 09:30 AM

so, most likely, it is the pre-filters that are nasty and need to be changed? I know it sounded bad that i had had it for two years w/o changing pre filters, but i have been using it off and on... not steadily....

So, can i get the pre filters from home depot? or do i need to get them from my mfg? If i can get them from HD, are there any specific ones i need? thanks

melev · 03/03/2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Many online venders sell standard 10" refills. If you ordered your unit off of ebay, you may have to contact that vendor again IF your unit is proprietary. If you need filters immediately, take them out and bring them to your LFS fo them to sell you a matching set.

03/02/2006, 09:06 PM	#1
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	RO/DI not producing water? my RO/DI unit is turned on, but there is no water coming from the pure end, and very very little coming out of the drainage end... what the heck could be causing this? time to get new filters? iam in a bind now... please help...

03/02/2006, 09:23 PM	#2
OnTheReef Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 340	Does your unit have a backflush mode? If so, try backflushing it for 20 minutes and see if that improves the situation. Check your source and waste tubes to make sure they are not plugged up by something too. If your unit has a pressure gauge, is the system coming up to operating pressure? If none of those things helps, then you need new filters or possibly a new membrane. Our water here in the Dublin / Pleasanton area is horrific (only place I have heard of doctors treating people getting sick from tap water) and I am pretty much forced to replace all my cartridges every 6 months. __________________ 100 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon sump/fuge combo with RDSB 2x ASM G2 with gate valve mod TLF phos reactor w/Rowaphos, Seachem Nitrate sponge 4x55w 50/50 actinic PC Current USA 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 0 n Current Tank Info: 50 & 100 gallon reef tanks

03/03/2006, 01:13 AM	#5
OnTheReef Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 340	If you have Home Depot in your area, they carry the sediment filters and charcoal block filters. Membranes are a little harder, typically the easiest way to get a replacement is from the mfr of your RO/DI unit. __________________ 100 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon sump/fuge combo with RDSB 2x ASM G2 with gate valve mod TLF phos reactor w/Rowaphos, Seachem Nitrate sponge 4x55w 50/50 actinic PC Current USA 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 0 n Current Tank Info: 50 & 100 gallon reef tanks

03/03/2006, 02:09 AM	#6
cfarrow2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 626	It sounds like it's a new unit? If so, you're probably not getting enough pressure. In that case, you need to buy a pump for it to get the pressure high enough for the unit to work. __________________ Happiness is contagious. What are you spreading? Current Tank Info: 55 gal. 216 W. T5s. Wet/dry sump w/ Mag 5 return. Softies, 3 fish, shrimp, urchin. HA factory for the time being.

03/03/2006, 03:12 AM	#8
ohioreef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Western Ohio Posts: 3,106	If you've had it for 2 years w/o changing filters I'd say that is definately your problem!! __________________ Gary

03/02/2006, 09:24 PM	#3
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	im prett sure it doesnt have a backflush mode or pressure gauge.... the pipes are not clogged up.... where is a good place to get a new membrane or filters? thanks....

03/02/2006, 11:42 PM	#4
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	i need to bump this so that i can get some more responses....i am kind of in a bind....

03/03/2006, 02:20 AM	#7
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	hey guys, i have actually had the unit for almost two years......it has worked great up until now.... i guess its time to change the filters.... how much do the membranes run? would it be easier just to buy a new unit off of ebay? thanks

03/03/2006, 03:17 AM	#9
cyclgrl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,266	I had a problem like this recently and it ended up being that my waste to good water ratio got turned up incredibly high by accident--made it look like it wasn't producing. Your membrane should last longer than 2 years. Other filters should be replaced.

03/03/2006, 04:22 AM	#10
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	The filters should be replaced every six months. The membrane should still be good, assuming there hasn't been any damage via chlorine. Chlorine will deteriorate the membrane, which is why it is so important to change the prefilters on schedule. Many online venders sell standard 10" refills. If you ordered your unit off of ebay, you may have to contact that vendor again IF your unit is proprietary. If you need filters immediately, take them out and bring them to your LFS fo them to sell you a matching set.

03/03/2006, 05:32 AM	#11
Im14abeer BRILLIANT! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Posts: 406	Probably the aforementioned pre-filters. I would however, disconnect the unit from the supply and make sure nothing got into the valve. Also, there's a little orifice on the waste side of the membrane that may be plugged, and that would block the membrane pretty quickly. __________________ Veni, vidi, fishi Current Tank Info: Mixed 235 "reefin' in the corner." Reefbreeders 48 & 32. 2x Tunze 6255 on a 7096, Basement sump, Avast cs1, mag 18 return. Chaeto, kalk.

03/03/2006, 09:09 AM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Also make sure your RODI isn't having to push water uphill: this slows down the flow terribly. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/03/2006, 09:30 AM	#13
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	so, most likely, it is the pre-filters that are nasty and need to be changed? I know it sounded bad that i had had it for two years w/o changing pre filters, but i have been using it off and on... not steadily.... So, can i get the pre filters from home depot? or do i need to get them from my mfg? If i can get them from HD, are there any specific ones i need? thanks