Rd106 RODI issues!

[miserkris]

Hi All,

I have 3 questions about my Rodi filter model: RD106 from Filter direct.

1) My house is on a small hill, the water pressure in the shower & via the fridge drinking water... is low . This is a problem in all homes in my community.

Thus the RODI filter output is very slow , drop by drop. It is not even 1/4th the rate of the waste water from RODI.

I have read solutions like : Putting a valve and opening just 50% in the waste line?

Installing a booster pump [or] a permeate pump?

Is there any other cheap way to increase the output rate? pls suggest!

2) There is a 4 gallon pressure tank, that came with the RODI. What is it for? Its connected but is not filling.

BTW , I don't use this rodi for drinking water , just for reef tank water.

3) My current tds is 18. I changed the filters, membrane etc 1.5 yrs ago. Can I go further or is it better to change the cartridges now?

Pls answer !Thanks!!!

 

[Imbarrie]

Check the psi where the water goes into your RODI.
You will probably notice it is very low and a booster pump can remedy this.

One thing you may run into is the booster pump will have an intake flow requirement and if you are on a hill you may not have enough GPH to feed the boost pump.

 

[NewfiDog]

You dont need the tank if your not using it for drinking the tank holds a couple gallons of water and has a diaphram in it for pressure to get it out the faucet. The TDS still is high, are you sure its an RODI and not just an RO. Most RODI units dont come with a tank as they suggest you dont drink the water after the DI even though you can its just the same as distilled water just another way to get it to that point. Also not all RO units are the same there are different filters that remove more than others you may want to check into that. You either need new DI cartridge, or may need to look into a better unit. Also the membrame in the RO works better at higher pressure that could also be your problem, but if it had a DI i dont understand why the TDS would still be so high. You may want to look into a booster.

Oh and you can get a pressure gauge at the hardware store to check your house pressure or sometimes the water company can tell you but your better off with the gauge.

 

[KathyC]

Your TDS is 18? You should have changed the filters long ago. I usually change mine when they get to a reading of 2.

Did your rodi always have output this poor? Changing the filters might help that as well. Change the filters first and check the TDS, if it is above zero - then it is time to change the membrane as well.
You didn't mention how old the membrane is?

 

[Imbarrie]

You can get high readings if the inlet pressure is too low.

But that is way too long to be running the same set of filters. Also way too long to be running under-pressurized. But I dont think it will have any long term affects.

Also, most RODI units have the ability to add a RO tank for drinking purposes. You install the plumbing before the DI cartridge.

 

[NewfiDog]

That company filter direct sells a booster pump for $79 and suggest using it if your pressure is 40lbs or less. I also missed that in your thread 1.5 years is going to be too long for the filters but most membranes are good for 3 years of course usage also has alot to do with it and lots of the DI filters change color telling you when it needs to be changed but as Kathy says once your TDS rises its time to change.

 

[NL146]

You dont need the tank if your not using it for drinking the tank holds a couple gallons of water and has a diaphram in it for pressure to get it out the faucet....

The way I've got it hooked up, the tank fills with 3 gals with filtered (ro) water. So, the tank is useful if you want to have a couple of extra gallons of ro filtered water on hand. Make sure the valve on the tank is not in the off position. Check out http://www.watergeneral.com/support/pdf/RD102.pdf

 

[NewfiDog]

Get rid of the tank and get a container like a brute can or something. Also the tanks need to be sterilized every so often for drinking water but i would say the bacteria that grows in there you may also not want in your tank but that im not sure about.

 

[Turbovr3six]

Maybe a clogged flow restrictor. You should be getting 1:3-1:4 good:bad ratio. Take 2 containers and make sure it's correct. Drain line to one container, and RODI line to the other. You should get 3x more bad than good.

 

[Imbarrie]

1:3 is almost unattainable.
1:4 is closer at a certain inlet temp.

To give a realistic range you could get 1:5 but with your current system you are probably looking in the range of 1:10.

This is great dependable resource for RODI units.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.php

 

[Turbovr3six]

http://www.watergeneral.com/support/pdf/RD102.pdf
I took my ratio from here^^. My ratio in my unit is 1:4. 1:10 would be a bad thing.

 

[Imbarrie]

Have you measured it yourself?
These rating are optimal controlled conditions and meant as a base line starting point. Not what a realistic setup produces. 1:10 was meant for the OP which has a couple of issues to deal with.
The real experience has no control over inlet temp and a variety of inlet pressure.

 

[Turbovr3six]

I measured it when I set it up. I needed to cut a piece down until the ratio was right. Can the ratio change with time?

 

[andylee]

I think ratio changes with temperature, pressure, quality of water.

 

[andylee]

To answer your original questions:
1. A booster pump would probably help. A permeate pump would not. Permeate pumps help pump water into that pressurized tank you don't use (help to overcome pressure of the bladder).
2. That is a reservoir, used mainly for drinking water, but you can use it to hold several gallons of RO that will then go through DI.
3. Agree with everyone else about changing the filters.

 

[Buckeye Field Supply]

I think ratio changes with temperature, pressure, quality of water.

This is correct!

 

[Buckeye Field Supply]

To answer your original questions:
That is a reservoir, used mainly for drinking water, but you can use it to hold several gallons of RO that will then go through DI.

This is something that should be avoided. Never store DI water in a bladder tank, and never route RO water from a pressure tank to the DI.

Russ

 

[miserkris]

Guys,
To measure the inline psi to rodi..
I got a $10 gauge from hd up to 100 psi, some adapters to fit a 1/4" line.

Question is where do I fix this? Do I create a T from mainline going to valve to rodi? Or after valve before rodi?

Or temporarily fix it from line going to rodi without a T?

Is it better to have this as a permanent addition....to the rodi input?

Thx

 

[miserkris]

Bump!

 

[mbg75]

Put it after the filters, right before where it goes into the membrane.

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