Please help me with my new 6 stage ro system

« **on:** August 25, 2006, 06:03:06 pm »

I just bought a brand new 6 stage reverse osmosis system.

I followed the Instructions step by step.

I first conected the water to the Inlet and flushed out the pre filters. That was ok!

When I conected the hose from the pre filters to the membrane to take It through It's final 3 stages the water wouldn't come out??? Sorted It now

My fault

Now It's all working correctly there seems to be a lot of wast water compared to good water

Even when the flush valve Is turned off water still comes out of the waste??? Is this normal.

I have ran the system for 2 hours now and the tds reading Is 010ppm? Is this about right?

My tap water reads 028ppm. When I take a reading from the waste pipe It reads 048ppm? and the good water reads 10?

Am I doing anything wrong?

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2006, 06:04:54 pm »

« **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2006, 06:59:51 pm »

Quote from: Clear Vision on August 25, 2006, 06:03:06 pm

I Even when the flush valve Is turned off water still comes out of the waste??? Is this normal.

Hi clear vision

Ihave a 4 stage R O , yes it is normal to have waste water with the flush valve turned off,i get more waste than product water,but i only have 1 membrain you have 3,so i dont know how much waste you should have.

It also depends on your water pressure the more you have the less waste you will have.

Your final tds reading may be high because the new membrains need flushing through, because when they are new they are covered in somthing to protect them. Also do you have a d i unit for the final polish of your water.

Hope this helps.

« **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2006, 07:13:16 pm »

Clear vision

If your tap water ppm is only o28 i would of thought that you would have been better of just using D.I.

I could be wrong, sure someone will tell you.

« **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2006, 08:13:10 pm »

Hi Clear vision,

First of all you need to get rid of the sixth stage on your RO unit, this is a carbon filter and may actually increase your final TDS.

The unit you have is designed for drinking water systems which is why it has 6 stages.

Then try your TDS again. What is your tap psi pressure

Alex

« **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2006, 08:14:10 pm »

You are lucky. I wouldnt bother with RO with tap water like that, just DI. I've spent £500 for a RO which only produces 20ppm! Postcode lottery??!!

Dave

« **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2006, 09:30:43 pm »

Quote from: jeff evans on August 25, 2006, 06:59:51 pm

Quote from: Clear Vision on August 25, 2006, 06:03:06 pm
I Also do you have a d i unit for the final polish of your water.

Hope this helps.

Jeff,

I have a di unit in the back of my van to polish off.

I know my water Is only 028ppm from the tap and yes I could only us di to purify my water.
You would be suprised how quickly my resin runs out when I only use my di vessel to purify!

My theory behind bying this unit was If I got my water down as low as I can, I store It In my 1000L tank and transfer to the van. Thats where my di vessel Is. If the water Is only going through my di vessel at002ppm-010ppm this wouldn't be so hard on the resin and will last longer.

P.S. I have just let 25L run through the unit and my TDS reading Is now 001ppm. There Is still LOADS MORE water going out the waste? I mean a lot. Is this normal?

Thanks for all you replies.

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2006, 09:36:34 pm »

Quote from: alexg on August 25, 2006, 08:13:10 pm

Hi Clear vision,

First of all you need to get rid of the sixth stage on your RO unit, this is a carbon filter and may actually increase your final TDS.

The unit you have is designed for drinking water systems which is why it has 6 stages.

Alex

Alex,

Thanks for your advice.

You say It's designed for drinking water. Will It be ok for what I need It for? (wfp)

Can I fit a inline pressure gauge onto my unit? If so do you sell them? What price?

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2006, 10:03:05 pm »

Alex seems to be offline so I will answer.

It will be fine for making water for WFP.

Yes you will be able to add an inline pressure gauge.

Take that last vessel off like Alex says. It serves no purpose for purifying water and could well add a little to your outgoing TDS. They out them on drinking water systems supposedly to improve taste that's all.

Yes it's normal to get loads of waste out of a unit like this. If you are on a meter I doubt very much that any gains you make in resin savings will be of much use because of added water costs.

« **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2006, 10:08:21 pm »

Thanks extremeclean

Im'not on a meter.

Will take off that 6th filter tomorrow.

Cheers

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2006, 10:27:37 pm »

the 6th stage is usually an inline carbon filter which improves taste and removes any VOC's left in the water.

« **Reply #11 on:** August 26, 2006, 12:12:30 am »

Quote from: Clear Vision on August 25, 2006, 09:30:43 pm

Quote from: jeff evans on August 25, 2006, 06:59:51 pm
Quote from: Clear Vision on August 25, 2006, 06:03:06 pm
I Also do you have a d i unit for the final polish of your water.

Hope this helps.

Jeff,

I have a di unit in the back of my van to polish off.

I know my water Is only 028ppm from the tap and yes I could only us di to purify my water.
You would be suprised how quickly my resin runs out when I only use my di vessel to purify!

My theory behind bying this unit was If I got my water down as low as I can, I store It In my 1000L tank and transfer to the van. Thats where my di vessel Is. If the water Is only going through my di vessel at002ppm-010ppm this wouldn't be so hard on the resin and will last longer.

P.S. I have just let 25L run through the unit and my TDS reading Is now 001ppm. There Is still LOADS MORE water going out the waste? I mean a lot. Is this normal?

Thanks for all you replies.

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #12 on:** August 26, 2006, 08:29:17 am »

Jeff,

Your waste can be anything up to 5 times your pure water, it all dependes on the type of membrane, your water pressure and the drain restrictor in your RO. Measure it with a jug or a bucket and if is over 5 times the pure then go back to your supplier.

steve@freshwatersystems.co.uk

« **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:10:05 am »

Hi Clear vision,

Yes you can add a pressure gauge to this very quick and simple. Give us a ring on 01726 61143 on Monday morning and Kirsty or Anna will sort it for you.

Alex

« **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:02:51 pm »

Thanks for all your help on this guys.

This morning I took off the 6th stage carbon filter like you said and set the system up properly above my 1000L ibc tank.

Can anyone help me with my tds readings?

1. My tap water Is 028ppm

2. waste water from ro reads 048ppm? Why Is this higher than my tap water?

3. Took a reading of the water coming out of the membrane and Its 002ppm. Does this sound right?

4. After the 5th stage di the reading Is 000ppm!

Next question!

Waste water vs Pure water

Filled up a cup with pure water and It took 2mins to fill up.

Filled up with waste water and It took 27 seconds.

Is this about right?

Cheers

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:19:46 pm »

boys n there toys cv eh

« **Reply #16 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:20:53 pm »

Thats a good pic of you mick

« **Reply #17 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:26:35 pm »

i know where i can get my water now

« **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:57:01 pm »

Hi Clear vision,

The TDS readings sound spot on, Your resin chamber should last a good while.

The reason for your high waste ratio is probably down to low water pressure, however it will always be about 2:1 at best on the unit you have.

Alex

« **Reply #19 on:** August 26, 2006, 10:01:06 pm »

Thanks alex,

Where di I fit the gauge to on my unit?

Matthew

« **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2006, 08:13:46 am »

just after the pre-filters and before the membrane, that way you can check as the pressure drops when you need to change your pre-filters.

Alex

« **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2006, 11:22:33 am »

Quote from: alexg on August 27, 2006, 08:13:46 am

just after the pre-filters and before the membrane, that way you can check as the pressure drops when you need to change your pre-filters.

Alex

Sorry alex but this Is all new to me

When the pressure drops does this mean than the pre filters are finished and need to be changed?

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #22 on:** August 27, 2006, 01:35:27 pm »

It is a good indication that the sediment filter has become clogged and should signal an immediate change. Most of us schedule a change of pre-filters before this happens usually every 3 months, depending on usage.

Alex

« **Reply #23 on:** August 27, 2006, 02:39:40 pm »

my tap water is 250 ppm waste is 335ppm after di 001does this sound right.

« **Reply #24 on:** August 27, 2006, 02:55:34 pm »

borg,

check the tds before the di to see exactly what the ro is removing.

steve@freshwatersystems.co.uk

« **Reply #25 on:** August 27, 2006, 03:01:08 pm »

hi steve it is 014ppm

« **Reply #26 on:** August 27, 2006, 03:52:17 pm »

This may sound like a silly question but how do I flush my membrane? Do I need the water running through the system or do I just turn off the water and turn the dial to flush and just let It drain out?

Cheers

Matthew
Clear Vision

« **Reply #27 on:** August 27, 2006, 08:17:49 pm »

Hi Clearvision,

Just turn that valve on the front and let it flush for about 10minutes every month should do it.

Alex

« **Reply #28 on:** August 27, 2006, 08:40:26 pm »

Borg,

14 not bad. I asume you have lowish water pressure say 40-50psi, if you can improve it you should lower the 14 tds, whic will save your di resin.

steve@freshwatersystems.co.uk

« **Reply #29 on:** August 27, 2006, 08:47:51 pm »

Quote from: alexg on August 27, 2006, 08:17:49 pm

Hi Clearvision,

Just turn that valve on the front and let it flush for about 10minutes every month should do it.

Alex

Please excuse me but I really don't know a lot about this systems. Do I need the water turned on when I'm flushing it out or do I just drain it? Think I answered my own question there

Do you sell the replacement filters for my system alex?

I just checked the unit and the first filter Is starting to turn brown? Is this normal?

Many thanks for all the help!

Matthew

« **Reply #30 on:** August 27, 2006, 09:10:50 pm »

a) you need the water on when flushing - all you are doing is creating an easier route for the tap water to flow, which happens to be over the surface of the membranes thus flushing away any debris.

b)You can get replacement filters from us/gardiners/freshwater/surecleansystems/cleantech - just about anyone.

c)the first filter is the sediment filter, it will start to turn brown quite quickly but will remain effective for quite a while depending on the level of sediment in your tap water, my advice is to replace it once every 4/6 weeks - the sediment filters are only a few pounds each so its not an expensive filter to replace. As a general guide replace the secondary filter (carbon filter) every other time you change the sediment filter, that is, if you change the sediment filter every 4 weeks then change the carbon filter every 8 weeks. It is imperitive that you change the carbon filter regularly as it removes chlorine from the water - chlorine burns the surface of the membranes rendering them less effective.

« **Reply #31 on:** August 27, 2006, 09:17:10 pm »

Thanks for that JM123

So I take It that the filters I have are a standard size?

Cheers

« **Reply #32 on:** August 27, 2006, 09:19:56 pm »

well I would assume that yours are all 10inch housings? They are more or less all standard, just tell whoever you get them from that they are for a 450gpd ro-man unit.

Do you want me to post a couple of links here for replacement filters??

« **Reply #33 on:** August 27, 2006, 09:24:42 pm »

yes please.

That would be kind of you.

Thanks

« **Reply #34 on:** August 27, 2006, 10:37:46 pm »

here you go

http://www.ro-man.com/shop/product_info.php/cPath/24_42/products_id/40

http://www.ro-man.com/shop/product_info.php/cPath/24_42/products_id/39

http://www.reachandclean.co.uk/acatalog/carbon_and_sediment_filters.html

« **Reply #35 on:** August 28, 2006, 08:17:02 am »

Thanks JM123,

Just what I was looking for

See that sediment filter! It says It has quick release fittings. Would they be the same as mine?

Matthew

« **Reply #36 on:** August 28, 2006, 08:52:18 am »

Clear vision,

Your RO is made from completely standard RO fittings,Filters, membranes so you should be able to buy replacements from any of us suppliers with ease.

ALex