RO unit - Problem or am I being a doofes

mytank

mytank

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Hi all,

I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Either I didn't read the instructions properly (see picture of instructions below) or something is wrong.

What is happening:

Well I am getting exceptionally high readings from my TDS meter from the RO water coming out of the RO unit.

The interesting part is I have been using this RO water for SALT mix and RO top up for the last two months.


Equipment:

1. Brand new (two months old) RO unit from @The Waterboy - Marco

I asked in a PM that I would like the RO unit to create RO water and I would still like to "Drink" / "Use" the by product as "purified" water.

Here are some quotes from the PM's:
MyTank
Cool, ok so:
3. Whats the rating on the RO unit and does it produce drinking water. Does it have a pump and how many membranes is it?
Click to expand...
@The Waterboy - Marco
drinking water can just be tapped off from outlet pipe.
it is the best range for marine r.o. systems available, but you can tap off the r.o.water and drink, place in bottle in fridge etc etc

take a look at6 link below, the unit quoted is pages 3, 5, 6, 7 ("it does not have resin chamber as you want to drink water aswell)
Click to expand...
Make and type of RO unit:

6369580429_86d5768106_b.jpg



So I have read these instructions:

6369589729_034a99f818_b.jpg


And IF (NOTE: It is possible I have it completely wrong) I understood this correctly: The water coming from where the turning value is (See below) Value: 0.074:

6369582993_c8ffe69880_b.jpg


This is "Drinking" water and not RO water...

The water coming from the second funnel at is the RO water as per the instructions above (see pic below for where I am taking RO water from) Value: 0.079 (higher then the "Drinking" water :eek::eek::eek::

6369581177_e1a2efef32_b.jpg


So if we look at this the TDS readings of both are pretty much the same and in my humble opinion is WAY to high to be RO water? (Please comment).


So what have I done / tested:

1. I took my TDS meter to one of my fav LFS, they have the PEN type TDS readers. He tested his water and it read 0.003, I then tested it with my TDS meter and it was different but not by much 0.009.

2. I tested both inside tap water 0.090 (see below) and directly from the tap that is feeding the RO unit 0.084

Internal Tap:

6369579367_87ff7f0714_b.jpg


Tap feeding RO unit:

6369578525_9d971db303_b.jpg



Then I made sure as well that with NO water it was at least reading 0.000 (confirmed):

6369582003_e835002aa2_b.jpg



I then let it run and tried again:

RO outlet:

6369588983_91d9dd76e9_b.jpg


Drinking water outlet:

6369587177_e17bd4e86d_b.jpg



So we all know what we talking about when it comes to TDS meters here is the meter, make and instructions (which I have followed):

6369585911_d2fee28a0f_b.jpg


6369585131_a5d6864c0e_b.jpg


6369584347_acc6b3cbf7_b.jpg


@The Waterboy - Marco , and anyone else am I using the RO unit incorrectly , is there something wrong with the RO unit?

I would appreciate the help guys. Interesting enough been using this water (before testing) on the tank and I haven't had many issues accept for high Phosphates. You can see my tank in my signature link, it is actually a highly healthy tank.

Thank you all!
 
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is the waste valve closed ? From that one pic it looks like you have serious pressure out of the waste which happens when that valve is open
 
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Singularity said:
is the waste valve closed ? From that one pic it looks like you haveserious pressure out of the waste which happens when that valve is open
Click to expand...

At the risk to being called the biggest doofes ever :blush::blush::blush::blush:

The valve is COMPLETELY open all the time. I thought that this is how it worked :( When its closed there is barely any water coming out of the "RO" pipe....


Is it suppose to be completely closed :blush::blush::blush: :eek::eek::eek:
 
Just some advice. Definately make sure your flush valve is closed, the water will come out slowly, then where your water comes out the ro pipe this should be a very slow drip. You do get other systems where the water comes out quicker , but the system you have very similar to mine and i think you will get about 1 litre per hour if you lucky.

Marco also put an inline tds meter his own brand built into my unit and you just push it on and immediately starts reading and is very accurate. Worth every penny.
 
Yip as mentioned it should be closed as in the open possition you are bypassing the membrane.
 
the waste goes through the flush valve at a slow rate and then you ro water comes from the other outlet on the top of the resin chmaber
 
So I don't have the resin chamber (check post) as he said if I want to drink the waste water its not requiredm so what you saying is even woth the valve closed it should still let out "waste" water?
 
Sorry my bad about resin chamber, meant your filmtec chamber at top of ro unit, yes even with valve closed your will still get waste water coming out in a slow stream, your other pipe coming out the filmtec chamber at top will drip your ro water slowly
 
If in closed possition it will still let out waste water that can be used for drinking you can add a DI resin chaimber to the end that your RO comes out that will not be drinkable. The valve is there so that you can flush your RO unit by doing this every now and then you pro-long the life span of your Membrane
 
Yeah takes a while to get some water but the again i have kind of cuk pressure down here in Durban, don't know about you
 
Bigger machine more money, check out Marco from waterboy link with his other ro uints which do 150 to 190 litres per day
 
If your waste / flush valve was open for 2 months......that explains your high Tds and slow production rate, secondly if you have corrected your mistake and you still get faulty high readings and a slow production rate.......that means you blew the membrane by running it on flush for 2 months.......check and let me know so we can help you out. The machine will give you 150 to 190 litres in 24 hours.....you should fill a 20 litres in 2 hours plus........temperature and inlet pressure dependable. Also maybe relook the way your post is directed........quoting me , comments you made etc etc seem bit harsh and directed negatively, you have purchased a top brand machine that does not give issues.......if you were stuck, my direct number was also in the instructions.........cool
 
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The Waterboy - Marco said:
If your waste / flush valve was open for 2 months......that explains your high Tds and slow production rate, secondly if you have corrected your mistake and you still get faulty high readings and a slow production rate.......that means you blew the membrane by running it on flush for 2 months.......check and let me know so we can help you out. The machine will give you 150 to 190 litres in 24 hours.....you should fill a 20 litres in 2 hours plus........temperature and inlet pressure dependable. Also maybe relook the way your post is directed........quoting me , comments you made etc etc seem bit harsh and directed negatively, you have purchased a top brand machine that does not give issues.......if you were stuck, my direct number was also in the instructions.........cool
Click to expand...

The post wasn't directed or negative at all hence why I specifically said in my subject or am I doofes ....... The quotes were to give context to the post, since every system I have seen has resin units on it you specified not because of my request. Hence the context setting so I wouldn't get answers to check my resin chamber ...................... If you found it negative re read the post in a the spirt it was written which was I had no clue what was going on and asked for help.

I will correct my doofyneas and report back. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
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