Chuck's 150 Gallon Reef Project - Page 112

ChuckG · #**1111** (**permalink**) 06-29-2008, 04:47 AM

I'm surprised Russ told you to run the catalytic carbon "just in case" because there is a negative to running it. Since it is in a granular form rather than a block it will release fines into the system. This, in theory, can lead to a clogged membrane or other filters within the system. He told me to find out if there are chlorimines in the water but if I can't find out then it may be best not to run it. Especially since the carbon block I am running should reduce or eliminate chlorimines as well anyway.

Thomas · #**1112** (**permalink**) 06-29-2008, 06:55 AM

I'm going to have to give him a call and ask him again. He might have changed his opinion since I bought my system. My DI membrane seems to go bad pretty damn quick. I have been changing my sediment filter very often, he thought this might help the DI bed. I didn't notice any improvement to it's life. I guess I'm going to have to find out one way or another if we have chloromines in our water. Do you know if there is a test for this? or do you have to send in a water sample to somebody?

ChuckG · #**1113** (**permalink**) 06-29-2008, 12:34 PM

I have no clue.

I got things completely hooked up last night. I decided to remove all the filters and water test it. No leaks BUT just as water hit the RO membrane I realized that I HAD NOT removed that. Tap water DID go through the membrane. I immediately stopped it and took it out and rinsed it as well as I could. Now I wonder if I've screwed that up. I continued the leak test and I didn't have any leaks with the 3,021 different connections that are on this thing but it didn't build up any pressure either. I don't know if it should have been able to or not though either.

Thomas · #**1114** (**permalink**) 06-29-2008, 05:05 PM

I wouldn't think so with no filters in place. Did you start rinsing the filters yet? There is a specific way to do that as well, starting with the sediment filters and then working on down the line. I can't remember when the RO filter gets put in.
I got new filters coming from Russ on Monday so I'll be making a call and picking his brain again. I just replaced them in April.

ChuckG · #**1115** (**permalink**) 06-29-2008, 05:18 PM

I've already talked to Russ. The membrane can handle some chlorine. What I did to it probably didn't hurt it at all. I think I do have some funny issues going on with the pressure though. I'm waiting to hear back from Russ now on that.

On the subject of rinsing. I'm not going to have to worry about unhooking anything or doing things in a certain order or any of that junk. I'm hooking up a stand alone flushing station. I talked to Russ about this one too. I was thinking about a two housing unit. One housing for sediment and then another housing for whatever you are flushing but decided that the sediment housing really isn't needed and if I did it then I would have to drain and remove the sediment filter when not in use. NOT worth the trouble. So basically all I'm doing is setting up a One bracket, One Housing unit. You drop in the filter you are flushing and turn the water valve on. Tap water flushes the filter with the water simply going down the drain or into the washing machine. Take the now flushed filter and put it wherever it is needed in the RO/DI unit. No chance of flushing anything into any other parts of the RO/DI unit because it's completely separate

Thomas · #**1116** (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 04:25 AM

Now that's a great Idea!

ChuckG · #**1117** (**permalink**) 06-30-2008, 04:55 AM

Actually anyone could add a flushing station to their units fairly easily. Buy a single housing kit. Usually sold as like a DI add on housing or something and then simply T off your main input line and run it to the housing and T back into the drain line you already have. A couple of valves to make the water go through that one housing instead of the whole system and it's a done deal.

Thomas · #**1118** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 01:28 AM

Yep, Next order I'm there.

ChuckG · #**1119** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 03:16 PM

I'm going to replace this housing with a new one. This is one of the Junk ones I'm replacing but this is my flush station. Red is the incoming water and black is the waste. Both lines go up through the ceiling because they have to cross a hallway over to the fishroom where the RO/DI unit is now.

Geez - look at the cobwebs. I'm going to have to show those to the wife

ChuckG · #**1120** (**permalink**) 07-01-2008, 06:39 PM

I went ahead and flushed the filters I have and am letting the system run without DI Resin (cause I ran out).

At 90 psi my 75gpd membrane is giving me a 99.5% rejection rate. I don't think I can ask anything more from it. My RO product water is coming out at 1 TDS. Guess my DI resin won't have to work too hard once I get some more.

I still have a couple of issues though. I can't seem to get the booster pump set yet to go on and off when it's supposed to and my entire unit doesn't seem to want to shut down. If I close the outlet where product water is coming out (simulating a full reservoir) the unit continues to run, pressure doesn't change and all the water simply goes to waste.

I think I'm going to have to give Russ a call.

Oh yea - almost forgot.

HAD ANOTHER FLOOD THIS MORNING.

I had filled the washing machine with waste water and told my wife that she had water to run a load of clothes. I also had the washer drain line pulled out of the drain from playing around with things this morning.

She did a load of clothes.