Chuck's 150 Gallon Reef Project

[Gecko]

Check,
The tank is looking real good. I would place the 1 1/2 back it doesnt look like it will be that much trouble.

[ChuckG]

Guess that's one vote for figure B. Anymore votes?

I knew I should have bought stock in Home Depot.

[phlounder]

I would definitely do B.

[ChuckG]

Oh - you guys are killing me. Trying to fix my RO/DI unit at the moment. I think a blew a membrane.

[Tangboy]

Home Depot? Bahh they get their lumber from one of my friends reservations I'm a Lowes guy! I'm still having a little difficulty understanding your plumbing but I think thats cause I'm a newbie. Looks awesome, can't wait to someday be doing a large scale tank. Anyway keep up the good work!

The dart is your return pump for your.... sump return??

[phlounder]

I think you have to watch the back pressure on those flush valves. I was told (by the people I got my unit from) that you could damage the membrane if you leave it on flush too long. Hope that's not what you did.

[ChuckG]

No but I do know what I did. I recently changed filters. I have refillable cartridges on the DI as well as the catalytic carbon. The catalytic stuff said to make sure and rinse 2 quarts of water through it. I rinsed as much as I could (it doesn't go through very fast - like drops come out). I finally gave up and put it together. When I took the membrane out it had charcoal dust in the chamber with the membrane. I had another membrane here that was used. I had replaced the membrane once before when I thought that might have been the problem. It wasn't, so I saved the membrane. I guess you can't do this. I just put that one back in and water won't go through it at all.

I've ordered a new membrane.

[phlounder]

That's a bummer. Maybe rinse the carbon out thoroughly before putting it in the cartridge, or just use a carbon block instead.

Another thought is to isolate a single canister (or just buy one just for this purpose) and hook it up temporarily to the water supply to flush out the carbon cartridge before installing it in line. Just a thought. I haven't tried it - yet.

[ChuckG]

I run a regular carbon block as well. The catalytic was an "add on". But you did just give me an idea. You don't have to buy a separate canister. Forget trying to pour water through it. Simply switch hoses - plug in the fresh water supply straight to that canister and empty into a bucket till it's rinsed. It's all JG fittings. Your a genius.

[phlounder]

Yeah, that's what I meant by isolating a single canister. Just switch the lines around and just run a water line in and a drain line out. Once rinsed, just switch the tubing back around.

Also, did those cartridges you got come with a sponge filter? Mine have filter pads in them to catch debris.