I am having a problem with the Bulk Reef Supply Pro DI Resin - the Anion in particular. I have been using the Pro series for a while. I have always used more of the mixed bed than I anticipated, and I suspect that the Anion Resin may be defective - it seems to leach something into the finished water. I will do some more investigating, but just wanted to give everyone a "heads up", and see if anyone has any thoughts about what is happening with my system.
My source water is well water and runs about 200 TDS. After the RO membrane (75 GPD), it is about 6-10 TDS. After the DI, I keep it at 0. I recently moved my RODI system and when I did, I noticed the bad odor that the anion resin makes, so I checked my finished water TDS and it was elevated (I don't remember the reading, but it was high - in the 20s I think). None of the cartridges were exhausted, so I called BRS. I was told that there was probably some channelling, so i tossed the DI Resin even though it wasn't exhausted and ordered some new Anion resin. Everything seemed to get back to normal more or less.
My production rate was decreasing, so I ordered new filters (1 micron sediment and carbon block) and a new RO membrane (75GPD) from BRS. I installed the new filters and flushed the new filters and membrane. I flushed the filters first, then ran the membrane for a couple of hours, flushed it and let it sit overnight, ran it for a couple of hours, flushed it and let it sit for a day, ran it for a couple of more hours, flushed it and let it sit overnight, then flushed it and ran it for a bit again. At this point, I started running it into the DI resin and was planning on collecting the finished water for use. i noticed the smell of the Anion resin, so I feared that I had a problem again.
I checked my source water - it was clear and no smell 200 TDS. I checked the water coming out of the RO - clear and no smell 8 TDS. I checked the water coming out of the Cat Ion (cartridge has made several hundred gallons and not much color change) - clear and no smell 6 TDS. Checked the water coming out of the Anion (cartridge has made about 100 gallons and is half exhausted according to the color) - clear smelled like Anion and TDS around 100. I let it run for a bit and the TDS dropped into the 20s and the smell stopped. This seemed like a problem, so I called BRS.
I explained the situation to the person I spoke with, and she once again said that it must be channeling and that it is normal for the TDS to increase between the resins. I went into detail and explained that i thought there must be something wrong with the resin, but she insisted that everything sounded normal and as long as my final mixed bed got the TDS down to 0, there wasn't a problem. Her only suggestion was to throw out the Anion resin (again) and replace it with new. We spoke for a while, and I ended the conversation quite disappointed.
I recently did an ICP of my RODI, and the only element that was elevated was Bromine if I remember correctly - I can't access the results right now.
Sorry for the long post, but I am hoping that someone can tell me if this really is normal, and/or give me some suggestions. At this point, I am considering skipping the Anion or trying to find a supplier that has some that doesn't leach. I will probably replace the Anion resin and experiment to see if I use more or less mixed bed with or without the Anion, but this will take a while and waste some more money. Thanks for any help.
My source water is well water and runs about 200 TDS. After the RO membrane (75 GPD), it is about 6-10 TDS. After the DI, I keep it at 0. I recently moved my RODI system and when I did, I noticed the bad odor that the anion resin makes, so I checked my finished water TDS and it was elevated (I don't remember the reading, but it was high - in the 20s I think). None of the cartridges were exhausted, so I called BRS. I was told that there was probably some channelling, so i tossed the DI Resin even though it wasn't exhausted and ordered some new Anion resin. Everything seemed to get back to normal more or less.
My production rate was decreasing, so I ordered new filters (1 micron sediment and carbon block) and a new RO membrane (75GPD) from BRS. I installed the new filters and flushed the new filters and membrane. I flushed the filters first, then ran the membrane for a couple of hours, flushed it and let it sit overnight, ran it for a couple of hours, flushed it and let it sit for a day, ran it for a couple of more hours, flushed it and let it sit overnight, then flushed it and ran it for a bit again. At this point, I started running it into the DI resin and was planning on collecting the finished water for use. i noticed the smell of the Anion resin, so I feared that I had a problem again.
I checked my source water - it was clear and no smell 200 TDS. I checked the water coming out of the RO - clear and no smell 8 TDS. I checked the water coming out of the Cat Ion (cartridge has made several hundred gallons and not much color change) - clear and no smell 6 TDS. Checked the water coming out of the Anion (cartridge has made about 100 gallons and is half exhausted according to the color) - clear smelled like Anion and TDS around 100. I let it run for a bit and the TDS dropped into the 20s and the smell stopped. This seemed like a problem, so I called BRS.
I explained the situation to the person I spoke with, and she once again said that it must be channeling and that it is normal for the TDS to increase between the resins. I went into detail and explained that i thought there must be something wrong with the resin, but she insisted that everything sounded normal and as long as my final mixed bed got the TDS down to 0, there wasn't a problem. Her only suggestion was to throw out the Anion resin (again) and replace it with new. We spoke for a while, and I ended the conversation quite disappointed.
I recently did an ICP of my RODI, and the only element that was elevated was Bromine if I remember correctly - I can't access the results right now.
Sorry for the long post, but I am hoping that someone can tell me if this really is normal, and/or give me some suggestions. At this point, I am considering skipping the Anion or trying to find a supplier that has some that doesn't leach. I will probably replace the Anion resin and experiment to see if I use more or less mixed bed with or without the Anion, but this will take a while and waste some more money. Thanks for any help.