Got a new RODI today!

[BriDroid]

I finally upgraded from my 50gpd RO Buddie to a “real” RODI filter. I had the extra DI filter on my old one, so I kept that and have a 5 stage now. I got this RODI for “free” since my wife has Amazon Vine (we pay taxes on the stuff). This one popped up the other night so I grabbed it. It’s a nice solid unit, I was impressed.

I also grabbed a pressure gauge and was surprised to see our water pressure so high. No booster pump needed!

 

[Miami Reef]

Welcome to the cool club! Congrats on the upgrade. Making water is a huge part of reefing, so this upgrade will be going to good use.

 

[UncommonSense]

I finally upgraded from my 50gpd RO Buddie to a “real” RODI filter. I had the extra DI filter on my old one, so I kept that and have a 5 stage now. I got this RODI for “free” since my wife has Amazon Vine (we pay taxes on the stuff). This one popped up the other night so I grabbed it. It’s a nice solid unit, I was impressed.

I also grabbed a pressure gauge and was surprised to see our water pressure so high. No booster pump needed!

Very nice!

I’m curious, what is your RO product water TDS off this system?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Splashin' in the RODI️

 

[BriDroid]

I finally upgraded from my 50gpd RO Buddie to a “real” RODI filter. I had the extra DI filter on my old one, so I kept that and have a 5 stage now. I got this RODI for “free” since my wife has Amazon Vine (we pay taxes on the stuff). This one popped up the other night so I grabbed it. It’s a nice solid unit, I was impressed.

I also grabbed a pressure gauge and was surprised to see our water pressure so high. No booster pump needed!

Very nice!

I’m curious, what is your RO product water TDS off this system?

I’m still running it the 1 hour that they said to in the instructions. I’m watching the TDS out of the first DI and after the final DI, and both are 0ppm. I did collect some brine and it was over 500ppm with my handheld checker.

I have another solenoid valve coming so I can automate the membrane flushing through the Hydros app. I may move the first TDS probe to after the membrane instead when I plumb that other solenoid in. I was getting 2 to 3ppm out of the RO with my RO Buddie. I hope this one’s as good.

 

[Red_Beard]

Very nice!

 

[UncommonSense]

I’m still running it the 1 hour that they said to in the instructions. I’m watching the TDS out of the first DI and after the final DI, and both are 0ppm.

that checks out!

If you’re using mixed bed resin in both DI stages, the TDS meter after the second DI stage is less important, as it should always read 0!

— the TDS meter after the first DI stage is most important with mixed bed resin, it tells you when to replace DI stage 1’s resin, and swap resin cartridges between stage 1, and 2!

I like to get a baseline; city water supply TDS… then TDS post-RO membrane(s) / pre-DI stages as a second reading!

This tells me the %TDS rejected by the RO membrane(s), before water goes into DI stages!

— different RO membranes reject different percentages of total tap water TDS! That said, us reefers usually try to optimize the RO side of the system to produce the cleanest water possible before it goes through DI resin; subsequently extending DI resin lifespan!

Hopefully this attempt at a simple explanation makes sense?

 

[BriDroid]

that checks out!

If you’re using mixed bed resin in both DI stages, the TDS meter after the second DI stage is less important, as it should always read 0!

— the TDS meter after the first DI stage is most important with mixed bed resin, it tells you when to replace DI stage 1’s resin, and swap resin cartridges between stage 1, and 2!

I like to get a baseline; city water supply TDS… then TDS post-RO membrane(s) / pre-DI stages as a second reading!

This tells me the %TDS rejected by the RO membrane(s), before water goes into DI stages!

— different RO membranes reject different percentages of total tap water TDS! That said, us reefers usually try to optimize the RO side of the system to produce the cleanest water possible before it goes through DI resin; subsequently extending DI resin lifespan!

Hopefully this attempt at a simple explanation makes sense?

I took reedings today, the filter seems to be working decently.
City 333ppm
Post membrane 3ppm
Post first DI 0ppm
Post second DI 0ppm

 

[BriDroid]

I’m guessing the waste water side of the membrane is too high for that meter since it just shows 0. I tested it last night with my handheld and it was over 500ppm.

 

[UncommonSense]

I took reedings today, the filter seems to be working decently.
City 333ppm
Post membrane 3ppm
Post first DI 0ppm
Post second DI 0ppm

Nice! 99+% rejection is good to see! — so far, so good!

Keep an eye on it over time to get an idea of how performance drops off over months to years; the RO product water TDS will slowly creep up!

(it will often be higher right after startup, let it make water for a little while before testing TDS for an accurate number!)

 

[UncommonSense]

I’m guessing the waste water side of the membrane is too high for that meter since it just shows 0. I tested it last night with my handheld and it was over 500ppm.

Yup, there’s no reason to test system waste water, if product and city correspond the 99+% rejection of TDS, you’re usually doing quite well!

Fun trick? Instead of discarding waste water down the drain, you can plumb the waste line outside to irrigate plants! — mine tops off my outdoor aquaponic system!

 

[BriDroid]

Nice! 99+% rejection is good to see! — so far, so good!

Keep an eye on it over time to get an idea of how performance drops off over months to years; the RO product water TDS will slowly creep up!

(it will often be higher right after startup, let it make water for a little while before testing TDS for an accurate number!)

When I get my other solenoid valve for the membrane flush, the Hydros will automatically turn on the flush valve for 60 seconds when I turn in the main solenoid. It also says that it will run for 60 seconds every hour too.

 

[UncommonSense]

When I get my other solenoid valve for the membrane flush, the Hydros will automatically turn on the flush valve for 60 seconds when I turn in the main solenoid. It also says that it will run for 60 seconds every hour too.

Reviews/opinions on these auto flush kits are mixed; mine is that it’s going to be better than manually flushing if only because hourly manual flushes during water production are very easy to forget/neglect!

 

[BriDroid]

When I get my other solenoid valve for the membrane flush, the Hydros will automatically turn on the flush valve for 60 seconds when I turn in the main solenoid. It also says that it will run for 60 seconds every hour too.

Reviews/opinions on these auto flush kits are mixed; mine is that it’s going to be better than manually flushing if only because hourly manual flushes during water production are very easy to forget/neglect!

I have the Hydros already there with an open Drive port, and the solenoid valve is $28. In my mind, what can it hurt?

 

[UncommonSense]

I have the Hydros already there with an open Drive port, and the solenoid valve is $28. In my mind, what can it hurt?

My thoughts exactly! Though, why don’t we get a professional opinion on the topic?

@Buckeye Hydro , would you mind weighing in on the pros and cons of an automatic RO membrane flush kit? — I’m struggling to find older threads where the topic was discussed in some detail…

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

My thoughts exactly! Though, why don’t we get a professional opinion on the topic?

@Buckeye Hydro , would you mind weighing in on the pros and cons of an automatic RO membrane flush kit? — I’m struggling to find older threads where the topic was discussed in some detail…

Lots of good/interesting things to consider here. How about we discuss in this thread when we see the order from the OP come through?