RO/DI silicates & carbon

[zbrusko]

Hi,

I have the BRS 4 stage RO/DI unit with a sediment filter, carbon and DI resin in the canisters. I just got back my first ICP test & my silicates are 298.9 µg/l in my RO water tub. I suspected this, as I am always dealing with diatom algae. Everything else is undetectable. I am on a well, so wondering if I even need the carbon. Can I replace that with another DI canister? Would this fit in the BRS unit: https://spectrapure.com/products/sp...-10-di-sb-ci-10hc?_pos=1&_sid=42fe8faf4&_ss=r

Thanks

 

[rtparty]

You absolutely need the carbon filter

Your best bet would be to add on another DI resin or even better, the triple DI resin upgrade found on the 7 stage. This would get you 2 carbon blocks as well.

The advantage of the triple resin is the anion portion will catch a lot more silica for you and then when it’s depleted, you just replace that one cartridge. The cation and mixed bed resins will last a lot longer

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree that a second DI in series is a good way to so. Some companies sell special silica buster cartridges, but that may not be needed if you have two DI in series.

Are you sure you have diatoms and not something else? I'd be surprised if that Si level in RO/DI was enough to cause an ongoing problem. I dosed far more than what that water would bring in for top off or normal water changes.

 

[zbrusko]

I agree that a second DI in series is a good way to so. Some companies sell special silica buster cartridges, but that may not be needed if you have two DI in series.

Are you sure you have diatoms and not something else? I'd be surprised if that Si level in RO/DI was enough to cause an ongoing problem. I dosed far more than what that water would bring in for top off or normal water changes.

My top-offs aren't really an issue. I notice that I get diatom blooms (brown algae on sand) after water changes. If I stop water changes, the sand clears after about 3-4 weeks. I always thought it was high silica in the water, and the ICP test seemed to be more evidence of that.

If I were to add more canisters, should I just add a 2nd mixed bed, or do I want to use separate anion and cation resins?