Rodi 30 TDS issues

[Dweezilz]

So I'm at wits end with my Spectrapure Maxcap 90 I purchased used here on R2R last spring. I finally got around to using it a few months ago, first cleaning it exactly per AZDesertRat's directions he's posted a million times. I installed a flush valve and aso exactly per Spectrapure's support and had them double check that it was right. Installed a new flow restrictor. Water pressure gauge was not working so I unscrewed it, cleaned it and reinstalled it and it works. Pressure reads 60psi. Measured and get 3:1 ratio which I think is ok considering my low initial TDS and normal water softness. TDS going in is 113-109 from the tap. I put in sediment filter and ran it for 30 minutes alone. I put in the carbon filter (my city doesn't use Cloramine) and ran it for 30 minutes. Then I put in a brand new membrane and ran it for over an hour. Have not put in DI's at all. The best TFS coming out of membrane was 30. Thinking I somehow fouled it and after rechecking everything I purchased all new filters and new o-rings just in case . I started over with new filters and membrane and when through the entire cleaning procedure again. This time I took off the aso and flush valve and just went straight setup. Same thing...30 to 35 TDS out of the membrane. I'm using the inline meters however I've confirmed with a handheld TDS meter. I used generic prefilters and Dow membrane the first go around and spectrapure membrane the 2nd time. Before I scrap this thing and conclude the seller simply knew there was a problem, I wanted to check here to see if there could be something I'm missing. This is very frustrating!

 

[Auquanut]

How confident are you in your source water pressure? My pressure was embarrassingly low. When I brought it up to 90 psi with a Smart Buddy (I love this thing), my rejection rate went way up.

 

[Dweezilz]

How confident are you in your source water pressure? My pressure was embarrassingly low. When I brought it up to 90 psi with a Smart Buddy (I love this thing), my rejection rate went way up.

The gauge on it wasn't working when I got it but when I took it off and cleaned it and put it back on it reads 60psi. I have no way of knowing if this is accurate or not but we have good water pressure in the house. On the water meter which is on the water main in our basement I see a needle pointing to .35 . No clue what that number is or if it's even a pressure related reading.

 

[Woodyman]

The gauge on it wasn't working when I got it but when I took it off and cleaned it and put it back on it reads 60psi. I have no way of knowing if this is accurate or not but we have good water pressure in the house. On the water meter which is on the water main in our basement I see a needle pointing to .35 . No clue what that number is or if it's even a pressure related reading.

A cheap troubleshoot would be to purchase a new RO housing and try the same spectrapure membrane in it. My initial guess is some sort of bypass of your membrane, with ~110 TDS in you should be getting ~1/2 TDS out. The other suspect is your pressure while 60 isn't a deal breaker and can definitely be used something closer to 80 would be more ideal.

 

[Dweezilz]

The gauge on it wasn't working when I got it but when I took it off and cleaned it and put it back on it reads 60psi. I have no way of knowing if this is accurate or not but we have good water pressure in the house. On the water meter which is on the water main in our basement I see a needle pointing to .35 . No clue what that number is or if it's even a pressure related reading.

I just read that red needle is just what's being delivered at the moment so no relationship to pressure.

 

[Dweezilz]

A cheap troubleshoot would be to purchase a new RO housing and try the same spectrapure membrane in it. My initial guess is some sort of bypass of your membrane, with ~110 TDS in you should be getting ~1/2 TDS out. The other suspect is your pressure while 60 isn't a deal breaker and can definitely be used something closer to 80 would be more ideal.

I can try to buy one but the Spectrapure housing with pressure gauge is 48 including shipping...not super cheap. Can I buy a cheap generic one for testing purposes?

 

[Woodyman]

I can try to buy one but the Spectrapure housing with pressure gauge is 48 including shipping...not super cheap. Can I buy a cheap generic one for testing purposes?

Yea any RO housing will work for the troubleshoot. I do like those ones from spectrapure though, I use 2 of them on my system so I can watch the pressure to both membranes.

 

[Woodyman]

I can try to buy one but the Spectrapure housing with pressure gauge is 48 including shipping...not super cheap. Can I buy a cheap generic one for testing purposes?

You should be able to find one for 10/15 bucks

Membrane Solutions 1812/2012 24-150 GPD RO Membrane Housing Replacement, Reverse Osmosis Membrane Filter Housing with 3 Fittings Elbow, Housing Wrench, Check Valve Amazon product

Or (if you got one of those $10 BRS promo cards you can get one for the price of shipping)

Standard RO Membrane Housing

These standard RO membrane housings are long-lasting and offer wide membrane compatibility. Membrane housings are relatively standard across the industry, and these housings will fit standard 10" RO membranes, such as the popular Dow Filmtec 75 GPD membranes. Made with high-quality components...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Dweezilz]

You should be able to find one for 10/15 bucks

Membrane Solutions 1812/2012 24-150 GPD RO Membrane Housing Replacement, Reverse Osmosis Membrane Filter Housing with 3 Fittings Elbow, Housing Wrench, Check Valve Amazon product

Or (if you got one of those $10 BRS promo cards you can get one for the price of shipping)

Standard RO Membrane Housing

These standard RO membrane housings are long-lasting and offer wide membrane compatibility. Membrane housings are relatively standard across the industry, and these housings will fit standard 10" RO membranes, such as the popular Dow Filmtec 75 GPD membranes. Made with high-quality components...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Well...I got the test membrane housing and with 111 going in, my inline TDS is now 2!!! So it appears either the housing cracked somewhere inside when I took the old membrane out or the person sold it to me knowing something was wrong. Either way it appears the problem is solved! I'd guess 2 TDS from 111 is what's expected or close. Now to purchase the expensive Spectrapure housing.

UPDATE: Now down to 0 TDS on inline and 1 on Handheld!

 

[Woodyman]

Well...I got the test membrane housing and with 111 going in, my inline TDS is now 2!!! So it appears either the housing cracked somewhere inside when I took the old membrane out or the person sold it to me knowing something was wrong. Either way it appears the problem is solved! I'd guess 2 TDS from 111 is what's expected or close. Now to purchase the expensive Spectrapure housing.

UPDATE: Now down to 0 TDS on inline and 1 on Handheld!

Glad that did the trick!