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ro/di question

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by dane, Sep 5, 2011.

  1. Sep 5, 2011 #1
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    I recently bought an ro/di system but I can't get the tds meter to show zero. The lowest it ever gets is 002 ppm for the out. However it usually reads 004 ppm in and 005-007 ppm out. Iv'e checked the system over and over the past couple days but can't get it to hit zero. It was a used unit but I bought new filters for everything when I got it and have now changed them since I couldn't reach zero but I still can't get there. Does anyone have any advice? Also, Has anyone had the issue of the in water having a lower ppm then the out?
    (and yes the sensors are in the correct position, not backwards)
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks
     
  2. Sep 5, 2011 #2
    iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    What's the tds before it goes into the ro/di? You may need more filtering if it is too high.
     
  3. Sep 5, 2011 #3
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    I just checked and it was 136-137. I also don't have a pressure gauge on the unit and it seems like the water is going in pretty fast. I've seen some stuff online that say they work better at a certain psi. could this maybe have something to do with it?
     
  4. Sep 5, 2011 #4
    Charlie B Waukee

    Charlie B

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    Most have a PSI/temp range where they work optimally, I guess your pressure and temp could be messing with it. That being said 136 -> 005 is a pretty significant drop.
     
  5. Sep 5, 2011 #5
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    This may be a stupid question but I'm just starting my first sw tank. Does the tds have to show absolute zero? or is 001-002 ppm ok?
     
  6. Sep 5, 2011 #6
    Charlie B Waukee

    Charlie B

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    I'll let someone else chime in on whether 0 TDS is necessary, because I don't know myself. But, I will say I ran tap water for 5 months before I got my RO/DI unit and the major difference I have seen is less algal growth in my tank, specifically hair algae.
     
  7. Sep 5, 2011 #7
    JB Marion

    JB Veteran Reefkeeper

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    IMO a TDS of .002 is nothing to worry about. Personally, I wouldn't be concerned if it's less that .005 or maybe even .010 but there are some purists out there who will probably say it needs to be absolute zero.

    -JB
     
  8. Sep 5, 2011 #8
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    alright thanks for the help everyone!
     
  9. Sep 5, 2011 #9
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    The issue is he is getting ~5 TDS after the RO. We checked against mine and its the same. But after the DI he is getting a higher reading.
     
  10. Sep 5, 2011 #10
    JB Marion

    JB Veteran Reefkeeper

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    Well that is odd. Is the DI new or old?
     
  11. Sep 5, 2011 #11
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    Brand new. He bought everything from AC&C a few weeks ago.
    I also just changed all my filters, and know mine reads 0. I was thinking about swapping DI cartridges and seeing what happens.
     
  12. Sep 5, 2011 #12
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    It was the used resin when I started messing with it yesterday, but I replaced it late last night with new. Right now I'm getting 003 after the RO and 002 after the DI. The DI goes up to 004-005 every so often. I noticed I have a lot of air bubbles coming thru the DI out tube as well. Not sure if that effects anything tho. Maybe I got some bad resin?
     
  13. Sep 5, 2011 #13
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    I also noticed that my new DI wasn't packed tight at all in the new tube it came in. There was about an inch empty. Saw some things online that said the resin should be tight. Maybe that could be effecting it.
     
  14. Sep 6, 2011 #14
    ronron

    ronron

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    You might also want to try calibrating your TDS meter.  I did mine since all three gave different readings even new.  A low battery can also affect the accuracy.  DI resin should be packed as tight as possible in the canister.  Resin exposed to air or even light degrades over time so it isn't a good idea to store too much extra for refills. I usually don't change my resin until it consistently reads 1 to 3 TDS and haven't had any problems.
     
  15. Sep 6, 2011 #15
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    I put new batteries in the first night. I also hooked my tds meter up to blackx-runner's ro/di unit which was putting out 000 ppm and it read 000 so I don't think the meter is the problem
     
  16. Sep 6, 2011 #16
    einsteins

    einsteins Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Sometimes a second di cartridge isneededbut not always. The sounds like the resin pack could be the issue.
    Like JB said .002 or so is not critical unless you are running an advanced system.

    Einsteins
     
  17. Sep 6, 2011 #17
    dane

    dane Inactive User

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    Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their help. Seems I found the problem.With help from blackx-runner, we put his resin cartridge in my di canister and mine in his. My ro/di unit read 000 out and his got the 002 that I got. So it seems I somehow just got some bad resin. Going to buy some new and I expect it to go to 000. I'll let you know.

    Thanks again for the help.
     

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