Water changing station

Salty Cracker

Salty Cracker

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Rocky Mountains BC
Petercar link said:
[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=5535.msg53454#msg53454 date=1370966839]
Hey poseidon....Just a thought here.

When you start up an RO/DI system, it runs high TDS for the first few minutes.  If you are using it for a straight top-up, where it runs really short periods over and over, you may be introducing things into your tank you might not want.  I mean, it's better to let the big barrel run down, then start it manually (with a float valve shut off), so that it runs a longer period at 0TDS instead of little by little with that burst of high TDS. 

I do the backwash thing and still I find the first bit of water from the RO/DI is like 50TDS for 20 seconds or so.  Not sure why but I've heard that's pretty common.
Click to expand...
i know when i start my rodi up it is high for the first minute. I watch the digital rodi then when it reads 0. I wait another minute. Of running at 0 then throw the line into the jugs
[/quote]

I do too, it's always high, not sure if the resin releases crap or what.  I watch the inline meter until it's 0 too. 
 
Poseidon

Poseidon

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Joined
May 15, 2012
Location
SW Ontario
Salty Cracker link said:
[quote author=Petercar link=topic=5535.msg53455#msg53455 date=1370967629]
[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=5535.msg53454#msg53454 date=1370966839]
Hey poseidon....Just a thought here.

When you start up an RO/DI system, it runs high TDS for the first few minutes.  If you are using it for a straight top-up, where it runs really short periods over and over, you may be introducing things into your tank you might not want.  I mean, it's better to let the big barrel run down, then start it manually (with a float valve shut off), so that it runs a longer period at 0TDS instead of little by little with that burst of high TDS. 

I do the backwash thing and still I find the first bit of water from the RO/DI is like 50TDS for 20 seconds or so.  Not sure why but I've heard that's pretty common.
Click to expand...
i know when i start my rodi up it is high for the first minute. I watch the digital rodi then when it reads 0. I wait another minute. Of running at 0 then throw the line into the jugs
[/quote]

I do too, it's always high, not sure if the resin releases crap or what.  I watch the inline meter until it's 0 too.
[/quote]

Yea, mine jumps to 15 or so for the first min. Ill use my hand held and test the TDS in ato container.
 
Poseidon

Poseidon

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Joined
May 15, 2012
Location
SW Ontario
Salty Cracker link said:
[quote author=Petercar link=topic=5535.msg53455#msg53455 date=1370967629]
[quote author=Salty Cracker link=topic=5535.msg53454#msg53454 date=1370966839]
Hey poseidon....Just a thought here.

When you start up an RO/DI system, it runs high TDS for the first few minutes.  If you are using it for a straight top-up, where it runs really short periods over and over, you may be introducing things into your tank you might not want.  I mean, it's better to let the big barrel run down, then start it manually (with a float valve shut off), so that it runs a longer period at 0TDS instead of little by little with that burst of high TDS. 

I do the backwash thing and still I find the first bit of water from the RO/DI is like 50TDS for 20 seconds or so.  Not sure why but I've heard that's pretty common.
Click to expand...
i know when i start my rodi up it is high for the first minute. I watch the digital rodi then when it reads 0. I wait another minute. Of running at 0 then throw the line into the jugs
[/quote]

I do too, it's always high, not sure if the resin releases crap or what.  I watch the inline meter until it's 0 too.
[/quote]

Yea, mine jumps to 15 or so for the first min. Ill use my hand held and test the TDS in ato container.
 
A

AdamS

Active Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Location
London, Ontario
I have heard of this happening but it never seems to happen in mine, but my shut off is between the RO and the DI so the DI drains each time i turn it off. I wonder if the water sitting in the DI eventually absorbs back some of the dissolved solids?
 
A

AdamS

Active Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Location
London, Ontario
I have heard of this happening but it never seems to happen in mine, but my shut off is between the RO and the DI so the DI drains each time i turn it off. I wonder if the water sitting in the DI eventually absorbs back some of the dissolved solids?
 
W

waldo

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Location
Kilworth, Ontario
I agree with salty on the RO/DI reading high at initial start up, even though I backwash when done filling and also back wash before I start to fill my reservoir.
It must do the same if you leave the RO unit on continuously to ATO?
 
W

waldo

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2013
Location
Kilworth, Ontario
I agree with salty on the RO/DI reading high at initial start up, even though I backwash when done filling and also back wash before I start to fill my reservoir.
It must do the same if you leave the RO unit on continuously to ATO?
 
theyangman

theyangman

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May 22, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
Found the appropriate tanks locally here. Took some calling around but I finally found a pair. Now to go get them and start this project!

I have to wait to pick them up to figure out the plumbing of them to get the ATO system, and auto shut off for the RO/DI unit working.
 
theyangman

theyangman

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Joined
May 22, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
Found the appropriate tanks locally here. Took some calling around but I finally found a pair. Now to go get them and start this project!

I have to wait to pick them up to figure out the plumbing of them to get the ATO system, and auto shut off for the RO/DI unit working.
 
theyangman

theyangman

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Joined
May 22, 2013
Location
London, Ontario
So i have sketched out my final plans (Or what I think will be my final plan) for my water changing / ATO station.

Hopefully it turns out as nicely as planned.

Luckily I have a cold and hot water spigot accessible in my laundry room and a straight open drain pipe as well! I can tap into these for my RO/DI. BTW, I am using the Spectrapure Maxpure 90 GPD:

SUB-MPDI-RODI-150x150.png


The cold water line is simply a garden hose spigot with a normal attachment my setup is exactly like this, except the respective lines each have valves that can open and close:

Washing-Machine-Drain-Box-300x225.jpg


That being said, they are both always OPEN. So I am going to have to "T" off the cold line and have a gate valve inline so that my RO/DI isn't aways getting pressure to it and always running. The drain line is literally just a simple hose, shoved into a pipe that is held in place by friction, so I will slide my drain from the RO/DI in there beside it and utilize the same drainage port.

Here is my sketch:

20130708_113001.jpg


Any suggestions?

Now the RO/DI produces 90 GPD, so presumably with some quick math that is 90/24 = 3.75 gallons per hour. Could I just run this on a timer? So if my reservoir is 60 gallons I could run it for 13-14 hours, producing 48.75-52.5 gallons? I could run it two days before my water change (So I would gather the water on Friday) Add salt Saturday, and then water change on Sunday!

Then I would simply use the sink python to drain the sump like I used too, then I would open the gate valve at the bottom of the reservoir, flip a switch for the pump and presto! Clean water back into the sump!
 
A

AdamS

Active Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Location
London, Ontario
Are you using the same reservoir for top off water and mixing? I would suggest that they are separate, not just for accidents but for convenience. For example: you start mixing water, shit happens, two days later you still havent done water change and you need top off water...

Other than that i think it looks great.

Oh one more thing, have some sort of system that you do not forget to turn off your ATO when doing a water change.
 
A

AdamS

Active Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2012
Location
London, Ontario
I really think you need 2, or mix your water in buckets.  How will you get ALL the saltwater out of the reservoir before adding RO water?
 
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