ro filter

[Poseidon]

so,  4 days after getting my new ro filter, i finally hooked it all up...
ran a 25 ft line through the ceiling to my fish room from the storage room, and started the whole thing....
well after about 20 hrs of running, i have about 3 gallons of r/0 water... and judging by the sound of my drain water line, thats wear all the waters going... there is a flow restrictor on the drain line with a lever... im just not sure what to change or tweet...
its supposed to do 75 gallons a day....

any advice would be appreciated..
thanks

 

[Victoss]

I'm no expert but I'm wondering if there could be too much head pressure because you using a long line? You could always try a shorter output line near the filter for a day and see how it goes. If thats your case you may want to reconsider the location or maybe a booster pump on it? (not sure if a booster would help with a long output line or just low input pressure).
Hope I helped

 

[Poseidon]

i think i will try that for a bit... put a bucket right beside the filter and compare the time it takes to fill it....
thanks!

 

[Royal Aquariums]

It sounds like you have a backflush kit on your drain line? The point of a backflush valve is to bypass the flow restrictor in the drain line. You should always have this ball valve closed so the water coming from the drain in your RO is going purely through the flow restrictor. Back flushing your RO membrane (opening ball valve and running) for short periods of time, every so often will extend your membranes life greatly. If I understand you correctly this is why you have so much water coming out of your RO drain.

 

[Poseidon]

no i do not have a back flush... unfortunatly...
its just doing maybe 25 gallons a day instead of 75... everythings hooked up right..
only thing i can think of is maybe my water pressure isnt up to par...

 

[Salty Cracker]

You don't happen to have a pressure gauge on it?  It's not uncommon to need a booster pump if you're below (I think) 60psi or so...

 

[Poseidon]

Think I'm closer to 35-40psi.... No I don't have a gauge...
Can I run it this way? Or do I NEED a booster pump?

 

[unibob]

Mine runs at 45 psi, has gauge. Still works but I'm prob just not getting the amount my unit is rated for.

 

[Salty Cracker]

I'm pretty sure the membranes are designed for 60+ psi or they waste a LOT more water.  I was told that years ago when I was setting mine up.  Ask Gary at sealife, he knows exactly why it needs to be 60 or more, but if you're 35psi then I think yes, you absolutely need a booster, or it will all just pour down the drain.

I'm running ~65psi here, with a 75gpd ro/di system and I'm averaging 5 gallons per hour, 0 TDS. 

Lastly, is the system 'new' or 'new to you'?  If the membrane dried out at any time, it could be completely shot.  In that case, it would pour almost all the water down the waste line. 

 

[Poseidon]

no, brand new...
the membrane was vaccum sealed...
i might have to look into getting a psi gauge and possibly a booster pump i guess

 

[Salty Cracker]

unfortunately probably your pressure then.  If it's all new, it should be working right out of the box (if it's all hooked up properly).