RO system

[pbienkiewi]

We recently just moved. Our water pressure is 45psi now. I bought a RO pump for my Pinnacle+ 200gpd unit. I recently bought two new RO membranes off of the bay place. I do not want to spend $240 on new membranes if I do not have to. Old membranes are 4 yrs old. The new membrane is a Filmtec FTC membrane. Fits any standard 4 or 5 stage RO System. The Pinnacle+ is a three stage. Should there be a problem with the new membrane? At our old place I would get the TDS to 2 or 3 tds. I am raising and lowering the PSI on the pump to find a low TDS level. I am strugling to get the TDS to 30tds. Eventually I want to put a DI canister onto the RO unit. I do not want to add water that has such a hight TDS level to my reef tank. Any help would be appriciated.

 

[maxsmart]

I thought the conclusion had been reached that DI was bad for aquariums because it stripped minerals from corals and fish. I know it's bad for human consumption.

 

[acrylic51]

Dow filmtec membranes are good membranes.....You have to make sure your membranes match the flow restrictor in the unit or it won't operate correctly as well.....I would opt and change all my filters out in the unit when you replace the membranes.....Adding the DI canister would be a worthwhile investment and does not harm to your corals or fish......it's bad for human consumption though.....

 

[pbienkiewi]

I saved the old RO membrane thank god. I put the old membrane back on and got 4 tds. I must of bought the wrong membrane. I guess not all 100gpd membranes are created equal. I will have to fork over $220 for new membranes someday. I will add a DI canister in the near future to get the TDS down to the big 0.

 

[kogle]

Originally Posted by MaxSmart
http:///forum/post/2823932
I thought the conclusion had been reached that DI was bad for aquariums because it stripped minerals from corals and fish. I know it's bad for human consumption.
The reason DI water is bad for humans is it's pure DI water when we ingest it. This water is so pure it will pull minerals and other things we need right out of our bodies.
For fish, corals, etc. the water has been mixed with salt and other things the DI water can pull compounds from. This makes it less aggressive in a tank.
I know that's the dumbed down version but hey, it's me.

 

[maxsmart]

I assume TDS = total dissolved solids?
How do you measure it? I'd be curious to see how bad the RO water I'm buying from the Culligan dispenser at the supermarket is. My livestock's been doing terribly since moving here. Also, you mentioned you changed the membranes - how long did they last, how much do they cost (what's the gpd output on your model?)