hooking up RO/DI
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5809
Printed Date: July 06 2026 at 9:10pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: hooking up RO/DI
Posted By: nellans
Subject: hooking up RO/DI
Date Posted: March 17 2005 at 7:56pm
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Hey all, I'm trying to hook up my RO/DI in the basement but the
"nearest" pipe is hot water and not cold. Is it ok to use hot
water into the unit or will it ruin the membrane/di resin/other
stages? a second question, how do you determine what the optimal
backpressure is for your unit so you know how much flow restriction to
put on it? thanks -dwn |
Replies:
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 17 2005 at 8:22pm
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Do not use hot water:
The R.O. Membrane is a very fine polymer(plastic) mesh. Hot water will soften it and degrade it's effective operation and it's life. The solution is easier than you may realize. The proper pressure rated plastic tubing can easily be connected from as far away as the other side of the house and run along the ceiling or wall to the R.O. installation location, preferrably above a floor drain. 
Optimal pressure should be listed on the paperwork that came with the unit. Usually it's standard house water pressure of 60-80 psi. I need to pick up that old unit, don't I? ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: fj40fax
Date Posted: March 17 2005 at 8:23pm
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I wouldn't hook it up to the hot water because the waste water will be using gas/electricity to get heated just to go down the drain. Fax ------------- Fax 318-3632 90g 2x250W 14kK MH Sump, Fuge, G3, UV, O3, ACIII Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle Adjustments and Massages for Frags! |
Posted By: nellans
Date Posted: March 18 2005 at 11:10am
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You do need to pick up that old unit mark! Give me a call anytime
you're in the sugarhouse area and we can get together or next meeting
works fine for me as well. When I mean back pressure I mean the line coming OUT of the ro stage, the stage going in will be at house water pressure but docs I got with the unit claim the waste water out of the ro unit (not the good water than then heads into the di unit) needs to have backpressure to work but they don't specify how much and just gave me this cheesy little hook up to put above the trap under my sink claiming that provides the "right" backpressure. since this is in my basement and the waste will just go to a floor drain i assume i got a variable flow restrictor to provide the backpressure but have no idea what to set it at... thoughts anyone? -dwn |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: March 19 2005 at 8:59am
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Most old units had a small restrictive piece in-line at the connection point from the membrane. Often that little piece gets lost if someone doesn't know it's there.
I've noticed that lately there are valves used for restricting flow. The flow should be 1 gallon of R.O. water to 4-5 gallons of waste. Set the valve accordingly. ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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