When to change R/O

[Floridian]

I'm starting a new grow and my r/o water is reading 30 PPM.Is that too high?Should I change it?

 

[ChasingGreen]

Well, what's your tap read? I would say yes, as the membrane is compromised at this point. Not sure if you need to change just the membrane, or also the Resin. I'd do both.

 

[Floridian]

My tap is 420PPM all that calcium is not good although my first indoor grow of BG Cindy and Apollo in 2002 turned out pretty good using it.Cant wait to see how they grow now

 

[ChasingGreen]

Well it really depends on how anal you want to be. Replace if you want 0ppm, but personally I wouldn't bother yet until it gets worse. 20ppm is really low, but I don't know how that affects chlorine and stuff getting through (which doesn't show up in ppm).

 

[Floridian]

I'm thinking the same unless someone has a reason.Maybe I'll use less cal-mag

 

[corky1968]

Are you taking cold tap water that you let go to ambient temperature before using it for your plants?

The reason I ask is because warm or hot water from the tap is always higher in minerals.

 

[OG Tree Grower]

Yes change it

 

[dansbuds]

i would change it ! your PH will start to fluctuate with bad filters , so beware of that . i had it effect a few plants the first time it happened .

 

[Floridian]

Now that's a good reason

 

[ChasingGreen]

I wasn't aware the ph changed after going through RO, makes sense I guess though. Floridian, record the PH now and after the change and let us know if you see a difference, considering that right now it's only a small leak, 20ppm.

 

[MrBungle]

30 PPM aint bad... if i was you i would log how many gallons go through the filter cause I'm pretty sure thats how the filters are rated.. if its 1000 gallons go until you hit that mark then change....

As long as you dont expect 0 ppm from a RO filter...I say 30 ppm is pretty close to as optimum as you are going to get from an RO

 

[OG Tree Grower]

What kinda RO are u guys using? I have always got 0 ppm. Unless you have water over 550 parts or your pushing it through your filters to hard. I'd be pretty upset if my RO system was spitting out salts after all that time and money

 

[MrBungle]

RO membranes just don't catch it all in most cases.. distillation is usually needed to actually get it down to 0 ppm

 

[fishinnutt]

WHile 30ppm isn't bad, a fresh ro membrane does 5 - 9 ppm at my house. My tap water starts out at 270ppm.

 

[OG Tree Grower]

After a bit of reading it seems that not all RO membranes are created equally and some have a higher contaminate rejection rate.

The stealth series I run work very well at 0 ppm. But still if your going over your starting ppm on the filters there compromised and it's changeout time.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

yep, need to find the problem or replace the filters (or membranes). My tap id 500 + but my fresh R/O is ~20 PPM

 

[Floridian]

I have a 1/4 inch hose connected to the spigot and it goes to a 50 gallon rain barrel.I scoop a gallon out of the top very easy and fast.My ph is 5.0 at 30 PPM yea its time to change the filters out for sure.I use a Whirlpool WHER 25, 5 stage erooney.Thanks folks Amazon here I come!

 

[Cadfael]

I go by flowrate. If it takes all day to fill a 50 gal that used to take 12 hours. yes it is time to change.

30 pppm is still nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Also, the first thing I would do is change the pre-filters first. Usually a sediment filter and a carbon one. They are dirt cheap, and usually increase your flowrate.

Then change your RO membrane if you do not like your water output quality.

 

[BakedBandit]

Get a pressure gauge. When your pressure goes down change prefilters. If the pressure is still low then it's membrane change time.
Membranes usually only remove 98% of ppm, so if you want 0 you need deionization resin after the membrane