New meter for RO water quality

[Timothy Tom]

I have a couple of RO units for my aquarium (automated top-off unit,
and unit in garage for water changes). One of the problems that I
have had is knowing when to change the RO membrane. I just got off
the phone with Spectrapure, and they just started to sell a Dual probe
meter which helps to quantify the efficiency of the RO unit (I was
told that the DI portion of water purification systems require a
resistivity meter which this meter does not measure). I was told it
is a digital battery-powered meter which measures contaminants in PPM
in the supply water and the outflow water (after purification).
Supposedly you can then easily calculate the rejection fraction which
is a direct indicator of the efficiency of the RO membrane. Anyway I
ordered two of these which cost 27 dollars each. These units are not
currently listed on their online catalog so you will need to ask for
them.

[Marc Levenson]

Sounds like you are talking about a TDS meter. I did this a while back, and
don't remember exactly how I figured it out......

Test the tap water. Get a reading. Mine was 277
Test the RO water. Get a reading. Mine was 7
Test the DI water. Get a reading. Mine was 0

Take the RO reading and divide it by the tap water. In my case, that is 0.025.
Taking that number from 100, I get 97.5% rejection rate.

Or maybe that is just Marc's fuzzy math. <grin>

Marc, waiting to be corrected again....

Timothy Tom wrote:

> I have a couple of RO units for my aquarium (automated top-off unit,
> and unit in garage for water changes). One of the problems that I
> have had is knowing when to change the RO membrane. I just got off
> the phone with Spectrapure, and they just started to sell a Dual probe
> meter which helps to quantify the efficiency of the RO unit (I was
> told that the DI portion of water purification systems require a
> resistivity meter which this meter does not measure). I was told it
> is a digital battery-powered meter which measures contaminants in PPM
> in the supply water and the outflow water (after purification).
> Supposedly you can then easily calculate the rejection fraction which
> is a direct indicator of the efficiency of the RO membrane. Anyway I
> ordered two of these which cost 27 dollars each. These units are not
> currently listed on their online catalog so you will need to ask for
> them.

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[livingrock]

Hi,

I just bought a TDS meter (Spirit, I think, its at home), it reads 198
for the tap water and 6 for RO/DI output water from my brand new Kent
Hi-s RO/DI unit. What gives I thought that it should read less than
2. Do the TDS meters need
calibration, when new? Could there be something wrong with my RO/DI
unit. I pushed the membrane in as far as it would go 1/2"(although
the instructions said 3/4").

TIA.


Marc Levenson > wrote in message >...
> Sounds like you are talking about a TDS meter. I did this a while back, and
> don't remember exactly how I figured it out......
>
> Test the tap water. Get a reading. Mine was 277
> Test the RO water. Get a reading. Mine was 7
> Test the DI water. Get a reading. Mine was 0
>
> Take the RO reading and divide it by the tap water. In my case, that is 0.025.
> Taking that number from 100, I get 97.5% rejection rate.
>
> Or maybe that is just Marc's fuzzy math. <grin>
>
> Marc, waiting to be corrected again....
>
> Timothy Tom wrote:
>
> > I have a couple of RO units for my aquarium (automated top-off unit,
> > and unit in garage for water changes). One of the problems that I
> > have had is knowing when to change the RO membrane. I just got off
> > the phone with Spectrapure, and they just started to sell a Dual probe
> > meter which helps to quantify the efficiency of the RO unit (I was
> > told that the DI portion of water purification systems require a
> > resistivity meter which this meter does not measure). I was told it
> > is a digital battery-powered meter which measures contaminants in PPM
> > in the supply water and the outflow water (after purification).
> > Supposedly you can then easily calculate the rejection fraction which
> > is a direct indicator of the efficiency of the RO membrane. Anyway I
> > ordered two of these which cost 27 dollars each. These units are not
> > currently listed on their online catalog so you will need to ask for
> > them.

[Marc Levenson]

When I got my TDS meter about 6 months ago, it said to calibrate it right out of the box. I
used a small cup of distilled water, and set it to 0.

"pushed the membrane"? That I don't understand. (What is it this week? "get my
umbrella"..."push my membrane"...what's next? "Freeze Dried h2o?" LOL)

Can you test the water coming out of the RO unit before it gets to the DI membrane? If not,
you should certainly get 0 after the DI in a brand new unit. However, let the ran run for a
little while, don't measure the first cup's worth. My unit is almost one year old with the
same filters still and my TDS is 1 two days ago.

I'm going to change my filters soon, but I wanted to do a chloramine test with the old set
and then with the new replacements to see the difference.

Marc


livingrock wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I just bought a TDS meter (Spirit, I think, its at home), it reads 198
> for the tap water and 6 for RO/DI output water from my brand new Kent
> Hi-s RO/DI unit. What gives I thought that it should read less than
> 2. Do the TDS meters need
> calibration, when new? Could there be something wrong with my RO/DI
> unit. I pushed the membrane in as far as it would go 1/2"(although
> the instructions said 3/4").
>
> TIA.
>
> Marc Levenson > wrote in message >...
> > Sounds like you are talking about a TDS meter. I did this a while back, and
> > don't remember exactly how I figured it out......
> >
> > Test the tap water. Get a reading. Mine was 277
> > Test the RO water. Get a reading. Mine was 7
> > Test the DI water. Get a reading. Mine was 0
> >
> > Take the RO reading and divide it by the tap water. In my case, that is 0.025.
> > Taking that number from 100, I get 97.5% rejection rate.
> >
> > Or maybe that is just Marc's fuzzy math. <grin>
> >
> > Marc, waiting to be corrected again....
> >
> > Timothy Tom wrote:
> >
> > > I have a couple of RO units for my aquarium (automated top-off unit,
> > > and unit in garage for water changes). One of the problems that I
> > > have had is knowing when to change the RO membrane. I just got off
> > > the phone with Spectrapure, and they just started to sell a Dual probe
> > > meter which helps to quantify the efficiency of the RO unit (I was
> > > told that the DI portion of water purification systems require a
> > > resistivity meter which this meter does not measure). I was told it
> > > is a digital battery-powered meter which measures contaminants in PPM
> > > in the supply water and the outflow water (after purification).
> > > Supposedly you can then easily calculate the rejection fraction which
> > > is a direct indicator of the efficiency of the RO membrane. Anyway I
> > > ordered two of these which cost 27 dollars each. These units are not
> > > currently listed on their online catalog so you will need to ask for
> > > them.

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Boomer]

Yes marc, that is correct but if you want to "deep-six" it :-)

http://www.gewater.com/library/tp/808_Fundamentals_of.jsp

--
Boomer

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
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If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message ...
: Sounds like you are talking about a TDS meter. I did this a while back, and
: don't remember exactly how I figured it out......
:
: Test the tap water. Get a reading. Mine was 277
: Test the RO water. Get a reading. Mine was 7
: Test the DI water. Get a reading. Mine was 0
:
: Take the RO reading and divide it by the tap water. In my case, that is 0.025.
: Taking that number from 100, I get 97.5% rejection rate.
:
: Or maybe that is just Marc's fuzzy math. <grin>
:
: Marc, waiting to be corrected again....
:
: Timothy Tom wrote:
:
: > I have a couple of RO units for my aquarium (automated top-off unit,
: > and unit in garage for water changes). One of the problems that I
: > have had is knowing when to change the RO membrane. I just got off
: > the phone with Spectrapure, and they just started to sell a Dual probe
: > meter which helps to quantify the efficiency of the RO unit (I was
: > told that the DI portion of water purification systems require a
: > resistivity meter which this meter does not measure). I was told it
: > is a digital battery-powered meter which measures contaminants in PPM
: > in the supply water and the outflow water (after purification).
: > Supposedly you can then easily calculate the rejection fraction which
: > is a direct indicator of the efficiency of the RO membrane. Anyway I
: > ordered two of these which cost 27 dollars each. These units are not
: > currently listed on their online catalog so you will need to ask for
: > them.
:
: --
: Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
: Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
: Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
:
:

[ciccua]

The membrane was in the RO/DI unit someone mentioned that I should make sure
it was fully seated.


"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> When I got my TDS meter about 6 months ago, it said to calibrate it right
out of the box. I
> used a small cup of distilled water, and set it to 0.
>
> "pushed the membrane"? That I don't understand. (What is it this week?
"get my
> umbrella"..."push my membrane"...what's next? "Freeze Dried h2o?" LOL)
>
> Can you test the water coming out of the RO unit before it gets to the DI
membrane? If not,
> you should certainly get 0 after the DI in a brand new unit. However, let
the ran run for a
> little while, don't measure the first cup's worth. My unit is almost one
year old with the
> same filters still and my TDS is 1 two days ago.
>
> I'm going to change my filters soon, but I wanted to do a chloramine test
with the old set
> and then with the new replacements to see the difference.
>
> Marc
>
>
> livingrock wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I just bought a TDS meter (Spirit, I think, its at home), it reads 198
> > for the tap water and 6 for RO/DI output water from my brand new Kent
> > Hi-s RO/DI unit. What gives I thought that it should read less than
> > 2. Do the TDS meters need
> > calibration, when new? Could there be something wrong with my RO/DI
> > unit. I pushed the membrane in as far as it would go 1/2"(although
> > the instructions said 3/4").
> >
> > TIA.
> >
> > Marc Levenson > wrote in message
>...
> > > Sounds like you are talking about a TDS meter. I did this a while
back, and
> > > don't remember exactly how I figured it out......
> > >
> > > Test the tap water. Get a reading. Mine was 277
> > > Test the RO water. Get a reading. Mine was 7
> > > Test the DI water. Get a reading. Mine was 0
> > >
> > > Take the RO reading and divide it by the tap water. In my case, that
is 0.025.
> > > Taking that number from 100, I get 97.5% rejection rate.
> > >
> > > Or maybe that is just Marc's fuzzy math. <grin>
> > >
> > > Marc, waiting to be corrected again....
> > >
> > > Timothy Tom wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have a couple of RO units for my aquarium (automated top-off unit,
> > > > and unit in garage for water changes). One of the problems that I
> > > > have had is knowing when to change the RO membrane. I just got off
> > > > the phone with Spectrapure, and they just started to sell a Dual
probe
> > > > meter which helps to quantify the efficiency of the RO unit (I was
> > > > told that the DI portion of water purification systems require a
> > > > resistivity meter which this meter does not measure). I was told it
> > > > is a digital battery-powered meter which measures contaminants in
PPM
> > > > in the supply water and the outflow water (after purification).
> > > > Supposedly you can then easily calculate the rejection fraction
which
> > > > is a direct indicator of the efficiency of the RO membrane. Anyway
I
> > > > ordered two of these which cost 27 dollars each. These units are
not
> > > > currently listed on their online catalog so you will need to ask for
> > > > them.
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>

[Boomer]

Go to Randy's forum it is all there, to include all the harassment I get, type in " iron
ore mines" on search, chemistry forum , 6 months ago .

My "old" background is zoology and geology. I think you are aware of the other Old
background :-) I also answer tech question on a NG on explosive engineering, mostly
explosives chemistry and physics.I was also tech consultant in our hobby for a decade


"You never have a nice user-friendly link, imho"

I would if there was such a thing, but Dick & Jane website are almost zippo........LOL. I
looked for a simple site and did not find one after a hour of searching. Osmonics (RO) is
the best site there is for this issue or Chloramines
--
Boomer

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php

Want to See More ?
Please Join Our Growing Membership
www.coralrealm.com

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message ...
: Geeze Boomer, what do you do for a living? You never have a nice user-friendly link,
imho!
:
: Marc :)
:
: Boomer wrote:
:
: > Yes marc, that is correct but if you want to "deep-six" it :-)
: >
: > http://www.gewater.com/library/tp/808_Fundamentals_of.jsp
: >
: > --
: > Boomer
: >
: >
:
: --
: Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
: Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
: Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
:
: