auto top off question

[txstateunivreefer]

i just upgraded my res. from a 5 gal bucket to a 18 gal rubbermaid the bucket usually emptied every week so im guessing this will empty every three or so ? well its been about a couple weeks and i just pulled the top off and noticed a film on top of the h2o... is this normal and do i need to add something to the h2o to keep it from going bad i assume that it can get moldy like the cup you leave in your bedroom :) has anyone else had the problem?

[caferacermike]

I was going to say that it could be a bacteria on the top as you mentioned a mold. I keep my RO/DI water in 5g jugs. I have about 10 of them. I can go 2 weeks without refilling and the jugs at the end of the cycle never have a skim.

Tagging along to see what others think.

[JimD]

Put a small water pump or an airstone in the container to keep the water moving and aerated and you wont have that problem, also, putting a lid on it will help.

[brewercm]

What JimD said, it may just be dust settling around the top.

[caferacermike]

I was thinking dust as well until I reread the post and it does say "pulled the top off".

[brewercm]

Ahhh, that whole reading comprehension thing again. That always kicked my butt in school also. :lol

[apedroza]

Also alot of the times the rubbermaid buckets will leave a film the first time used. I had the same thing on my 30gal but after a rinse it never came back.

[txstateunivreefer]

no the top has been on top of it all along i just opened it to ck the level noticed the film and made my post... h20 movement makes sense does everyone else usually put airstones in?

[brewercm]

I usually keep a small pump in the container myself to keep the water moving around but no air stone.

[txstateunivreefer]

k ill try that just got suspicious the other day my six line wrasse disappeared still havent found him and also i lost a chromis too so i did a lg water change last night

[BuckeyeHydro]

For those of you filling a reservoir of some sort evry 2 weeks or more - I encourage you to tweek your normal operations a bit. Membrane manufacturers will tell you that a RO system that doesn't run for more than a week or so should be broken down and sanitized before use.

That said, I've had long-term success with a week period between running the RO. At 2 weeks, and surely at 3 weeks, I'd suspect you have, or will have, an issue with biofouling of the membrane and entire system downstream of the first carbon stage.

See if you can run your system once a week or so, and make sure you sanitize your system regularly. Under normal use, we recommend sanitizing about once per year.

Russ @ BFS

[jroescher]

What is involved in sanitizing a system?

[caferacermike]

I'm wondering how long should I run my system for to prevent the need. I do run mine about 10g once a week, but if I get busy at work again that might get overlooked.

[BuckeyeHydro]

What is involved in sanitizing a system?

Sanitizing Your Water Purification System


We recommend sanitizing your RO/DI system approximately once per year. Schedule this process at a time when you are planning to replace your cartridges. These instructions apply to water purification systems without a pressure tank. Before you begin assure that you have about an hour available, and that your work area and hands are clean.

Turn off the water supply to the system.

Remove all housings and remove all pre-filters and post-filters from the system including sediment filters, carbon filters, in-line filters, and deionization cartridges. Remove the reverse osmosis membrane(s).

Wash housings with a soft brush or cloth in warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap. Don’t forget to carefully remove and wash all o-rings. Lubricate the o-rings with a small amount of silicone grease and reinstall them.

Fill each vertical housing with one cup of potable water and three to four tablespoons of household bleach, and with this sanitizing liquid still in the housings, screw them back on to the system.

Turn on the water supply a bit, allow water to fill the entire system, and assure water is flowing out of the waste line and the purified water line. Place the outlet of the drain tube and purified water tube slightly higher than the system to assure these tubes are full of the sanitizing solution. When the sanitizing solution has reached the outlet of each tube, and with the outlet of each tube placed above the rest of the system, shut off the water supply for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, turn the water supply on and assure that water exits the system from both the drain tube and the purified water port. Flush the sanitizing solution from the system for 5 to 10 minutes.

Turn off the water supply and install new filters.

We recommend keeping a maintenance record for your system. Record the date of the sanitizing and filter replacement.

Russ @ BFS

[BuckeyeHydro]

I'm wondering how long should I run my system for to prevent the need. I do run mine about 10g once a week, but if I get busy at work again that might get overlooked.

Its really not an issue of how long you run it - more an issue of how often. If your run the system once a week you should be ok. Follow the standard sanitizing schedule of once per year.