can I attach large filters to my RO/DI unit?

[glarior]

I have a buckeye field supply 100gpd RO/DI unit with extra carbon filter. I make ~5 gallons of water a day and more when I need it. My media burns up really quick since my water is horrible and contains 450+ TDS and lots of chlorine. I have three 4.5"x20" filters with removable cartridges. Is there a way to use those or incorporate the big filters with the RO/DI unit? I want to buy the media in bulk (anyone know of a good place?) and have it last longer. Seems like I change those small filters every 1-2 months. For the price of one filter change on my small unit I can buy the carbon filter, 5lbs DI resin and sediment filter for the 4.5"x20" filters

[Ram_Puppy]

I used to run a big sediment pre-filter i bought at home depot in front of my AquaFX barracuda. their 10" sediment filters are I think only 10 - 12$ there. I lost the wrench to the big pre-filter when my wife and i seperated and apparently it's not made anymore so I chunked it. It was hooked up via garden hose and I never had an issue with it.

Where do you live- are you sure your media isn't getting whomped by Chloramine? a normal carbon block won't take chloramine out - I believe the rule of thumb is 20 inches of catalytic carbon to get out Chloramine.

If I remember correctly my soon to be re-configured Barracuda will be (all 10" modules) sediment - catalytic carbon - catalytic carbon - RO - DI - UV - Bladder Tank and in NB that should be good for about 6 months... SHOULD Be...

[glarior]

Could be chloramine... either way you can always tell when they dose the water.
Can I use bulk gac? It says use before carbon to take out chloramines.

I'm thinking sediment, gac, carbon then convert the 3 smaller units to DI and keep the r/o membrane.


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[ramsey]

Could be chloramine... either way you can always tell when they dose the water.
Can I use bulk gac? It says use before carbon to take out chloramines.

I'm thinking sediment, gac, carbon then convert the 3 smaller units to DI and keep the r/o membrane.


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Where are you at? San Antonio doesn't have chloramines but New Braunfels does. I run sediment > gac > carbon > RO > DI.

Also, making small amounts of water is going to eat up your DI resin quickly. Are you sure it's not just your DI resin exhausting?

[glarior]

Past Medina lake.... hill country area.

I need to change filters every 100-125 gallons... I was told the chlorine or chloramine is why my resin does not last. Since I have these huge 20x4.5 filter housings I want to extend the life of everything and buy filters/ media in bulk.

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[Ram_Puppy]

You need to find out if Chloramine is added to your water - regular carbon won't do the trick on it - you need Catalytic Carbon - 20" of contact area to remove it. I think your burning through your DI resin way to fast - something chemical at play here and large amounts of chloramine or chlorine in the mix is probably the culprit.

[glarior]

Just checked the water report... average 1.4ppm chlorine with max level 4ppm.

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[ramsey]

That's good, you don't have chloramine it seems. How is your RO membrane doing? You can measure the TDS before and after the membrane to figure out your rejection rate. Usually, going through DI resin fast means your RO is not as productive as it should be. Also, carbon filters are generally rated for the amount of chlorine they absorb. Like 20,000g for example.

[glarior]

I have not tested but would not be surprised if the ro needed to be replaced

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[BuckeyeHydro]

I have a buckeye field supply 100gpd RO/DI unit with extra carbon filter. I make ~5 gallons of water a day and more when I need it. My media burns up really quick since my water is horrible and contains 450+ TDS and lots of chlorine. I have three 4.5"x20" filters with removable cartridges. Is there a way to use those or incorporate the big filters with the RO/DI unit? I want to buy the media in bulk (anyone know of a good place?) and have it last longer. Seems like I change those small filters every 1-2 months. For the price of one filter change on my small unit I can buy the carbon filter, 5lbs DI resin and sediment filter for the 4.5"x20" filters

Sure - you can use any size housings - we have filters and refillable cartridges in these sizes:
10" x 2.5" (what people consider "standard")
20" x 2.5"
10" x 4.5"
20" x 4.5"

But before you start changing your system around, some questions for you: You said "My MEDIA burns up really quick since my water is horrible..." What media are you talking about? Just the DI resin? If so, then installing larger prefilters (all the filters that touch the water before the membrane) won't help. Understand that it is primarily the RO membrane that removes TDS, and the DI resin removes the last little bit from the RO water. The prefilters don't remove TDS, so using larger prefilters won't make your DI resin last longer.

Ramsey was going down the right road above.

What is the TDS of your Tap water? RO water? DI water?
What is your pressure?

Russ