Storing an R/O unit?

[Anonymous]

What do you do with your R/O unit when you are not making R/O water? I have a much bigger R/O unit than I probably need because I don;t want to have to plan a water change a week in advance, but what do I do with it when I don't need any water? I know you're not supposed to let the membranes dry out. Do I have to keep it hooked to the water source at all times? I have one of the new Seachem units with the shut off valves on it.

 

[IcantTHINKofONE]

Rover, I keep my Kent Marine RO 60GPD Hi-S unit on all the time with the float valve. It's not good to let the membrane housing get empty for longer than a few minutes.

 

[reefland]

You can disconnect the unit. It won't drain out (shouldn't) I used to put mine back in the box when it wasn't needed for a few days. If you are worried about water draining out of it then get something to plug the lines.

 

[Anonymous]

So as long as it stays full it should be okay?

 

[reefland]

We are talking short term here, right? days? week? if so then yes. If you are talking a month or more. Then I'm not sure. Haven't done it that long myself.

 

[Anonymous]

Let's say you do a water change every three weeks. And it only takes a day to make the water. That means you are only using the unit basically one -two days a month. Do I have to keep it hooked up and pressurized, or just full of water?

 

[ReefMon]

My current membrane just stopped producing water, so last night I hooked up an old unit (still in a housing) that hasn't been used in 6-10 months. Ran it for 15 minutes then tested the output (pre-DI) and got a TDS reading of 4 ppm. (raw water is around 200 ppm)

So, IMO that they are not as delicate as we've been led to believe.

HTH
Glenn R

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
Some manufactures and OEMs are concern about the growth of bacteria on the membrane when they are stored long term. They recommand putting the unit in a frig, but I never did this.

 

[StirCrazy]

I run mine once a week for at least 5 min (usaly will fill up a coffee pot and a drinking pitcher if I don't need it for the tank) this keeps everything fresh and ready for use.

Steve

 

[reefland]

Let's say you do a water change every three weeks. And it only takes a day to make the water. That means you are only using the unit basically one -two days a month. Do I have to keep it hooked up and pressurized, or just full of water?

Are you also making enough water for your daily evoporation besides all the water you need for a water change? I would say it only needs to be kept full of water. Does not need to be kept pressurized.

I need 5 gallons a day for evaporation. And when I do a water change its in the area of 70 gallons. Running my unit 2 times a week (overnight) is enough to supply this amount for me. I leave it hooked up, full of water, not pressurized -- after all once you turn off the source water it is not pressurized.

 

[Anonymous]

Email from Seachem tech support.

With our unit, you can simply turn off the product water valve
(plastic ball valve) on the product water line. You can also buy a
plastic plug to fit the thread on the brass connector or rubber band
a plastic sandwich bag over the brass fitting until your next use.
The membrane drying out is generally not a concern on RO units
because of regular use in performing water exchanges. If your RO unit
will not be in service for many months/ year, then I would take the
above precautions.