Tank moved, new journal

[Pescador]

Here's a pic of my RO/DI rats nest with the Kent shutoff, flush kit, and pass-to-drain unit (to prevent TDS creep). I use a 20g can with a float valve as a reservoir like Tony but I'm wasting alot more water. There is another tee to a float valve in a 50g can for saltwater mixing.

[danny zubot]

I'm debating using a resevior on my new sump too.

The problem I'm finding with the direct feed setup, is that the float valve is so sensitive that every few minutes it opens up to fill the sump. It probably only fills like 50 ml at a time, but it takes another minute for the line to build up enough pressure for the Kent valve to shutoff the water. So, although I believe that I'm conserving water, its not as effective as I'd like.

I wonder if there is anyway to rig the float valve to not be so sensitive, so that it takes 200-300ml to trigger instead of the 50ml I estimate?

[Delphinus]

I'm not sure I follow, how does using a reservoir mean wasted water (except for the evaporation from the reservoir, but really this is minimal compared to the tank..) ??

Danny, I really have to say this, but get a reservoir on there pronto!! Don't debate, just do it! Hooking the RO/DI directly to the float valve is going to lead to premature RO membrane failure. When I moved into my current house in 2004, I hooked my RO/DI directly to the sump like that. That constant on/off cycles are murder on the membranes. I went through 3, maybe even 4 membranes in the first year before I realized why they were failing. Since hooking up the reservoir (and filling the reservoir manually), I haven't had to replace a membrane yet (at least two years on this membrane).

[Pescador]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I'm not sure I follow, how does using a reservoir mean wasted water (except for the evaporation from the reservoir, but really this is minimal compared to the tank..) ??

No I didn't mean I was wasting more water using a reservoir I thought I was wasting more water than you. My top off sends about 5 gals at a time from my reservoir and the pass-to-drain flushes it every time it opens the auto-shutoff.

It sure is nice not having to worry about overfilling the reservoir or saltmixing barrel. Like you say when it's full and the float in either container shuts off the solenoid I can shut the valve to either one later without a spill.

[danny zubot]

Please don't yell at me Tony, but ofted not to do the reservior. I just can't bring myself to fill one every week or what ever. I had to go automated.

So I got the sprinkler timer like you said, and found the fittings to reduce it to 1/4"





I have it set to come on every 2 hours for 10 minutes. When I get home from work I can adjust the duration or intervals as required.

This whole thing has gotten completely rediculous. My friend has the identicle RO setup but with the tank, and his came from Aquasafe already set up to shut off when the tank was full. I should have gone that route 2 years ago.

[ClubReef]

Hi,

What is the advantage of the sprinkler timer vs a float valve? Sorry if you addressed this earlier in the thread (I'm at work..didn't read the whole thing)

[Delphinus]

The pressure tank scenario may have the same problem. It may shut off when it's full, but how far will it empty before it turns on again? Unless he's manually turning it off and on as needed. Ohhh wait, Ok that's what he's doing. Yeah, so basically *your friend has a reservoir and that's why it works*.

Filling the reservoir is a pain? I'm sorry dude but .. I'm sorry I think that really is lame. You open a valve to fill it, the shut off kit turns it off when it's full so it doesn't spill, you turn off the valve manually later when you think of it. It is not hard!!!!!!!

[ClubReef]

Ignore my post..just reading the details now...

[Delphinus]

Actually, there's something you can do besides a reservoir. You can hook your RO/DI up to a sprinkler timer and time it so that it only goes on for about an hour or two at night. That way, it will only fill during that period. Kind of not a perfect solution because once the sump is refilled it will still do that on/off/on/off thing but at least it's not doing it all day.

The reservoir idea is easier and cheaper a 5g bucket if nothing else, will work fine, or a rubbermaid, or whatever you can make work.

[danny zubot]

Any idea how to hook up a sprinkler timer to 1/4" line? Or is there something available specifially for that size?