RO start up

[PerryFamily]

I recently purchased a 600 waterloo RO. I was told the membrane is in preservative inside the vessel. I was thinking about filling the raw sap tank and flushing out the preservative before I really need it and to just check operation and for leaks. It has not been used in a year and has a nf270 membrane. Would also like to check basic operation and what not.

Question: Does this sound like the proper procedure? If not, any suggestions?

How much water should it take to accomplish this?

Any need to "clean" ( soap, acid....) the membrane since it has been in the preservative over a year?

Wont be long now, gotta get her going

Thanks

[wiam]

I bought a used machine and was told just to run rated capacity of machine of clean water for a rinse. Then I made 2 16 gallon drums of the nicest looking crap you ever tasted. Worse than the last end last year. I wa lucky enough to market that syrup but learned my lesson. I run a rinse of about 100 gallons then a soap wash and then rated capacity of rinse. Then I know it is clean. Not just the membranes but all the nooks and crannies in the plumbing.

[ennismaple]

We concentrate for 15-20 minutes using first run sap (normally low % sugar anyways) and the concentrate and permeate both get dumped over the hill. We do make sure that the first 5-10 gallons of concentrate that gets pumped up to the feed tank goes into a pail that also gets thrown out. No matter how well you wash your lines at the end of every season there's always crap in them that you don't want in your sap!

[vtmapleman]

I have a springteck ro -- on start up for the season the mfg recomments 1) rinse with 1/2 normal wash volumne 2) two wash cycles with only water - no soap w/rinse between each wash 3) wash cycle with soap then rinse 4) then do a bench mark test --- never had any problem with taste --- for me to follow this process takes about four plus hours but well worth it.

[PerryFamily]

Great, thanks for the info. Sounds like this is what I should do:

1) 200 gal rinse
2) hot water wash NO soap
3) 100 gallon rinse
4)hot water wash NO soap
5) 100 gallon rinse
6) hat water wash WITH soap
7) 600 gallon full rinse

Sound about right?

bout how much soap to wash this machine?

Also about how long for the water to heat? It has a heating element in the tank, maybe 30 gallons ?

thanks in advance

[SWEETER CREATIONS]

How big are the membranes 4x40 8 x 40 ? I use 1/8 cup per membrane of sani osmo ,it seems to work well if the water temp is not over 120 degrees . If the water temp is greater than wait till it cools off before you start your wash. My membranes are nf2704040 (4x40)

[PerryFamily]

they are 8x40. 1/8 cup is not much at all. Thanks alot.

[yards1520]

when you do the initial rinse and wash what do you all use for water? just tap or well water?

[wiam]

I use spring water. I have been told by dealers not to use hard water. I have had manufacture reps say not too big a deal if that is all you have.

[PerryFamily]

I have nice softened water at the house, but not at the sugarhouse. Plus my well is pretty low yield. I usually get water in bulk from the fire dept. It is well water or a driven point, not sure. I am sure there is no chlorine in it for sure. Sounds like I might have to make a few runs. I want to make sure to get all of the preservatives out of the entire machine, and just check overall operation.

Question: the wash tank has a heating element, and the control panel has a switch to turn the heat on. When washing, do I wait until the water is hot or do the pumps help heat the water as well? Seems as though I could heat the water while doing a pre wrinse.

Thanks

[markcasper]

I would not use well water period or you'll find out the hard way. Don't believe everything that you hear, especially from those reps that say you can use hard water and can't use hard water all in one sentence! Play it safe and use soft water or throw some sap down the drain as others have mentioned.

[PerryFamily]

I am having trouble wrapping my head around this. If sap is 1-3% sugar, with the remainder being mineral containing water, how would flushing with well ( non chlorinated) water be any different.
My membrane is 4 yrs old now. My plan is to run it this year and replace it next.

[vtmapleman]

I have used well water for the past six years with no problem at all. Believe my water is fairly soft as I have no build up of any kind in the toilet holding tank. I have been able to maintain a 90% efficiency rate as compared to when the membranes were new. I am very methodical when it comes to washing/rinsing the RO. I donot deviate one bit from the mfg recommendations.

[maple2]

we run 500gal. of well water through the r.o. at low presure to make permeate to rinse our membraines.