Yet another RO question

[MapleCamp]

I have built 2 ro's now , 1 with 4 150 gpd membranes , and one with 4 , 400 gpd membranes. Both worked as I wished they would. I am going to start on a 4 inch by 40 inch single post system soon. My problem is that I make these during the off season with no way to test until it flows , and if there are hiccups , and there always is, I don't get them dialed in for a week or 2 usually during the heaviest flow . So I'm wondering if anyone has any off season methods for playing around and testing their ro's so that when the seasons rolls around they are good to go. TIA

[HowsItRunning]

I'm currently building a 3x400 GPD system and plan on testing it without filters and membranes and just running pressurized water throughout the system using the various control valves to check all of the paths [permeate, concentrate, recirc].

[SeanD]

I feel the same way about vac setups. You really can't field test it until you have a good run going. I'm wondering if you could mix sugar with a barrel of water. 2% of 55 gallons is 1.1 gallons which by weight would be close enough to a 10 lb bag of sugar. If you know any beekeepers, the concentrate (syrup) wouldn't go to waste.

[carls47807]

We test RO's in the off season. I fill a dozen tupperware containers with a 2% water solution and freeze it. Then I make a tote of 2% sugar water, and keep adding the frozen ice/sugar to it to keep it at 32. The ice doesn't dilute the solution and you can get actual data as though you were running maple sap. Luckily maple sap and tap water have a similar TDS as well.

[DrTimPerkins]

For those who do send membranes in for cleaning, they are tested, washed (very well) and benchmarked. Advantage is that you know exactly where you stand in terms of going in to the next year.