few questions/concerns

[edress714]

Hello WAMAS,

 

As I learn new things from you guys everyday I have some questions. 

 

I unfortunately don't use a sump for my 75g but water clarity and parameters have never been an issue. I am still using tap water as my RODI is giving me issues. I got the 150gpd upgrade from BRC and connecting everything up. Once started, the output of the new membrane was giving a hissing type of noise. Is this normal for it to do this? Once I get this all set up what is the best way to make water? I have it currently up in the 3rd floor of my townhouse in the laundry room faucet. I could move it to the garage (have a outdoor faucet inside the garage) but was thinking the water might get too warm. The tank is located on the middle level. What I was going to do is just make the water Sunday (about 15 gallons) and just do the water change like that. 

 

Second question I have is that I use the JBJ ATO which works fine for a few days and then the flow gets slow and won't fill up the tank in time. So I have it set up with a 5 gallon bucket underneath the tank with the TOM lift pump connected to it. There's maybe about 30 inches of tubing from the bucket to the pump and about 8 inches to the tank itself. I found this is the best route to have the water flow nicely into the tank. Now does the water flow slow down because the tap water gets all slimy in the bucket? Am I supposed to have a power head in the bucket?

 

Thanks for reading all of this if you did read it lol 

[Happyfeet]

 hissing type of noise - I guess that depends on the volume of the hissing. Mine makes a slight hissing, but that's because water is passing through a membrane at a high pressure. Now if it's hissing loudly and spraying/leaking water then you  may have an issue. If you have any question about its performance simply run it for 10 minutes, then for another 10 minutes measure exactly how much water it puts out. Then you can simply multiply the amount you got by 6, and then by 24 (x*6)24=y  So long as y is +-10g of the 150 you are in the ball park. Make sure before you do this calculation that the pressure is at the advised pressure, otherwise you will have you adjust your expectation.  Generally you would expect 1 gallon per 10 minutes. If you aren't getting the correct output with the correct pressure then something might be wrong.

 

I have mine set up in my basement with a drain in case anything happens and it gets stuck on. You shouldn't have to worry about water temp so long as you are using unheated water. Once you draw the water out of the pipe, you will be getting ground cooled water and it will be the perfect temp.

 

I've never used tap water with a Top Off so I can't say with any certainty what the issue is. I think you are probably pretty close in your assumption though.

[Origami]

How high above the bucket is your aqualifter? It may be that, as the water level falls in the bucket, that the aqualifter is having a more difficult time raising the water up. Try moving the aqualifter closer to the bucket and further from the tank, so it's having to suction the water up a shorter distance. 

[edress714]

I tried that first and now I have the pump closer to the tank and it puts much more water back in. Let's see when I get home