How to Clean an RO Membrane in an Aquarium

Reverse osmosis (RO) units are sophisticated pieces of equipment which require regular maintenance. RO units purify tap water by removing chlorine and other impurities which are detrimental to sensitive fish and marine invertebrate animals, particularly the many species of living corals. RO membranes require regular cleaning if the water produced by these units is to be of an acceptable quality.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic spanner
  • Garden hose pipe
  • 2-gallon plastic bucket
  • RO water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn off the tap supplying the RO unit with water.

    • 2

      Loosen and remove the thin plastic tube that is connecting the RO unit to the tap.

    • 3

      Loosen and remove the thin plastic tube that discharges waste water from the unit.

    • 4

      Loosen and remove the thin plastic tube that supplies pure RO water from the unit. By removing these tubes, you can pick up and move the RO unit to a work surface.

    • 5

      Loosen and remove both the thin plastic intake and exhaust tubes from the horizontal cylinder which contains the resin beads, if your RO unit has this additional filter chamber. Remove this cylinder so that you have easy access to the cylinder which houses the RO membrane.

    • 6

      Use the plastic spanner which is supplied with many RO units to loosen the top of the RO membrane cylinder.

    • 7

      Remove the RO membrane.

    • 8

      Use a garden hose to wash away the organic sludge coating the outside of the membrane.

    • 9

      Place the membrane in a 2-gallon bucket of RO water to rinse away any chlorine or other potential contaminants that may have been in the tap water.

    • 10

      Rinse out the cylinder that contains the membrane with RO water.

    • 11

      Return the membrane to the cylinder.

    • 12

      Ensure that the gasket in the cylinder top is sitting correctly in place and is not twisted. Replace the cylinder top and use the plastic spanner to tighten it.

    • 13

      Snap the resin bead cylinder back into its plastic holder and reconnect the intake and waste water tubes of this cylinder.

    • 14

      Reconnect the intake tube of the RO unit to a tap. Reconnect the waste water tube to the RO unit. Reconnect the pure RO water delivery tube to the unit.

    • 15

      Turn on the tap that feeds the RO unit with water.