Question 1

I probably made no more than 200 gal of clean water. and already have to replace, is this normal? tds is ~50ppm here in nyc. a

Accepted Answer

If you live in the NYC area, you will need a special pre-filter prior to using the RO Buddie. This is because of the high sediment in the water. Please refer to the Amazon product page for the RO Buddie for information about NYC water. You can also contact Aquatic Life Customer Support directly for help in obtaining the prefilter.

Question 2

How do I know when the cartridge is used up? Lost track of gallonage, and running through multiple other filters still puts out sub 10 tds. Any ideas?

Accepted Answer

I agree with JBonilla, just test the water from time to time. The cartridge docs suggest 3,000 gallons of water, but that will vary depending on your initial water quailty. I test mine occasionally (once a month) but change them every 6 months just for good measure.

Question 3

I live in nyc and had to change filter after only 150 gallons, is this normal?

Accepted Answer

I would say normally no, but it depends on just how high your water TDS is, I live in a suburb of Chicago and our city water has a TDS of around  370 ppm and my filers are still working fine, and I have probably made way over 1,000 gals. Of RO water, unless you know your waters TDS actually no one can answer your question, I'd say go on line and buy a digital TDS meter and check your water if it's way above 370 , then yes replacing your filter after 150 gal could be normal.
I hope this helps you.

Question 4

Is the operating life 3000 gallons of “good” water (after the RO membrane) or 3000 gallons of water through just this filter?

Accepted Answer

3000 gallons total thru the RO unit, yet if your source water is high in sediment/particulates then the usable life will be much less. Some cities like NYC that have very old municipal water systems have very high levels of sediment, and the cartridges will need to be replaced more often.

ASIN	B00DOG6614
Benefits	Removes Impurities
Best Sellers Rank	291,514 in Pet Supplies ( See Top 100 in Pet Supplies ) 4,227 in Aquarium Filter Accessories
Brand Name	Aquatic Life
Customer Reviews	4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,411)
External Testing Certification	NSF
Global Trade Identification Number	00015568925276, 00810957012496
Included Components	Aquatic Life Sediment Cartridge for RO Buddie
Item Dimensions D x W x H	5.1D x 5.1W x 25.4H centimetres
Item Type Name	Aquatic Life Sediment Cartridge for RO Buddie
Item Weight	16 g
Manufacturer	Aquatic Life
Manufacturer Part Number	330249
Material Type	Stainless Steel
Model Number	330249
Number of Items	1
Number of Packs	1
UPC	015568925276 810957012496
Unit Count	1.0 count

Aquatic Life 330249 Sediment Cartridge for RO Buddie, Stainless Steel, White

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