SP-RO300AQ 3 Stage, Sediment + Carbon + RO Membrane
Congratulations on your purchase of a SpiroPure SP-RO300AQ RO filtration system! You and your family can enjoy RO (reverse osmosis) filtered water for drinking, in aquariums, appliances, CPAP machines, and for any other use that requires clean water.
Please follow these instructions carefully to ensure that you set up your system swiftly, safely, and effectively.
System Overview
The SP-RO300AQD uses a 3-stage filtration process to produce clean, filtered water with very low amounts of TDS (total dissolved solids).
The system has three cylindrical filters in total. The sediment filter helps remove larger particles and impurities like dirt, rust, and silt. This process also helps to protect the second filter, a carbon block that reduces chlorine and volatile organic compounds. In the third filter, the water is forced through a semipermeable membrane that reduces trace amounts of the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water, such as lead and arsenic, as well as parasitic cysts.
Parts List
3-Stage Filtration System Manifold with sediment, carbon, reverse osmosis, and deionization cartridges, with attached connection and wall-mounting brackets | |
3 Color-Coded Hoses white for source water blue for filtered water red for waste water | |
Faucet Adapters 1/2" and 3/4" | |
Filter Wrench Used to tighten RO filter housing cap | |
Collet Tool (Optional) Used to depress quick-connect collets | |
Wall Mount Bracket Screws 2 phillips head screws |
Preparing for Installation
The SP-RO300AQD filtration system can be permanently installed near a water source, or it can be set up for temporary filtration sessions and stored when not in use.
The system produces a fair amount of wastewater during the filtration process, which is something to keep in mind when selecting a location for your system. Ensure that you have a source of water and a means of disposing of the system's waste water before installation.
If you are setting the system up for temporary use, simply lay it out horizontally on a waterproof counter or floor and attach the hoses as indicated, running the system for as long as required.
Setup & Installation
- Unscrew RO membrane housing lid and remove plastic-wrapped RO membrane. Remove RO membrane from plastic wrapper and reinsert into housing. Ensure that the large black gasket is facing up and the end with the two black O-rings on the protruding cylinder is facing down. Press in until the cartridge is firmly seated. Screw on RO membrane housing lid hand-tight, then tighten a quarter-turn or so using the provided filter wrench. Be careful not to overtighten, as that can break the housing.
- If mounting unit on wall, remove wall mount brackets from the RO membrane cylinder and attach securely to wall stud or other sturdy anchor point, using a power drill to pre-drill holes. Ensure that you are mounting the system near an appropriate water source and a drain. The unit can also be laid on a countertop or under a sink.
- Remove white plug from stage 1 filter and connect the source water line (white hose). Tug gently on the hose to ensure that it is firmly seated.
- Remove blue plug from the stage 2 filter by depressing the collet using your finger or the enclosed collet tool. Attach the short blue hose coming from the RO membrane cap. Push tubing in firmly until it is seated.Tug gently to ensure proper seating.
- Remove red plug from the bottom of the RO canister and connect the red waste water line, ensuring that the line is firmly seated.
- Attach the white source water hose to your faucet or garden hose using one of the provided adapters. Ensure that the rubber O-ring is seated in the faucet adapter.
- Remove the plug from the filtered water line, and attach the blue filtered water hose.
- Flush system for at least thirty minutes, discarding all water. Your filtration system is now ready for use!
Hose Connection Tips
Push provided hoses firmly into place. | |
Tug on hoses gently to ensure that they are seated. | |
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To remove hose, depress gray collet with your fingernail, or the provided collet tool, and pull. |
Hose Cutting Techniques
If you need to cut any hoses, use a straight-edged razor blade or a set of 90-degree tubing cutters rather than scissors, which can crimp the tubing, causing leaks. Cut at a straight 90-degree angle to ensure proper fit.
Filter Replacement
- Disconnect all hoses. Note that the system will drain some water, so this is best done over a sink or outside.
- Discard spent filters and RO membrane (do not throw away RO membrane housing).
- Install replacement RO membrane, ensuring that the end with the two rubber O-rings is facing down. Tighten cap by hand, then a quarter turn with the filter wrench. Be careful not to overtighten, as that can break the housing.
- Install replacement in-line cartridges on plastic brackets. Replacement sets, available from SpiroPure, come with quick-connect fittings pre-installed.
- Reconnect hoses, following the diagram.
FAQs
- The flow rate seems slow. How fast of a flow rate should I expect from a 150 GPD membrane? While the membrane is rated to be 150 GPD, in actual practice it is unlikely the system will produce 150 GPD in your home, which is the case for any RO system on the market. This is because the actual flow rate will depend upon a number of factors, including water pressure, water temperature, and the amount of contaminants present in your water. The 150 GPD rating you see on our system and the rating on any other RO system is determined under laboratory conditions, which will use optimal water pressure (generally 60 psi), optimal water temperature (usually around 77 degrees Fahrenheit), and controlled levels of TDS. It would be impossible to test the system at every combination of pressure ratings, temperatures, and TDS levels. Higher levels of contaminants will plug filters faster, reducing water flow, and lower water pressure will also produce lower flow rates. In addition, lower temperatures can cause significant reduction in flow rate, and, as a result, you will probably have higher flow rates in the summer than you do in the winter. As a rule of thumb for any RO system, you can usually expect to experience a flow rate that is 50% to 75% of the listed GPD rating for that system.
- Will this connect to my faucet? The provided adapter(s) will fit most standard faucet types but not all.
- What is the ratio of wastewater to filtered water? The average system has a ratio of 1:4. This means that for every 1 gallon of pure, filtered water, about 4 gallons of water is sent down the drain as wastewater. However, this number can vary depending upon a number of factors, resulting in anywhere from 3 gallons of wastewater to as much as 25 gallons of wastewater per 1 gallon of purified water.
- How long will it take to fill a 5-gallon tank? This is a 150 GPD system, so it will fill a 5-gallon tank in a bit over an hour.
- I live somewhere with high sediment content in the water. Will I need an additional pre-filter? You may. Check local water conditions and any warnings. You can add an inline sediment filter to the system, such as SpiroPure SP-IS105QC, before the SP-RO300AQ.
- Can the system be connected to a normal garden hose? Connect the system to your garden hose using the ¾" connector.
- I only plan on using this occasionally. How should I store the filters between uses? If you are using the system weekly, there is no need to store between uses. If you are not planning on using the system for several months, however, the filters should be stored. Remove sediment and carbon block filters. Let drip dry, then wrap in plastic bags and store in your refrigerator or somewhere cool and away from direct light. Preserve RO membrane in a preservative solution (typically 2% AM-88 Membrane Preservative and 20% AM-225 Glycerine). Store in the refrigerator or somewhere cool and away from direct light. Filters should not be stored for longer than six months.
- What size is the tubing? It is 1/4" tubing.
- Does this come with initial cartridges for use, or do I need to purchase the cartridges separately? The system comes with an initial set of filters.
- How long do the filters last? Filter life depends on many factors, such as frequency of use and quality of source water. In general, filters should be replaced every six months to a year, though more frequent changes may be necessary.
- Can I buy full replacement filter sets? Yes, they are available here: SpiroPure SP-RO325.
- I have the SP-RO300AQ RO filter system, and after the first two stages (sediment and carbon) the PPM of the water rises. After the RO stage, it drops as expected, but not as much as I thought. Is the system defective? PPM is a measurement of the TDS (total dissolved solids) inside of the water. Sediment filters are designed to remove large sediment particles, and carbon filters absorb chemical impurities from water (such as chlorine), and are not designed to filter or reduce TDS at all. In fact, a new carbon filter will increase the PPM of TDS in water as it sheds carbon fines, but this should reduce after a couple of days of use. This is why it is recommended that you flush a new carbon filter, particularly if it is before an RO cartridge as it can cause premature fouling of the RO media. RO membranes, however, are designed to reduce TDS from water, and TDS meters are designed specifically to measure TDS reduction after more in-depth filtration like that provided by RO membranes. After a few days of use and once the carbon fines have all been flushed from the carbon filter, the TDS readings should be at a more desirable level after the RO membrane.