DI resin color change (reversal?)

[tzabor10]

Can color changing DI resins get back their original color? My 7 stage BRS RODI was having TDS creep due to being directly plumbed into my ATO. Changed pre-sediment and carbon block filters and invested in a Water Buddie. As the problem was happening the Anion DI looked like it was about done (lots of yellow). A month later lit seems it’s normal color (turquoise).
Resins are Cation, Anion and mixed right to left.

 

[twentyleagues]

I am not sure how that happened. Interested to learn if its even possible. I know you can "recharge" certain types of resins but its usually with chemicals not just water. @Buckeye Hydro seems to be the go to here on rodi.

 

[tzabor10]

I am not sure how that happened. Interested to learn if its even possible. I know you can "recharge" certain types of resins but its usually with chemicals not just water. @Buckeye Hydro seems to be the go to here on rodi.

not sure either. There was definitely a pale yellow patch on the lower part of the reactor. Then it went away. The mixed bed then had the yellow patch. I changed it today. Probably prematurely.
Does that tag you put on Buckeye alert that reefer? I am still newish to forums

 

[twentyleagues]

not sure either. There was definitely a pale yellow patch on the lower part of the reactor. Then it went away. The mixed bed then had the yellow patch. I changed it today. Probably prematurely.
Does that tag you put on Buckeye alert that reefer? I am still newish to forums

Yes. They are also a sponsor I believe. You can try to directly pm them too by clicking on the name. That will also alert them.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I’m a little confused. Can you clarify what changed colors from what to what when you tried to recharge it and how did you do it?

 

[tzabor10]

I’m a little confused. Can you clarify what changed colors from what to what when you tried to recharge it and how did you do it?

Thanks for your help.
The Anion resin was changing color from turquoise to yellow.
Then I got around to changing it out, it looks all turquoise.
I did not do anything. Can it recharge or balance out?
RODI can be a bit confusing. How do you know when to change it out?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You can recharge an anion only resin and the color should change to the charged color used by that manufacturer. I always thought it not worth the time and bother, but some folks do recharge them.

 

[Garf]

Thanks for your help.
The Anion resin was changing color from turquoise to yellow.
Then I got around to changing it out, it looks all turquoise.
I did not do anything. Can it recharge or balance out?
RODI can be a bit confusing. How do you know when to change it out?

I expect the pH in that canister equalised, but I've never used a colour changing type.

Edit - why did you change it if it had only just started to change colour?

 

[tzabor10]

I expect the pH in that canister equalised, but I've never used a colour changing type.

Edit - why did you change it if it had only just started to change colour?

I changed it because I am inexperienced. There is not much information about changing media. I was going to change everything due to the TDS creep issue but held back.
I did change the mixed bed due to large yellow patches in the resin.

 

[tzabor10]

You can recharge an anion only resin and the color should change to the charged color used by that manufacturer. I always thought it not worth the time and bother, but some folks do recharge them.

Good to know. Thanks for your input.
But to be clear, I didn’t do anything. I was wondering if perhaps the resins balanced each other and reversed a color change.

 

[twentyleagues]

Good to know. Thanks for your input.
But to be clear, I didn’t do anything. I was wondering if perhaps the resins balanced each other and reversed a color change.

I really dont see how it possible...... do you have a water softener?
I am pretty sure anion resin is recharged with sodium so maybe some how that happened.
Cation has to be done using lye.

 

[Garf]

Cation has to be done using lye

Hydrochloric acid for cation, sodium hydroxide for anion.

DI Regeneration

I've been regenerating my DI resins for 10 years, but have found information that both GFO (chemical regen) and activated carbon (microwave regen) can also be regenerated. Has anyone tried it?

algaescrubber.net

 

[twentyleagues]

Hydrochloric acid for cation, sodium hydroxide for anion.

DI Regeneration

I've been regenerating my DI resins for 10 years, but have found information that both GFO (chemical regen) and activated carbon (microwave regen) can also be regenerated. Has anyone tried it?

algaescrubber.net

Maybe the lye is to neutralize the acid? I looked into it a while back. I burn through anion resin so was thinking I would possibly recharge it. I might be mixing a bunch of stuff up too.....

 

[Garf]

Maybe the lye is to neutralize the acid? I looked into it a while back. I burn through anion resin so was thinking I would possibly recharge it. I might be mixing a bunch of stuff up too.....

Well, you do put the lye (sodium hydroxide) in first to separate the resins, perhaps that's it.

 

[twentyleagues]

Well, you do put the lye (sodium hydroxide) in first to separate the resins, perhaps that's it.

lol maybe.
I decided it would be easier to just buy more.
I thought maybe it was co2 in the water (well but its extremely hard and I tried to aerate it with no change) I now think its silicates. I need to upgrade my home filtration at some point. I'm on my third refill of anion still 1st on cation and mixed bed. Ive made a little over 600g.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Good to know. Thanks for your input.
But to be clear, I didn’t do anything. I was wondering if perhaps the resins balanced each other and reversed a color change.

Resins in different cannisters won't impact each other in a detectable way.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

lol maybe.
I decided it would be easier to just buy more.
I thought maybe it was co2 in the water (well but its extremely hard and I tried to aerate it with no change) I now think its silicates. I need to upgrade my home filtration at some point. I'm on my third refill of anion still 1st on cation and mixed bed. Ive made a little over 600g.

Silicate will deplete anion and cation resins similarly. CO2 will deplete anion resins (or the anion particles in a mixed bed) and will not deplete the cation resin.

This has more:

Reverse Osmosis/Deionization Systems to Purify Tap Water for Reef Aquaria by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[topjimmy]

I recharge mine because my well water eats it up pretty quickly. It's really easy.