AquaticLife RO Buddie Series Owner's manual

Models: 540016, 540017, 540019
Installation, Operation & Maintenance Guide
RO Buddie®Series
1
Thank you for purchasing
an Aquatic Life RO Buddie®
Reverse Osmosis System.
When maintained properly, this unit will
provide you with years of service.
OVERVIEW
Reverse osmosis is the process of removing
contaminants from tap water using a special
semi-permeable membrane. By applying
water pressure across the membrane,
contaminants are concentrated on one side
of the membrane and ltered water on the
other side of the membrane. Therefore,
reverse osmosis units have a waste water
line as well as a ltered line.
In addition to the membrane, water is ltered
prior to the membrane with a sediment
cartridge to remove larger particulates, and
a carbon block to remove chlorine and other
materials.
With the RO Buddie +DI (Model # 540019),
after water is ltered by the membrane,
it passes through a color-changing resin
cartridge where additional total dissolved
solids (TDS) are removed from the water.
WARNING: Do not drink water that has
been filtered with a DI resin cartridge.
WARNING: Please read carefully before
proceeding with installation. Your failure
to follow any attached instructions and
operating parameters may lead to the
product’s failure.
Model #540019
Models #540016
& #540 017

Models: 540016, 540017, 540019
Installation, Operation & Maintenance Guide www.aquaticlife.com
RO Buddie®Series
2 3
STAGE 1 – SEDIMENT FILTER
Recommended change 3-6 months or 1,500 gallons total
 or400gallonsoflteredwater
The rst stage of your RO unit is a ve micron sediment lter that traps sediment and other
particulate matter like dirt, silt and rust which will aect the taste and appearance of your water.
STAGE 2 – CARBON BLOCK FILTER
Recommended change 3-6 months or 1,500 gallons total
 or400gallonsoflteredwater(at1ppmChlorine)
The second stage of your RO unit is a carbon block lter. The activated carbon in the lter
reduces chlorine and conditions the water prior to the RO membrane.
STAGE 3 – RO MEMBRANE
Recommended change 1-2 years
The RO membrane reduces impurities known as total dissolved solids (TDS) from the water
down to 1/10,000 of a micron, reducing arsenic, lead, parasitic cysts, copper and more.
Because the process of ltering the high-quality water takes time, it is common to use a storage
tank to collect ltered water, making it available on demand.
 STAGE4–COLORCHANGINGRESIN(DEIONIZATION)
Model 540019 only
Replacelterwhenresinchangescolor
After the water is ltered by the membrane, there is usually a small amount of total dissolved
solids (TDS) left in the water. In certain non-drinking water applications, it is important to remove
the remaining TDS from the water. This is accomplished by ltering the water through a resin
that is charged with cation and anion resins (H+ and OH-). As the resin absorbs the TDS, it will
change color. When all resin has changed color, it is time to replace the DI lter.
S
C
RO
DI
WARNING: The RO Buddie will remove chlorine, but NOT chloramines. Test your water and/or
check with your local water company to find out if you have chloramines in your water.
Contents
#540016
RO Buddie
50 GPD
#540017
RO Buddie
100 GPD
#540019
RO Buddie +DI
50 GPD
Micron Cartridge 1 1 1
Carbon Cartridge 1 1 1
RO Unit Housing w/Mounting Brackets and Screws 1 1 1
Reverse Osmosis Membrane 1 – 50 GPD 1 – 100 GPD 1 – 50 GPD
Canister Cap Wrench 111
Color Changing Resin (DI) Cartridge N/A N/A 1
Common Size Kitchen/Bathroom Sink Faucet Adapter 1 1 1
Garden Hose/ Laundry Faucet Adapter 1 1 1
1/4” Tubing 111
Installation & Maintenance Guide 1 1 1
Tools Recommended for Installation
Phillips Screwdriver
Single-Edge Razor Blade
OPERATING GUIDELINES
DO NOT use with water that is micro-
biologically unsafe or of unknown quality
without adequate disinfection before or after
the unit.
Theoptimalwaterpressureis40-65PSI.
The supply water pressure should range
between 40-65 PSI. If the pressure is more
than 80 PSI, a pressure regulator is required.
If the water pressure is less than 40 PSI, a
booster pump is needed. The rated 50 or 100
GPD output of the RO unit is calculated using
65 PSI.
Theoptimalwatertemperatureis77°F.
Using other water temperatures will diminish
the eectiveness of the ltration and can
accelerate degradation of the membrane.
Water hardness should not exceed
10grainspergallonor170parts
per million.
Operating above this may shorten the
membrane life.
Reverseosmosislteredwatershould
not be run through a copper tube.
The pure RO water can leach copper from the
pipe, eventually leading to holes in the pipe.
DO NOT operate the unit unattended.

Models: 540016, 540017, 540019
Installation, Operation & Maintenance Guide www.aquaticlife.com
RO Buddie®Series
4 5
WATER SUPPLY INSTALLATION
This Aquatic Life RO Buddie includes
two options for easy connection to a
water supply.
Option 1:
Connect to a standard water faucet (often
found on the exterior of houses, utility sinks,
and washing machines) with the hose bib
connection.
Option 2:
Your RO Buddie includes a special adapter
that will connect to most kitchen and
bathroom faucets. To install:
1
2
3
Mounting
Brackets
TIP: The RO Buddie can operate in
a vertical or horizontal position
USING THE BUDDIE FIT™PRESS FITTINGS
MOUNTING THE RO BUDDIE
The Aquatic Life RO Buddie unit can be mounted to a secure
surface. Plastic brackets with screw holes are provided.
Use screws designed for the type of surface that the RO unit
will hang on.
NOTE: To remove
a piece of tubing,
remove the blue clip
and press down on
the collet where the
tubing enters the
fitting. While the
collet is depressed,
remove the tubing
from the fitting.
Remove the existing aerator on the
sink faucet.
Thread-in the two-piece sink
faucet adapter.
Attach the hose bib connection to the
other end of the sink faucet adapter.
Tubing
Push 2x
Blue
Clip
Tubing
Pull
✓
Correct
✗
Incorrect
3
4 5
2
Remove the blue clip from
the press tting.
Pull back on the tubing to
ensure it is secure.
Insert the locking blue clip
back onto the press tting.
Push the tubing into the tting.
You will hit the rst stop. The
tubing is still not secured
properly. Push the tubing a
second time and you will feel
the tubing insert completely
(5/8") into the press tting.
Cut tubing evenly and not
at an angle.
1Collet
Blue
Clip

Models: 540016, 540017, 540019
Installation, Operation & Maintenance Guide www.aquaticlife.com
RO Buddie®Series
67
CONNECTING TUBING
Remove the shipping plugs from the supply water,
ltered water and waste water connectors.
Remove the blue clips from the press ttings.
Connect a piece of the ¼" tubing between the
faucet adapter and the supply water connection
on the top of the sediment cartridge.
Connect a piece of the ¼" tubing to where
the water exists the ow restrictor. This is the
waste water to be discarded.
Connect a piece of the ¼" tubing to the remaining
port at the bottom of the RO membrane housing.
This is the ltered water. This line should be run
to your water collection container.
Install the blue clips on all press ttings
when nished.
Supply
Water
Waste
Water
Filtered
Water
Remove
Plugs
Push in Tubing and
install Blue Clip
Blue
Clip
IMPORTANT: Review the section titled
“Using the Buddie Fit™ Press Fittings
(previous page) before continuing
installation.
NOTE: We recommend cutting the tubing with a razor blade or something similar, so the tubing
is not pinched. If the tubing is pinched, it will not seal properly. All tubing connections will have a
“double push” into the connectors. You should feel a two-step insert to verify the tubing is inserted
completely into the connectors.
IFYOUAREUSINGTHEROBUDDIEWITHTHEDEIONIZATIONRESIN,
DO NOT CONNECT THE RESIN CARTRIDGE UNTIL THE MEMBRANE HAS
BEEN FLUSHED.
IMPORTANT: All RO membranes contain a preservative to keep them sterile. It is important to flush
the preservative out of the membrane prior to using the filtered water.
FLUSHING THE CARBON CARTRIDGE
With both ltered water and waste water lines in the drain, turn on the water supply.
This will ush the lter cartridges prior to installing the membrane and extend the membrane
life. Flush for 5 minutes or until the water is clear coming from the ltered
water line and the waste water line. After the water runs clear, turn o the water supply
and allow the RO Buddie to drain.
INSTALLING THE RO MEMBRANE
Remove the tubing attached to the elbow tting on top of the RO membrane, remove the blue
clip, depress the collet around the tubing and remove the tubing.
Unscrew the membrane housing lid from the membrane housing. Remove the membrane from
the plastic bag and insert the membrane into the membrane housing.
The membrane should be inserted so that the top of the plastic pipe in the membrane is ush
with the top of the membrane housing.
FLUSHING THE RO MEMBRANE
All RO membranes contain a preservative to keep them sterile. IT IS IMPORTANT TO FLUSH
THE PRESERVATIVE OUT OF THE MEMBRANE PRIOR TO USING THE FILTERED WATER.
Turn on the water to the RO Buddie and allow the unit to run 30 minutes. Discard all the water
from the rst 30 minutes of operation.
Replace the membrane housing lid and tighten with the supplied wrench. Reattach the tubing and
replace the blue clip to secure the tubing to the elbow connection on the membrane housing.
✓
Correct
✗
Incorrect
See Video

Models: 540016, 540017, 540019
Installation, Operation & Maintenance Guide www.aquaticlife.com
RO Buddie®Series
8 9
Withthepreservativeushedfromthenew
Membrane,itisnowOKtoconnecttheltered
waterlinetothebottomoftheDICartridge.
INSTALLINGTHEDEIONIZATIONCARTRIDGE(MODEL#540019)
The color changing mixed bed resin DI cartridge will absorb
the remaining TDS not ltered by the membrane. By adding
a DI cartridge to the RO Buddie, you can produce zero TDS
water. When mixed bed resin is new, it is a blue green color.
When it gets wet it will change a dark blue color. When the
medium is spent it will change to a light brownish tan color.
Use the included clips to connect the DI cartridge to the
front of the RO membrane housing.
RO BUDDIE FILTER BASICS
The membrane does most of the work by removing up to 95% of the TDS from your water. The
other two included lters protect the membrane from the many malicious elements that shorten
its life. The sediment cartridge removes suspended particles larger than 1 micron (15 times
smaller than a mold spore). The carbon block removes chlorine. Timely replacement of the
cartridges will increase the membrane’s life.
The carbon cartridge is the most important cartridge to change frequently. The carbon cartridge
can lter about 1,500 gallons of water before being replaced IF your chlorine level is 1 ppm. With
a 2 ppm you should get 750 gallons of ltered water before needing to change, with a 3 ppm
you should get 500 gallons, and so on. Any chlorine not absorbed by a spent carbon cartridge
will break down your Membrane, thus greatly shortening its life.
The 1,500 gallon threshold is TOTAL water that passes through the unit. The RO Buddie has an
average rejection ratio of 1:3.5. That means for every 1 gallon of good water produced you will
reject 3.5 gallons for a total of 4.5 gallons of water passed through the unit. At 1 ppm of chlorine,
you can make about 400 gallons of good water before changing the carbon cartridge,
2 ppm you can make about 200 gallons, 3 ppm you can make about 133 gallons, and so on.
DI
Cartridge
Slide into
clips
ROBUDDIEFILTERBASICS(cont.)
When the sediment cartridge needs to be changed, the production of water will reduce.
Even with reduced water production, the cartridge will not allow anything larger than one
micron to pass through the chamber. On average the sediment cartridge should be changed
at every other carbon change.
With proper lter changes, the membrane could last up to two years. The membrane’s water
production rating is based on 77°F water at 65 PSI. Any deviation from this will aect the
water production. Reference the conversion table at right. You will notice that the warmer
the water, the better the production. It is not advised that you introduce water from your water
heater to increase water temperature. The membrane cannot handle temps over 100°F.
Temperature Correction
Temperature
F/C
Correction
Factor
50/10 0.58
60/16 0.73
70/21 0.87
77/25 1.00
80/27 1.06
90/32 1.23
100/38 1.45
Pressure Correction
Pressure
PSI
Correction
Factor
10 0.17
20 0.33
30 0.5
40 0.67
50 0.83
65 1
70 1.17
80 1.33
TIP: To make more water with your 50 GPD RO Buddie, you can install a 100 GPD Membrane,
but you also need to change the 450cc Flow Restrictor to a 800cc Flow Restrictor. (800cc Flow
Restrictor Part #9000704)