1:1 RO waste/ product ratio?

Correct, the flow restrictor always goes in or on the waste line. Photos of your system would still help. Are you sure of the plumbing.
There are three lines in and out of the RO membrane housing, the one end has a single line which is black with most systems and is the tap water in. The opposite end has two lines, the one closest to the centerline of the housing is the treated water line, usually blue in color, and the one closer to the outer edge of the housing is the waste line with the flow restrictor inside or on it and usually yellow or red in color.

 

Yes, exactly.

 

Once you have it corrected, disconnect or remove the DI and run the RO only for maybe 8-10 gallons contimous to give the membrane a good flush.
Measure your waste ratio, water temperature and water pressure, tap TDS and RO only TDS. Adjust the waste ratio as needed depending on your water conditions, hardness and TDS. Install the DI and let it run a gallon or so and measure the RO/DI TDS.

What are the results or all the above? This will tell you if your system is working properly.

 

You have asked for help but you have not provided the answer to a single troubleshooting question asked? All the questions I have asked provide tips on where a problem may be and how to correct the system and make it work properly. Do you own a TDS meter, pressure gauge, measuring cup and thermometer? You need to use them if you do or but them if you don't, they are necessary pieces of equipment to keep a RO or RO/DI functioning properly and impossible to do without since you would have no idea if is functioning or not.

 

AZ, I mean absolutely no disrespect. I did take the unit apart and reseated the RO. I also searched for the flow restrictor which I found in the wrong place. I did order the flow restrictor with the new membrane, but with the coralife restrictor on the other line ( product) if this us how the unit is supposed to work (doubtful). I am getting 350 ml (if I remember correctly, the unit is disassembled right now) per minute from both the waste and the product. No, I do not have a pressure gauge, I was under the impression that the booster pump would ensure everything was running at the right pressure. Sounds like I may have been wrong. Yes, I have an inline TDS meter between the prefilters and the to export. No I do not have a handheld one, another purchase I need to make.

If I have not updated the thread it is not that I do not appreciate and take the advice, it is that I am waiting until Monday to speak to both coralife (mfg of the unit) to explain the placement and spectrapure for some additional info. I shall update then

 

You will need to replace the flow restrictor with the one Spectrapure provided, the 100 GPD is not the correct size. The 90 GPD Spectrapure membrane is closer in specs to a 75 GPD Dow Filmtec, not the 100. Stick it in the waste line, run the system, measure the waste and treated water rates, tap and RO TDS and your pressure and temperature. Those things will tell you everything you need to know and Spectrapure will ask for them when you call them, Coralife probably won't.

 

Ok. Here we go again. The coralife flow restrictor is an integral part of the elbow and can't be removed. I switched the elbow so it was on the waste line and checked again. 350ml to 350 ml. I tried it again with the booster pump off and got 150ml to 150ml.
Coralife says a 1:1 ratio is typical of that unit. How could that be?
Anyway, here's a pic. The yellow line is the input. The red line is waste (now with flow restrictor) and the blue line is product (where the flow restrictor used to be)

 

REMOVE the Coralife elbow and place it in the nearest trashcan. I can't say it any simpler than that, it is junk.

Go to Lowes or HD and buy a new elbow, screw it in the waste outlet and install the new capillary tube flow restrictor. Run the system for a few minutes then measure the waste ratio. If it is not in the 3:1 to 4:1 range then remove the retsrictor and trim it to the suggested length with a new razor blade, reinstall and test again until the waste ratio is where it should be.

Question, how did you install the new RO membrane in that housing, it appears to be one of the sealed throw away varieties that does not unscrew? Most reusable housings have ribs on the part that unscrews.

Is that a black solenoid valve I see in the red waste line?

 

(Embarrassed) I'm not sure what a solenoid is. It says it is an automatic flush valve.

The RO housing does unscrew, but it is tough.

Spectrapure guesses that I should re-install the coralife flow restrictor into the output line like it was before then install theirs also in the waste line.

They and you (AZ) have been very helpful.

I'd like to toss the whole thing in the trash.