Kent Deion 200R HELP!

[Kermit]

I have a Kent Marine DEION200R. I have recharged the last cartridge (Anion) once with no problems. I recharged it yesterday and drizzled the regeneration fluid through it for about 20 hours (instead of 24 hours). BUT I also recharged the second cartridge (Cation). (Again about 20 hours instead of 24 like the directions recommend).

The directions for the SECOND cartridge (CATION) Says "The solution must be slowly drizzled through the resin over a 24 hour period to gain "COMPLETE" regernation. ..... Rinse Cation with at least 12 gallons of tap water, slowly drizzled through."

The directions for the last cartridge (ANION) reads the same except the last sentence.. "Rinse the anion resin with 12 gallons of softened water ( [This is paraphrased] aka just put it back in the deionizing unit and discard the first 12 gallons)"

I did not slowly drizzle 12 gallons through the second (CATION) cartridge or the last cartridge (ANION) and instead just put them back together on the deionizer and figured running the unit and discarding the first 12 gallons would accomplish the rinsing of both.

Problem... After the first gallon of water came out the last cartridge (Anion) was spent, totally used up and needed regenerated.

Does the second cartridge need rinsed out of the unit (seperately)? Was there some kind of chemical reaction that caused this? Is there something else I missed?

Any help would be apreciated, I know this is long, but everyone on here seems to have a vast knowledge of everything aquarium related. Thanks in advance.

[m.lemay]

The reason softened water is needed to rinse the cartridge is that hard water will be softened in the process of rinsing the cartridge thereby shortening the effective life of the cartridge. Kent tech support should have more info for ya.