A dialysis system comprising a sorbent cartridge for fluidly communicating with at least one of a patient or a dialyzer, the sorbent cartridge including a housing having a zirconium phosphate layer followed by at least one of a urease layer, a zirconium oxide layer, or a carbon layer; a storage container in fluid communication with the sorbent cartridge; a pump in fluid communication with the sorbent cartridge and the storage container; and a control unit in operable communication with the pump to cause the pump to (i) recirculate a dialysis fluid through the sorbent cartridge for at least two recirculation cycles such that the dialysis fluid in each cycle contacts the zirconium phosphate layer first before contacting the at least one of the urease layer, zirconium oxide layer or carbon layer, and (ii) store the dialysis fluid in the storage container after the at least two recirculation cycles.