In-line Carbon Filter

[ousnakebyte]

So, last weekend I decided to take off my UV sterilizer, as I really don't see a difference with it on or off the system. I decided to build and replace it with a larger carbon filter, different than what I have used in the past. The idea was inspired by my RO filter I use to make fresh water with. It looks like this:

It has a 3/4" inlet and outlet with true union valves. The main chamber that is filled with carbon is 3" pvc with rubber reducer couplings to 2", then 2" to 3/4" reducer bushings that fit in the rubber couplings. True union valves are on either side so I can isolate the chamber when it is time to change the carbon.

The chamber is packed full of carbon, and I cut circular pieces of filter padding to place on either side of the carbon, so it's not going anywhere.

Living in a 1-bedroom apartment, my biggest fear is that I am going to spring a leak on something that will drain to my neighbors below (that happened when I was in college).

Sooooo.... what am I missing? Do you think I am at risk of one of the hose clamps failing if pressure builds up in the chamber if it gets clogged? I think (hope) that water will just go the other way if that happens - I should mention this is plumbed into the return manifold of my main system pump (only pump on the system, actually). So, water has 5 ways to go when it leaves the pump.

Should I be worried about the black rubber couplings leeching something potentially toxic into the tank?

Think this system will even work?

Cheers
Mike

 

[goldenservices3]

I would deff. Worry about it clogging,that is going to make one heck of a mess if you don't catch it in time

 

[nanojg]

Why would it make a mess if it clogged? The return water would just not make it to the display and no more water would drain into the sump. I would be more concerned with the maintenance chore

 

[shifty51008]

i would be worried about to much flow grinding up the carbon and releasing that into the tank. IIRC hellie (sp.) was found to start because of that.

 

[goldenservices3]

The rubber couplers popping off the PVC pipe,if it clogges its going to build up back pressure and could pop.

 

[ousnakebyte]

All good thoughts everyone - thanks for the feedback!

- I originally wanted to make this out of 3" clear pvc but couldn't find a local source (didn't want to pay shipping for a single length of pvc).

- I also thought about lining the inside of the fernco couplings with a layer of aquarium silicone - though... I'm not so sure that's a great solution.

But... now that I think of it... I have definitley seen these rubber couplings before connecting bulkhead-to-bulkhead. But, I've never really thought about them leeching materials....

How would I even test the effectiveness of this anyway? I suppose I could measure my tank's dissolved organic carbon and then measure the DOC coming from the output of the filter?

i would be worried about to much flow grinding up the carbon and releasing that into the tank. IIRC hellie (sp.) was found to start because of that.

It's a very low-flow application - no way the carbon will be ground up. It's also not tumbling in there since I packed it full of carbon.

The rubber couplers popping off the PVC pipe,if it clogges its going to build up back pressure and could pop.

I considered not using the rubber couplings (fernco couplings) and instead using 3" unions, but that significantly increases the cost (~$35 per union). I could still do that though - it would be an easy switch, as would swapping out for 3" clear pvc if I come across a length.

I also think that if the unit clogs, then water will not be entering it and will go one of the other 4 directions it can from my return manifold.


Cleaning the unit out will be easy. I just close off the true union valves, unscrew them and pull the filter out and empty it out; rinse the filter pads, refill and replace. It's meant to be an easy-to-work-with design.

Cheers
Mike