Activated Carbon tapwater filter

[peterp63]

I'm planning to build a GAC tapwater filter using large diameter PVC pipe and attaching hose fittings.  I will use this to filter out the tapwater as I perform water changes on my 300 gallon aquarium.

Questions:

Is running the tapwater through the GAC sufficient?  I'm wanting to simply run the tapwater through this filter and into the aquarium.  The fish will be in the aquarium so all chemicals, impurities, etc. that could harm them will hopefully be removed.  Does this really work?  I think I saw something similar to this at Delock's place.

How long should the PVC pipe be?  Meaning, how long of a residence time does the tap water need to be sufficiently treated?  I can throttle back the tap water so that I increase this timing.

How long does the GAC last?  For example, how many gallons per lb?

This is totally new to me, so any websites for building the filter or information on activated carbon would be great.

THANKS!!!

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

I would get a large 6" pipe.....probably about 2-3'tall and then get like a 1/2" that runs from the top to almost the bottom....that would be the inlet side. This is how most all media reactors are and how the carbon filters are designed. Like so the water is forced through the carbon.

With the carbon filter I run the water at about 50-75gph when I refill so that the contact time is longer and have not had any problems.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

you can calculate what you want from these size,flow rate, capacity numbers.
Heavy Duty GAC Water Filter Cartridge

[peterp63]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

Thanks for the posts.  Ek, does the 1/2" you talk about have holes throughout to kind of act like a centerpipe distributor?  Or does it just force flow to the bottom and the water then flows up and out a discharge hole at the top?  Any DIY websites for this type of device that you can recommend?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

If forces the flow to the bottom which then the water has to move upwards through the carbon and out the outlet.

Don't know of any diy sites.....pretty basic stuff actually.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

DIY Carbon Tube Filtration System

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/filtersdiy/a/aa012999.htm

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

That is something different PP.....that is carbon filtration for the aquarium.


I think this is more of what Peter is looking for....something to filter the tap water for use during water changes.

http://www.swtwater.com/catalog/1212_residential_carbon_filters.htm

[peterp63]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

These are the same websites?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

oops....link fixed.


On the link I provided shows that you want a slow flow rate through the carbon filter opposed to the high flow rate the link PP posted.

[peterp63]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

What do you guys think about using those 5 gallon buckets that sea salt comes in?  They have a screw-on lid with an O-ring.  I know they probably can't take much pressure, but I was thinking about trying it out since I have several of them laying around.  Maybe just drilling a couple of holes on the lid and installing some bulkeads and fittings similar to what Ek was talking about with the large diameter PVC.  What do you guys think??

Also, who sells bulk quantities of activated carbon?  I'm stopping buy City Pets tomorrow - do they have some?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

I don't know if a bucket would work the same since the way the carbon filter works is more like a reactor or fuidized bed filter. Both inlet/outlet is at the top but the inlet is plumbed to the bottom and then water has to force it's way through the carbon and then back out the top.

[peterp63]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

Yeah, I was thinking that I could install two 1" bulkheads on the lid - the one in the middle could be attached to a 1" PVS pipe that runs nearly to the bottom of the bucket.  The other would just be an outlet... and then maybe a 2" or 3" bulkhead for filling the thing with GAC while the lid is in place.... just an idea.  Better than spending $180 on one of these things.  Plus, 5 gallons of GAC would last forever for me.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Activated Carbon tapwater filter

If you could find a way to seal the bucket then it should work out fine.