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Grumpy Old Man
03-06-2012, 09:17 PM
Well as I said in another thread, I've been traveling a lot the last few weeks. And my Cera Grav filter is one year old so it's time to change the candles. Note that this uses the same filters as a Berkey; it just doesn't have the "coolness look" of stainless steel!

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0436.jpg


I got them ordered and delivered along with PF-4 post filter reduction elements(Think organic compounds, heavy metals, fluorine and MTBE removal). These are Sterasyl Super candles. Here's what I found when I went to replace them.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0435.jpg

First I removed the filters and saw the grunge.

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0438.jpg

Next I cleaned out the body of the filter with Lysol wipes

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0439.jpg

Grumpy Old Man
03-06-2012, 09:40 PM
I should note that the filter sat idle for 2 weeks and that is what caused the algae growth.

Next I used vinegar to clean out the Lysol residue and sterilize the cambers

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0440.jpg

Next I installed the new filter candle

http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0443.jpg

Now it is ready to prime! You'll notice that I went from 4 candles (2 Super Sterasyl and 2Super Sterasyl Imperials). I did this based on flow rates and needs. I don't use much more than 5 gallons in any given day, so 1 candle that will filter 4 gal/day is adequate. This also allows me to have 3 years of back-ups since I order by the 4 pack. A comparison of filters can be found here

Water filters installation manuals, instructions, specifications (http://doultonusa.com/HTML%20pages/how_filter_installation_works.htm)

More on this tomorrow after I prime the candle. We will install the PF-4 filter then.

Taz Baby
03-06-2012, 11:13 PM
Wow thanks for reminding me to change our filters, lol. I use hot vinager water for cleaning ours. And your right if you don,t use much water then only 1 filter is fine.

bacpacker
03-07-2012, 12:01 AM
Good stuff Grumpy. I have a set of filters for my Berkey. I may get a second set and build a set up with 2 buckets. Nice link also.

mollypup
03-07-2012, 01:02 PM
Did you clean the old filters and will reuse them again? If so, did they clean up well?

Grumpy Old Man
03-07-2012, 04:42 PM
I'll be cleaning the old filters and using them for back-up as well. Doulton says that the effective life is 6 months because the activated carbon is "used up". The ceramic body is silver impregnated so it is still functional. I'm not so sure that the activated carbon is totally consumed, after all, they are in the business of selling filters. I may try backflushing one with vinegar to see what happens. At any rate I will scrub them with a stiff toothbrush and vinegar and they should be good to go.

You can easily build a sand and carbon pre-filter using 2 five gallon food grade buckets. The sand upper and charcoal lower. Get washed concrete or masonry sand, and make your own carbon from a big bag of the "gourmet" charcoal (not briquets). I look for old food processors at yard sales to do my soap and carbon grinding-they will wear out more quickly when using them for these purposes. In a pinch the can be used to grind grain, but it takes quite a while.

I'll post the PF-4 installation later today.

mollypup
03-07-2012, 05:24 PM
I've read that you don't want to scrub them very hard at all because that will ruin the ceramic filtering feature or something like that. It might be a good idea to google how they should be cleaned just to be safe. It seems like the box that one of my ceramic filters came said to gently wash it with a soft cloth.

Grumpy Old Man
03-07-2012, 05:38 PM
Doulton recommends for their sterasyl candles using a toothbrush to clean with. It removes the surficial clogged ceramic and opens up new pores. These are ceramic after all and fairly durable if cared for properly. The sterasyl candles are what the original Berkey came with and are solely silver impregnated ceramic with no carbon media in the interior.

Grumpy Old Man
03-07-2012, 11:04 PM
Now for the PF-4 installation.

1st wash the outside with mild detergent. I used dawn.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0444.jpg

Next remove the blue endcaps and place the priming button over the opening
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0445.jpg

Then Hold it up against the faucet and turn on the water to gently prime it. The water will run with a dark powder out the bottom until it is clean or 20 seconds, whichever is longer.Turn upside down and repeat the procedure. The PF-4 is now primed and ready for installation. (Sorry no photos on this one;it required both hands to get a good seal)

Next install the filter with the flow arrow pointing away from the upper tank. The instructions say5 turns and no more, but I only got 4 1/2 before it was fully tight.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0447.jpg

Close up of the filter showing flow arrow
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0444.jpg

All installed and ready for another year.

Grumpy Old Man
03-07-2012, 11:09 PM
I then started cleaning the candles with a toothbrush. It took about 5 minutes for one candle.

after
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0448.jpg

comparison
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GrumpyOldMan53/100_0449.jpg

That's my tune up for the gravity water filter. I'll try making one from food grade buckets, maybe 2 gallon ones to have a tutorial on that.

Sniper-T
03-07-2012, 11:15 PM
silver impregnated? any transfer? you making your own colloidal silver here?

Grumpy Old Man
03-08-2012, 04:12 PM
I have a setup for CS but I'm not currently making any. Doulton's SuperSterasyl has silver in the ceramic that is supposed to act as a purifier as well as the ceramic filter pores. The SuperSterasyl also has activated carbon in the interior of the filter unlike the Sterasyl candle. I might also add that going through and doing some back calculations on my old filter set up, I probably didn't filter more than 1200 gallons in thee last year. Therefore, as I had a 4 candle set-up and as each candle is rated for 1000 gallons before it needs to be replaced, I have an effective life of ~700 gallons/candle that I have just replaced with a 1 candle system. So, after I clean each one up I have multiple backups. I'll let them dry thoroughly and put them in Ziplocks for storage so I can date and label each bag.

Taz Baby
03-09-2012, 03:25 PM
We reuse our berkey filters. We back flush them and let dry while we use a new one. Write down the date it was back flushed.

realist
03-09-2012, 07:16 PM
Hay Grumpy what was your cost for the filter and replacements? Do you have a good source? Thanks ahead of time.

Grumpy Old Man
03-12-2012, 10:19 PM
Sent PM this morning.

Grumpy Old Man
03-15-2012, 05:06 PM
Sources for filters.

CeraGrav LP-5 by AquaCera HDPE Gravity Filter System (http://www.gravityfilter.com/ambelphdgrfi.html)

AquaCera CeraGrav LP-5 Gravity Water Filter System - FreshWaterSystems.com (http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-68-aquacera-ceragrav-lp-5-gravity-water-filter-system.aspx)

Doulton Water Filters - Discount Prices at Homestead Products (http://www.homestead-products.com/water-filters-doulton-berkefeld.htm)

bacpacker
03-15-2012, 11:50 PM
Some good links there Grumpy, thanks.