* Formerly named “Tap Water Purifier”
An easy-to-use, single-cartridge tap water filtration system that removes impurities from tap water, making perfect, deionized aquarium water. Filter resin changes color when it`s time to replace cartridge. Used cartridge can be replaced without tools in minutes. Comes fully assembled and attaches to any faucet in seconds. Includes 4 oz. bottles of Electro-Right and pH Adjuster to treat the filtered water, faucet adapter and tubing. For freshwater, saltwater, African cichlid or community aquariums.
How many gallons of water will the Tap Water Filter make?
The amount of deionized (DI) water produced by the Tap Water Filter depends entirely on the level of minerals, heavy metals, phosphate, nitrate, etc. that is in your tap water. Each cartridge has a fixed ion exchange capacity. In New York City, for example, aquarists can produce up to 300 gallons of DI water with a single cartridge. An aquarist in northern New Jersey, however, made 15 gallons of water. An analysis of the NJ water showed very high levels of copper, zinc, phosphate, nitrite, and nitrate in addition to the normal hardness minerals. A heavily polluted water source will use up a cartridge much sooner than a water supply low in minerals and pollutants. Most aquarists produce somewhere between 50 and 150 gallons per cartridge.
My original cartridge made 75 gallons of deionized water, the second cartridge made only 50 gallons. Why?
The level of dissolved minerals and pollutants in tap water can vary daily. The level of these dissolved substances is measured as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). The tap water in our laboratory varies from 200 to 400 ppm TDS on a daily basis. Our Quality Control Department pulls Tap Water Filters off the production lines and tests them with our tap water. They have to know the TDS of the tap water the day they test the cartridges. Why? A jump in TDS from 200 to 400 ppm means that a cartridge will produce only half as much water as the day before. It all depends on the quality of the incoming tap water. It would be unusual if you did get exactly the same number of gallons out of every cartridge!
Will a home water softener system help the Tap Water Filter make more deionized water?>
No. Water softeners simply exchange sodium ions for calcium and magnesium ions. The softener is just trading one chemical (sodium) for another (calcium and magnesium). The softened water contains the same amount of dissolved substances as the un-softened hard water.
Can I run reverse osmosis water through the Tap Water Filter?
Yes. Reverse osmosis (RO) systems can significantly reduce Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels if properly maintained. RO, however, often lets through chemicals that the Tap Water Filter will remove and many aquarists run their RO water through the Tap Water Filter to scavenge out the traces of nitrate, phosphate, silicate, etc. that the RO did not remove. Running RO water through the Tap Water Filter will ensure the best water quality and extend the life of the cartridges. DO NOT connect the Tap Water Filter in-between an RO system and a pressurized storage tank. The Tap Water Filter is a low-pressure system and cannot stand the pressure of a closed RO system. Simply let the RO water pass through the Tap Water Filter and collect the water in a bucket or storage container.
Sometimes I get an open space just above the carbon bed. Why?
The open space forms as the resin compacts in the cartridge. We strive to pack the resin as tightly as possible to avoid the compaction space. An open space is not detrimental to water quality. You might also see some of the resins settling down into the open space. A small amount of resin swirling in the open gap is acceptable. The entire resin bed, however, should not separate.
Why can t I drink the water made with the Tap Water Filter?
We state on the package that the Tap Water Filter is not intended for human consumption. No doubt you ve heard about bacterial and parasitic contamination of drinking water. The Tap Water Filter does not remove or kill bacteria or parasites that may contaminate drinking water. If your drinking water was contaminated with bacteria or parasites, the Tap Water Filter would not produce safe drinking water. Recent studies have shown that tap water filtration systems sold for making drinking water very quickly become contaminated by bacteria. This is especially true of reverse osmosis filters. Any tap water filter used to make drinking water needs to be disinfected every six months. This includes the filter housings and tubing. Therefore, use the Tap Water Filter only for your aquarium.
Do I need to use Electro-Right and pH Adjuster when making saltwater?
No. Your synthetic saltwater mix should contain all the buffers, electrolytes and trace elements necessary for the aquarium. You can add special marine buffers like proper pH 8.2 and trace elements in the aquarium later. When topping off the aquarium it is not necessary to use Electro-Right and pH Adjuster.
When I make saltwater, the pH never stabilizes to 8.2-8.4. Does deionized water lower pH?
No. Deionized water has no pH adjusting properties. The pH of your marine aquarium is regulated primarily by the buffer system created by the synthetic sea salts. If the salt manufacturer does not properly blend in the buffer salts, the final solution will have a pH other than 8.2-8.4. Some synthetic sea salts consistently run "low" or "high" depending on the manufacturer s formula and blending techniques. Tap water may contain a significant amount of carbonate hardness (KH), which boosts the pH of "low pH sea salts". When you start using the Tap Water Filter, you might need to use a pH buffering product to raise the KH of the saltwater and increase the pH.
|
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
|
Write a review
|
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
|
Excellent!
|
|
decent filter
by STEVEN MUHLE
|
|
Experience Level: Intermediate
|
|
Posted on 8/17/2007 from SCHOFIELD, WI UNITED STATES
|
|
|
Comments: I only got about 50 gallons per filter, which is probably more to do with my cities foul water than the filter, but the phos and nit tested zero, so the quality is pretty decent. Slow at about 4 gallons an hour, which is fine for topping off, but to fill a new tank.....
Yes, I would recommend this product to my friends.
|
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
|
|
Excellent!
|
|
Tapwater purifier truly works
by Silvia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments: This isnt cheap garbage. Attach it to faucet let it drip ONLY cold water at a tiny drip of 2 GPH and it truly removes ALL junk. We attach it to big plastic bin overnight the water comes out GREAT.
Yes, I would recommend this product to my friends.
|
|
|
|
Similar Items
|
|
|
|
Product:
|
|
List Price:
|
|
Our Price:
|
|
|
|
Rating:
|
|
Item Code:
|
|
Description:
|
|
|
|
|
|