diy well water filter

Dtackett · Oct 5, 2015

so im looking for a way to filter all of my well water before it hits the water softener, then after the softener I want to feed into my current rodi filter for the tank.

question becomes... anyone know of an inline dual tds meter with 3/4 inch fittings?

ive found everything else I need just not the tds meter

Windy · Oct 5, 2015

I am confused. Why not just just step the size down to those of the meter?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 5, 2015

Are you filtering out something that will result in reduced TDS?

Dtackett · Oct 5, 2015

yeah, the filter im building is a 4 stage filter. it will go from my well pump to a 10 micron sediment filter, then to the water softener, then an absolute 1 micron sediment, carbon block, and GAC. my water is high in sulfer and iron with a tds of 700+. after the filters it should be down around 300 plus the sulfer and irons will be removed via the specialized carbon block. from there it will feed everything else in the house. it will also have a stand pipe after all the filters for me to be able to run vinegar through the pipes to clean them out. the filter will cost about 250 but be well worth it, especially considering the well water is destroying my rodi unit. the rodi unit will be installed upstairs after all the filters and wont be hooked up until after I flush the pipes with vinegar a few times.

sense this is coming off my well pump and feeding the whole house I cant reduce it to 1/4 (most tds meters ive found fit 1/4). my plumbing off the pump is 3/4 then after the water softener its 1/2. I would like a tds meter after the first sediment and after the GAC to help me monitor everything.

Windy · Oct 7, 2015

Use a tee and then reduce it so you don't effect the flow.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 7, 2015

Why do you think those filters will reduce the TDS so much?

Most of the time, those types of filters have a very small impact on TDS.

Dtackett · Oct 8, 2015

because currently ive got the same setup ran to a waterline for my drinking water and that's the results. intake after the softener is at 725, outflow after a sediment filter, carbon block, and coconut shell is 271. that's with a single sediment and ill be running dual. I may not know the science behind it, I just know whats happening with my current setup. but its just the leftovers from an old rodi unit, no ro or di on it, but the prefilters are all good.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 9, 2015

Dtackett said:
because currently ive got the same setup ran to a waterline for my drinking water and that's the results. intake after the softener is at 725, outflow after a sediment filter, carbon block, and coconut shell is 271. that's with a single sediment and ill be running dual. I may not know the science behind it, I just know whats happening with my current setup. but its just the leftovers from an old rodi unit, no ro or di on it, but the prefilters are all good.

That is with the same meter on the same day? Because I don't see how those filters drop the TDS that much, and I do not recommend using TDS to judge how things like a sediment filter or carbon block are functioning.

So if you do get the TDS meters setup, just be careful how you use that info to determine if is time to change them.

These have more on what those filters do and whether they impact TDS:

Reverse Osmosis/Deionization Systems to Purify Tap Water for Reef Aquaria by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.htm

What is TDS? by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-04/rhf/feature/index.htm

Dtackett · Oct 9, 2015

same meter same day. but im not doing it so much to lower tds as much as im doing to to help deliver cleaner water, remove the iron and sulfer and prevent the rotten egg smell you sometimes get with well water. I always have that smell and it drives me nuts. ill be using clear cases on the sediment filters and will visually inspect them and change out when I see them getting dirty. im buying them in bulk so I think I can deal with replacing a 2 dollar filter as often as I need to lol. the others may be a bit more difficult but I contacted out local water system company and they said if I bring them a sample they'll test it as often as I want them to. so I figure ill have them run a test monthly.

the only issue im running into with the filters themselves is the carbon. theres so many kinds. I was hoping to find one that was designed for both iron and sulfer but I cant seem to find one that's rated very well for both.

but theres something ive never heard of until I started this research called "Manganese Dioxide " that's supposed to be really good at removing both the sulfer and irons from the water. ever heard of it or used it? its some extremely expensive stuff that wont get put on my system anytime soon but for future reference lol

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 10, 2015

I've not used manganese dioxide in a filter before.

Perhaps the Desert Rat has: @AZDesertRat

AZDesertRat · Oct 12, 2015

I don't see how your filters are lowering the TDS that much? Dissolved solids are like 0.0001 microns in size and pass right through a sediment filter and other than a few contaminants right through a carbon block. GAC will actually add TDS since it is soft and is degrading and turning to dust or eroding as water passes through.

Try contacting Russ at www.buckeyehydro.com , he is local to Ohio and has a very good understanding of your water conditions. I'm not convinced your approach is the right way to go.