Hydrotech 2510 AIO SXT Chemical Free Iron Filter Operation Manual - Manual (Page 6)

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Section 2: Before Installation
Inspection and Handling Your Chemical Free Iron Filter
Inspect the equipment for any shipping damage. If damaged, notify the transportation company and request a damage inspection.
Damage to cartons should also be noted.
Handle the filter unit with care, Damage can result if it is dropped or set on sharp, uneven projection on the floor. Do not turn the filter
unit upside down. NOTE: If a severe loss in water pressure is observed when the filter unit is initially placed in service, the filter tank
may have been laid on its side during transit. If this occurs, backwash the filter to “reclassify” the media.
Iron (Fe)
Iron concentrations as low as 0.3 ppm will cause staining. The iron concentration, together with the flow rate demand and the
consumption rate of the water, determines the basic size of the filter system. The higher these factors are, the larger the required
system. The filter system is capable of filtering out the three main types of iron found in water supplies: soluble iron (also known as
“clear water” or ferrous iron), precipitated iron (also known as “red water” or ferric iron) and bacterial iron (also know as iron bacteria).
There is no apparent upper limit of iron concentration for the filter but special care must be taken when selecting a filter model if your
water has a combination of high iron, very low pH and/or manganese.
Manganese (Mn)
The presence of manganese can be bothersome, even for a chemical free iron filter. As little as 0.05 ppm of manganese can produce
a brownish or black stain. The ability of the filter to remove manganese depends on its concentration and the pH of the water.
Manganese tends to “coat” the filter media, rendering it incapable of increasing the pH and, therefore, ineffective in removing either
the iron or the manganese. Manganese, however, will precipitate in the filter bed when the pH is increased.
pH
The pH of water measures its acidity or its alkalinity. Water with a pH of less than 7.0 is acidic, above 7.0 is alkaline, and 7.0 is
neutral. The lower the pH value is below 7.0, the greater the acidity and the higher the pH value is above 7.0, the more alkaline.
Acidic water (pH less than 7.0) is corrosive to pipes, appliances, etc. A pH of 7.0 or higher facilitates iron removal - which is why the
filter is designed to increase the pH when it is less than 7.0.
The pH increasing component of the media is “sacrificial”. That is, it slowly dissolves during the process of increasing pH. The rate at
which this occurs is proportional to the pH increase and the water consumption rate (i.e. the greater the pH increase and the water
consumption, the greater the sacrificial rate). Thus, when the pH is increased to 8.2 or more as is necessary when manganese is
present, the sacrificial rate is even greater. Under the most severe conditions, the MpH component of the media may have to be
replenished two to four times per year. On the other hand, if the raw water pH is 7.0 or above and no manganese is present, the
sacrificial rater is very slight.
Tannins (Humic Acid)
Tannins (also know as humic acid), which are present in some supplies, are the result of decaying vegetable matter. If the tannin
concentration is above approximately 0.5 ppm, it will form a sticky coating on the media, thus rendering it incapable of filtering the
iron. A chemical free iron filter is not recommended for this situation. If the tannin concentration is less than 0.5 ppm, a chemical free
iron filter may be installed.
Hydrogen Sulfide (H
2
S)
Hydrogen sulfide (often referred to as “sulfur”), is easily detectable by its objectionable “rotten egg” odor. Sulfur corrodes iron,
brass, copper and silver. A chemical free iron filter is not recommended when hydrogen sulfide is the only water problem, although
it is capable of removing sulfur concentrations of up to 2 to 3 ppm. Whenever hydrogen sulfide is present, backwashing must be
performed at more frequent intervals.