Converting 5600SXT from carbon to Chemsorb

[diggity]

Long story short, I think I need to rebed my 1.5 cuft catalytic carbon tank with Chemsorb or some other zeolite media. The carbon just isn't cutting it for removing oxidized iron particles. I think Chemsorb is denser than carbon, so I'm assuming I'd need to increase the backflow rate, which is currently set to 5 gpm (which I know only because there is a little handwritten sticker on the backflow fitting which says "5 gpm"). I read through the manual, but I don't see a way to change the backflow rate. As always, any advice is appreciated!

 

[Reach4]

The DLFC controls that, and I think 7 GPM is the biggest available for the 5600SXT.

The cross section of a 10 inch thank is 0.545 sqft. So 7 GPM should give 12.8 GPM/sqft. Your 5 GPM gives 9.17 GPM/sqft. When you read about the backwashing rates for media, they are usually given in GPM/sqft unless they are in metric.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[diggity]

OK, I found info on Chemsorb which says it only requires 5 gpm/sqft for backwash. So I guess I'm good leaving it as-is. Thanks Reach4!

 

[Bannerman]

Five gpm for Chemsorb, is the minimum backwash rate.

This chart specifies 6.5 gpm as the average backwash rate (between minimum and the max (optimal ?) rate) so it appears that 8 gpm could be optimal in a 10" diameter tank. http://www.purewaterproducts.com/articles/backwash-chart

This site which sells a 1.5 cuft Chemsorb system, specifies a 10 gpm backwash rate. http://www.qualitywatertreatment.com/Fleck2510AutoBackwashChemSorbSedimentFilter15-idv-1716-112.html

5 gpm is the midpoint rate for a 10" GAC tank. Before re-bedding, you might try a higher rate for your older catalytic carbon as adsorbtion will have caused the media to be heavier than when it was new. As the media is heavier, it will require a higher backwash rate to restore the same amount of bed expansion as was initially utilized.