Softener upper basket

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Grunt

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Ive just been informed that the upper basket on control valves is not used when the valve is used on a vortech tank. Am setting up a 12x52 vortech with a 2510 sxt. The valve didn't come with an upper basket and when asked about it was informed no upper basket is used when utilizing a voetech tank. Very worrysome feeling about that. Anyone ever hear anything about that ?
V / R Grunt
 

Bannerman

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An upper basket is commonly required for carbon media. As the Vortech slotted lower platform only replaces a gravel underbed, a slotted platform does not change the purpose or need for an upper basket.

As it is claimed the Vortech slotted platform provides less restriction and will therefore require less backwash flow compared to gravel, if so, then the DLFC flow rate may need to be reduced otherwise, some of the carbon media maybe backwashed out from the tank.

An upper basket is intended to prevent loss of media, but the backwash rate restrictor (DLFC button) will need to be appropriately sized so the upper basket is not unnecessarily overloaded in being relied on to prevent media loss.
 

ditttohead

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In general the upper basket has a few of important functions.
1: Diffusing the water so as to minimize channeling during service. We found this to be especially important on larger tanks.
2: Prevents media from getting up into the valve head during shipping if the system is pre-assembled.
3: Prevents media loss during backwash in the case of colder than expected water. Cold water is more dense than hot water and will expand the media much more than warm or hot water.
4: Many online companies don't ship them in their quest to be a couple bucks cheaper than the next company.

You should be ok without the top screen assuming your water temperature is fairly consistent but I would recommend getting one.
 

LLigetfa

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If you have particularly nasty water, the top screen can get built up to the point of clogging. Some folks leave it out for that reason but as mentioned, unusual circumstances can cause media to go up into the head and down the drain. I had an issue where the top screen was left out of an iron filter deliberately and an air & water mixture caused violent backwashing that drove media up into the head and clogged it up.
 

ditttohead

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Most iron systems use an umbrella or a diffuser rather than a top screen. Top screens clog easily in iron reduction systems.
 
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