I have pretty boring well water. It's naturally soft. No iron. The main issue is 1 ppm of H2S and slime. Over 20 years, I've tried air, H2O2, and NaClO with carbon. They all work, but slime causes issues. The bacteria seem to love my water when mixed with air or H2O2. And NaClO doesn't seem to work the best due to a pH of 8.5.
I'm intrigued by KDF85 because it seems to address all the problems with my water:
- removes H2S
- I don't need to add air or H2O2, which only seem to encourage bacteria growth
- I don't need a contact tank (where the bacteria love to grow)
- KDF is antimicrobial
- IDF is OK to a pH of 8.5
However, KDF85 in a backwashing filter requires way more volume than my well can output. As far as I can tell, I have four alternative options and I'm curious which is the highest chance of success.
1) Upflow tank: I don't see anyone promoting this for KDF, but I'm wondering if it is a good option?
2) Big Blue 20" cartridges: the operating cost of this might be prohibitive. It's tempting to spend a few hundred dollars and try, because this is by far the simplest solution. The largest filter has 5 lbs of KDF85
3) 4 or 5 lbs of KDF in a media guard in a back washing 10x54 media tank filled with carbon or Katalox Lite. Based on what I've read, it works well at lower flow rates, but I should expect to change the KDF every few years. I see some hints it will reduce the microbial activity in the carbon, but not for certain.
4) 2 lbs of KDF in reticulated foam cubes placed on top of carbon in a 10x54 media tank. It sounds like this is the most recent development in KDF, but I haven't found much info on it. This is likely the easiest method to implement, but it is a lot less KDF (by mass) than any of the other options.
Would it be worth trying to find a silver carbon if I pursue any solution where I'm using KDF and carbon? If so, any suggestions on a good silver carbon for H2S and bacteria?
I'm intrigued by KDF85 because it seems to address all the problems with my water:
- removes H2S
- I don't need to add air or H2O2, which only seem to encourage bacteria growth
- I don't need a contact tank (where the bacteria love to grow)
- KDF is antimicrobial
- IDF is OK to a pH of 8.5
However, KDF85 in a backwashing filter requires way more volume than my well can output. As far as I can tell, I have four alternative options and I'm curious which is the highest chance of success.
1) Upflow tank: I don't see anyone promoting this for KDF, but I'm wondering if it is a good option?
2) Big Blue 20" cartridges: the operating cost of this might be prohibitive. It's tempting to spend a few hundred dollars and try, because this is by far the simplest solution. The largest filter has 5 lbs of KDF85
3) 4 or 5 lbs of KDF in a media guard in a back washing 10x54 media tank filled with carbon or Katalox Lite. Based on what I've read, it works well at lower flow rates, but I should expect to change the KDF every few years. I see some hints it will reduce the microbial activity in the carbon, but not for certain.
4) 2 lbs of KDF in reticulated foam cubes placed on top of carbon in a 10x54 media tank. It sounds like this is the most recent development in KDF, but I haven't found much info on it. This is likely the easiest method to implement, but it is a lot less KDF (by mass) than any of the other options.
Would it be worth trying to find a silver carbon if I pursue any solution where I'm using KDF and carbon? If so, any suggestions on a good silver carbon for H2S and bacteria?
