andysworld!

I purchased a flatpack water butt today called a Rainmate(R) to help me store 200 litres of water ready for the fish house move. The first flatpack water, self-assembly water butt, delivered to my door!

The water was filtered via my HMA filter and heated to the correct temperature used by the aquariums in the fish house.

Before Assembley Flatpack in box.

After 2 hours, I could probably have done with some help, two people would have made it easier to assemble!

All the waters used in the fish house aquariums are passed through an “Heavy Metal-Axe” (HMA) filter, stored in 100 litres containers, heated to 28 degrees C, aerated beforeadding to any aquarium as part of the partial water change or top up procedure. The main difference between an HMA and RO filter is that the HMA filter will not alter the pH or Total Dissolved Hardness of the input water. It will how ever remove Chlorine, Chloramines, Lead, Copper etc.

I use a three stage HMA filter

• the first stage uses a 5 micron poly-spun polypropylene sediment filter for the removal of dirt and dust – this is used to protect the second stage filter.
• the second stage uses a coconut carbon (CCB) filter, this is made from coconut shell, not coal. It is rated at 3,500 UK gallons or 6 months use. This removes chlorine and organics, ensuring that the water is chemical free.
• the second stage used a CBR2-10 filter. The CBR2-10 filter performs many functions, CBR2-10 filter cartridges are manufactured using a patented process and combine powdered activated carbon with a specially designed media for lead reduction. In addition to lead reduction, the unique formation of the carbon block enables it to reduce Cryptosporidium and Giardia cysts and fine sediment particles down to 0.5 microns. The CBR2-10 also reduces levels of chlorine, and certain VOC’s than granular activated carbon cartridges.

Today, I received my replacement filter cartridges from RO-MAN They suggested changing the CBR2-10 filter cartridge for a Chlorplus-10, which is more effective at removing Chroline and Chloromines from the water than the CBR2-10 filter cartridge previously used. (It’s the green filter on the far right in the picture)

Sediment, Carbon, CBR2-10 used filter cartridges.

Chlorine and Chloramines are used for treating drinking water. Unfortunately, Chloramines are more harmful to freshwater and saltwater fish than Chlorine. And unlike Chlorine, Chloramines will NOT evaporate if you let the water stand.

The new Chlorplus-10 filter cartridge, is the blue filter on the far right in the picture, third stage).

The HMA filter saves me having to treat the water with third party chemicals, which are costly. I also have an Reverse Osmosis filter, but this rarely gets used, because of the high levels of waste water produced. (I’m on a water meter!).

I never like changing the 10″ filter cartridges in this HMA filter, because it takes me a while afterwards to stop the leaks, I have to keep tighting up the 10″ filter cases with the spanner, I think I need new O ring seals!

A friend once said, I needed a new grommit fitting, becuse it was a bit slack!