I currently mix half raw well water with half RO water for use in my aquarium. This involves bypassing the water softener. The softerner's bypass valve is very awkward to use and, being plastic, it scares us. I can get water from a spigot between the well and the softener but it is really turbulent. If I let a glass of water sit, I get a good 1/8" of sediment. I want to filter the water directly from the well. How many microns should I shoot for? Oh, and the pressure at the well is about 60 psi, if that matters. Thanks.
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Is just using rain water an option?
I guess the house water has been run through the deionization system (salt regeneration) and therefore has no metals like iron or calcium and therefore no sediment. I would think this water would be good to use with the R/O water. It would contain some sodium ions and come chloride ions, but a little salt (NaCl) is good for fish (promotes their slime coat) and will not kill plants (except at high levels).
Thanks, Frank!
Actually, the water is milky tan, then goes to milky orange, nearly red, then settles out. Since I am only moving about 30 gallons at a time, I don't think I will have to clean filters that often, either. The house filter gets changed once a year and the water that comes through it has no sediment. My new water barrel has a sump so anything that gets that far can be drained from it, then I can top off with the RO. I am trying to get away from using a pump; running back and forth between rooms is getting really old. The barrel will be above the waterline of the tank so I can use gravity. I could siphon the bottom if the stuff doesn't find its way to the sump. Maybe I can find SOME luck in this process. I am almost regretting trying to set up a tank at this point.
I think most of the commercial in line filters can handle much higher psi that 60. IF you get one of these, you can buy filters of various difference micron abilities and you might want to try some different ones to see which one works best. Most likely the smallest micron ones will work best but it will also plug up the quickest.
However it is possible that the stuff you see settle out only precipitates when the water is exposed to air (oxygen). If that is the case you might be better off getting some large water storage containers or barrels and letting the water age in them overnight, then take what you need from above the sediment. You could add valves (bulkhead valves) to remove the sediment and higher to get the clean, clear water.
Actually I would go with the water containers over filters because of its simplicity and lower cost.
You could add a pump to the clarified water valve to allow you to pump the water where needed.