This trip out I decided I would try to investigate the effectiveness (or lack there of) of my pre-filter setup in my gravity system.

I'm currently using a Platy CleanStream cartridge, but also used the exact same type of system with the Frontier Pro filter.

With the Frontier Pro, I just put a 3/4" piece of hose on the intake (inside the bag) to facilitate a silt settling area of water that would remain in the bag. With the CleanStream, I just left the long hose barb sticking up in the bag.


Here is an example of what gets left in the bag from clear creek water. It would probably be more efficient, the longer it was left to settle.


To catch the stuff that doesn't settle, the Frontier Pro comes with a few little round chunks of fiber-fill looking stuff that goes between the intake parts. In my CleanStream bag, I put a chunk of the same stuff in between the two hose barb adapters that screw together on the inside and outside of the bag.

Here's what it looks like after 3 long weekend trips... same water conditions.



Ok, that's all. Thought it might be mildly interesting.

Edit:
Sorry for the lighting in that last pic. Should have used a flash.

Edited by Thangfish on 04/28/2009 18:45:27 MDT.

Chris,

in this thread,

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=20561&skip_to_post=164912#164912

it was mentioned that all parts can be had at Ace. I went there and was told that the two parts (inside and outside of the "dirty" bag) have incompatible threads - one is hose threaded and the other is pipe threaded.

You mentioned US Plastics. Is this the piece (coupler)?:
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/variant.asp?catalog_name=USPlastic&category_name=6913&product_id=7750&variant_id=63157

Sorry, don't know how to make a click-able link yet.

Were you unable to obtain the parts locally (like Ace, Lowes, or Home Depot)?

Thanks!!

Edited by kent on 05/26/2009 04:37:32 MDT.

Hi Kent,

I have the same set up with a Sawyer water filter. I made an order from US plastic over a year ago, and the part numbers are still the same. They have more than two 1/4 inch options. Here is what I ordered that work well together:

61130 1/4 Male nylon adapter http://tiny.cc/FATUD
62169 1/4 Female nylon adapter http://tiny.cc/wAYF4

A stop cock http://tiny.cc/w3SSm
50' (min order) of 1/4" tubing http://tiny.cc/ygHhn

I would also recommend you order some of their small bottles http://tiny.cc/guffv

Tony

Edited by TonyFleming on 05/26/2009 07:13:16 MDT.

Tony,

This is the specific info I've been trying to hunt down.

Thanks!

Are these "specialty" parts that you couldn't find at a local retail store?

I ask for several reasons:
1 - support local brick & mortar
2 - speed in obtaining parts
3 - I'll probably have to pay 2-5 times the parts cost for shipping!

Hi Kent,

Sorry I didn't see your follow up question earlier. I could not find the parts locally. When you place your order at US Plastic, click on the shipping option "Prepay and Add" the Actual shipping charges will be added to your order's total after the order has been shipped, and the shipping will not be to excessive.

Tony

Edited by TonyFleming on 06/10/2009 22:00:41 MDT.

Tony, super super fantastic post. I just ordered the items and it was super inexpensive -- thanks for the plug for the small plastic bottles too.

Tony,

Wow, this is fantastic!

I am going to add this information to my review of the Sawyer In Line Filter as a solution to preventing clogging due to mucky water.

By the way, what are you using inside of this pre-filter to capture the silt/muck that does not bring the rate of flow into the Sawyer filter to a crawl?

-Tony

Hi Tony,

Chris is the one with the prefilter idea. I have emailed Aquamira and asked them where I can buy the replacement prefilter disks for the Frontier Pro. I will post a source when they provide it.

Tony F.

Thanks for the parts #s.
I'm not sure if this is the same as your part, but for backwashing the Sawyer filter, a standard US garden hose female to 1/4" adapter at usplastics is:
63001 Nylon Swivel Female Insert 1/4" Hose Size x Swivel GHT
It fits the standard outside faucet for garden hoses.

Tony -

I've been wanting to make one of these for a while and looking over your parts and I had a question for you. Was there a reason besides cost that you went with the PVC tubing? Is there a big weight difference? The silicone tubing on my pump is nice as it doesn't kink and stretches for nice tight fits on the fittings.

Thanks,
Bryant

Hi Bryant,

I can't speak for Tony but will speculate it's what he could find, rather than a preference. Silicone tubing isn't commonly stocked in my area, so takes some hunting (i.e., on-line sources).

I agree that silicone is the way to go, for the reasons you cite plus it never alters the water's taste.

Cheers,

Rick

Chris,

A couple comments / questions on your system.

1. It seems you would get a faster flow rate if you had dirty tubing in between the dirty bag and the filter. What kind of flow rate do you get currently with the CleanStream cartridge?

2. Why did you not go with the Sawyer filter?

3. The Platy Clean Stream dirty bag solve the sediment problem by placing the output about 2" above the bottom of the bag. That way, dirt can settle. See my post in the above thread about why the Clean Stream dirty bag is the best I've seen yet out of all the options out there.

Tony,

I just clicked the cart button and then entered my zip code and clicked the update button; shipping charges calculated and shown, before placing order.

Thanks again for the parts info. With your URL's I was able to quickly locate the correct parts, and yes, the shipping charges were acceptable ($6.30 in parts and $6.28 shipping).

Happy Trails (& germ-free water!)

Bryant - I actually had picked out some more expensive Tygon® Beverage Tubing. But, couldn't decide between it or Antimicrobial tubing. So, before placing my order I called US plastic to confirm what to buy. A rep pointed me to this tubing for this use as it meets FDA standards, is widely used in the food industry, and is 1/10th the price. I had not done enough research to know to pick Silicone tubing http://tiny.cc/AEJx9 or http://tiny.cc/3FT0X.

Chris/ others - with the AGG bag and the parts listed above you can add a piece of tubing as long as you want to stick up as high as you want in your dirty water collection bag to keep sediment that has settled from entering your filter. With an added valve on your tubing you can let collected water stand to allow setiment to settle before starting the water flow.

Tony

Edited by TonyFleming on 06/12/2009 02:38:10 MDT.

Tony: Do you have to still treat with micropur or mira or something else b4, or does the sawyer take it all out? Also can this setup be used with a sawyer purifier? Finally, would the purifier be too slow, and clog easily as well? (clooging may be remedied with the hose inside the bag method)

The cheaper Sawyer filter takes out everything but virus. If there will be virus in the water, then treat with chemicals also. Apparently straight chlorine bleach will do this fine even though it is problematic for giardia and bacteria.