| On private water systems, one of the most | | | | reacting low flow properties of Calcite, increasing |
| common causes of corrosion is acidic water. | | | | the ability to correct low pH. |
| Water that has a pH value of less than 7.0 is | | | | How to Install Calcite Neutralizer Filters |
| considered to be acidic. The ideal pH for most | | | | Calcite neutralizer filters are easy to install. They |
| domestic supplies is between 7.0 and 8.0 on the | | | | need to be located in the piping after the |
| pH scale. | | | | pressure tank on a well water system, but |
| Signs of acid water are corrosion of fixtures, | | | | before the copper household piping. If the |
| pinhole leaks in plumbing, and blue staining (from | | | | pressure tank is piped with copper, it is best to |
| copper pipes) or rust staining (from iron pipes). | | | | remove any copper piping before the neutralizer |
| Often these waters are great for drinking or | | | | and replace with PVC, PEX, or stainless steel |
| household use, but are low in buffering calcium | | | | piping, in order to avoid the corrosive effects of |
| minerals, and contain dissolved carbon-dioxide gas, | | | | the acidic water. |
| which can cause a low pH and acid condition. | | | | Neutralizer filter tanks for home water systems |
| Without treatment, these waters can be | | | | typically measure 10 or 12 inches in diameter and |
| contaminated with copper, lead and other metals | | | | 48 to 54 inches in height. The tanks have a |
| from piping, fixtures and appliances, turning good | | | | center tube about 1 inch in diameter, called the |
| water into contaminated drinking water. | | | | distributor tube, which have a screen at the |
| Treatment is accomplished by neutralizing the | | | | bottom of the tube. When the neutralizer tanks |
| water with the use of an automatic neutralizer | | | | are assembled, the distributor tube is first placed |
| filter. These are water filter tanks filled with a | | | | in the tank and some tape or a cap put on the |
| media blend of calcium and magnesium carbonates | | | | top of the tube to prevent media or gravel from |
| made from naturally occurring minerals. This | | | | entering the tube when the filter is built. |
| media, one brand of which is called Calcite, slowly | | | | Approximately 10 to 20 pounds of aquarium |
| dissolves into the water, raising the pH and | | | | gravel 1/4 inch in diameter is first poured into the |
| making it less corrosive. | | | | tank to cover the bottom distributor screen. The |
| More mineral can quickly and easily be added as | | | | calcite media, which looks like white sand, is then |
| needed to the filter tank. This is typically done | | | | poured in until the depth of the media reaches |
| once per year for most residential applications. No | | | | about two-thirds of the tank. |
| special tools are required. This type of neutralizer | | | | The top one third of the tank is left as free |
| also acts as a filter removing sediment and small | | | | space. This free space allows the media to |
| amounts of iron. | | | | expand when the neutralizer is backwashed. |
| Calcite Media | | | | Neutralizer filters need to be connected to a drain |
| Calcite is a crushed and screened white marble | | | | to allow the filters to backwash. The backwashing |
| media which can inexpensively be used to | | | | is done automatically based on a simple timer |
| neutralize acidic or low pH waters to a neutral, | | | | typically once every one to two weeks. This |
| less corrosive effluent. | | | | flushes out any sediment or iron that the |
| Calcite is a naturally occurring calcium carbonate | | | | neutralizer filter has trapped and keeps the calcite |
| media. One of the advantages of Calcite is that it | | | | clean and properly settled so it can filter and raise |
| will only dissolve until the water reaches a neutral | | | | the pH in an optimum manner. |
| pH. It does not over-correct under normal | | | | Up-Flow Neutralizers |
| conditions. | | | | An effective neutralizer filter uses an automatic |
| Upon contact with Calcite, acidic waters slowly | | | | backwash control valve, which allows the owner |
| dissolve the calcium carbonate to raise the pH | | | | to have the neutralizer tank be automatically |
| which reduces the potential leaching of copper, | | | | cleaned every one to two weeks. |
| lead and other metals found in typical plumbing | | | | In some cases, no backwash control valve is used |
| systems. Periodic backwashing will prevent | | | | and instead of the water first flowing down |
| packing, reclassify the bed and maintain high | | | | through the media and up the distributor tube, the |
| service rates. | | | | piping is installed so the water flows down the |
| As the calcium carbonate media neutralizes the | | | | distributor tube and up through the media. This is |
| water, it will increase hardness and a softener in | | | | called an "up-flow neutralizer" and they are not |
| some rare cases becomes necessary after the | | | | backwashed. |
| neutralizing filter. However this is unusual and only | | | | There are some disadvantages to up-flow |
| occurs on water that is very low in hardness and | | | | neutraliers despite the lower costs. In some cases |
| alkalinity. Most homeowners rarely find they need | | | | calcite media can wash out of the neutralizer and |
| a softener. | | | | enter the home water piping system causing |
| Calcite can be effectively combined with Clack | | | | damage. If the water flow is not sufficient the |
| Corosex to combine the high flow neutralization | | | | media can become solidified in places, causing the |
| properties of Corosex, along with the slower | | | | water to bypass the media. |