Carbon filtering tank water

[Tintin]

My "new" boat, an Ovni, has aluminium water tanks.

I've read that the chlorine in normal tap water (e.g. in marinas) causes a reaction with the aluminium.

Am thinking about a way to filter the incoming water when I fill the tanks (approx 600 litres total).

Anyone done similar? What did you use?

High flow rate would be needed I guess.

Quick research so far suggests 20 inch rather than 10 inch filters, along with some sort of pre-filter pump to get the flow rate.

I may have space to permanently install it, or a portable set up that can be put on deck and connected up with the input via a normal hose connector could be better.

Thoughts anyone?

Also, what sort of life span would the filters have?

 

[sarabande]

Standard polycarbonate spin-on filters, spiral wound, in a variety of filtration sizes. From Plumb Centre.


Why use expensive carbon filters ?


Check out Endosan for ensuring that your tanks and pipes are bug proof.

Their support team knows about boat filtration. www.endosan.com

 

[Momac]

Assuming it's not a brand new boat - is there any evidence of corrosion inside the tank to date ? If not why worry ?
According to defra , levels of chlorine in mains water are low in the UK compared to other countries .
http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/consumers/advice-leaflets/chlorine.pdf

.

 

[Tintin]

Standard polycarbonate spin-on filters, spiral wound, in a variety of filtration sizes. From Plumb Centre.


Why use expensive carbon filters ?


Check out Endosan for ensuring that your tanks and pipes are bug proof.

Their support team knows about boat filtration. www.endosan.com

Apparently the carbon removes the chlorine.

 

[Tintin]

Assuming it's not a brand new boat - is there any evidence of corrosion inside the tank to date ? If not why worry ?
According to defra , levels of chlorine in mains water are low in the UK compared to other countries .
http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/consumers/advice-leaflets/chlorine.pdf

.

There is evidence of corrosion and a granular crystal deposit which apparently is from the reaction of the chlorine with the aluminium. Boat will be going further than just UK

 

[pvb]

Standard polycarbonate spin-on filters, spiral wound, in a variety of filtration sizes. From Plumb Centre.


Why use expensive carbon filters ?

Polycarbonate filters won't remove chlorine, but carbon filters will.

 

[pvb]

High flow rate would be needed I guess.

Quick research so far suggests 20 inch rather than 10 inch filters, along with some sort of pre-filter pump to get the flow rate.


Also, what sort of life span would the filters have?

For optimum removal of chlorine, ordinary 10" domestic filter cartridges seem to be limited to about 3 litres/minute flow rate, so ideally you'd need several plumbed in parallel to get a sensible flow rate for filling the tanks.

In domestic use as an under-sink filter, recommended replacement interval is often 6-12 months; you'd probably be using more water than an ordinary domestic filtered tap, so might need more frequent replacements.

 

[noelex]

The level of chlorine in tap water does not have much effect on aluminium tanks, especially integrated tanks on an aluminium boat. These will be a marine grade and much thicker than a drop in tank.

Ovni use 5083 for the plating, which is excellent. From memory the stringers are 6061, which is also reasonably corrosion resistant (although not as good as 5083).

We normally use rainwater rather than city water, but we do have a 10 inch dual filter with a combination of a 5 micron particle filter on one side and a carbon filter on the other. This is easy to do and removes any concern, especially in countries that have high concentrations of chlorine.

We do not add anything to rainwater (or chlorine filtered city water) to replace the chlorine, but products that are safe for aluminium are available.

 

[noelex]

Sorry, duplicate post deleted.