Refilling Jabsco AquaFilta with activated carbon granules?

[Tim Good]

So if you own a Jabsco AquaFilta you probably feel a bit hard done by when you have to get a new cartridge at anything from £25-35.

The other day my new one rolled off the counter and the top off. The black activated carbon went all over the floor! I swept it up and put it back together.

It then got me thinking, so I googled “activated carbon” and it appears you can buy tubs or packets of it for a fraction of the price and these Filter cases are clearly reusable.

Has anyone else’s done this?

 

[dansaskip]

I like that idea, like Northcave I have had one spill on me but never thought of trying to buy it loose. I'll have to see about buying the loose stuff Thanks Nothcave.

 

[Sea-Fever]

Will it still be watertight after a diy refill?

 

[Tim Good]

Will it still be watertight after a diy refill?

I think so since the Part that came away isn’t sealed with an O ring, it’s the part that goes up inside the cap which is sealed. If that makes sense...

It just sits back inside. It was fixed in place by some tiny plastic bits which have snapped but I can’t see them being important as the top would be push down by the lid and water pressure anyway.

 

[tudorsailor]

I can confirm that it is easy to refill the Aquafilter with activated charcoal. I have been doing this for about 5 years now. I bought the charcoal from eBay. Look for Activated Carbon Charcoal Granulated for Aquarium Fish Tank Filter Media. It seems fine. The water comes out a bit black to begin with and then is fine. I change the charcoal every year.
TS

 

[Tim Good]

I can confirm that it is easy to refill the Aquafilter with activated charcoal. I have been doing this for about 5 years now. I bought the charcoal from eBay. Look for Activated Carbon Charcoal Granulated for Aquarium Fish Tank Filter Media. It seems fine. The water comes out a bit black to begin with and then is fine. I change the charcoal every year.
TS

And I thought I was being clever.

 

[nigel1]

Approximately how much carbon is needed to make one refill?

 

[Tim Good]

Approximately how much carbon is needed to make one refill?

250g

 

[sailorman]

Approximately how much carbon is needed to make one refill?

so about £2.50 over £25+

 

[Tim Good]

so about £2.50 over £25+

Basically yeah. And throw in other stuff in there if you want. I imagine you could put mineral tabs, water softener tabs etc. Haven’t looked into it but will do.

 

[tudorsailor]

And I thought I was being clever.

I also used the charcoal for the filter for the breather from the holding tank. These are even more expensive than the Aquafilter. However not so simple to replace so made my own with the same charcoal! Bonus was that I was able to use my 3D printer to print the connector.

TS

 

[Bodach na mara]

It's brilliant ideas in threads like this that make this forum so useful.

 

[thinwater]

The simpler answer is to use a standard 2x10 housing for which parts are freely available. Carbon block filters are also better at blocking cysts and the like than loose carbon.

 

[alahol2]

Does the 'silver impregnated' as specified by Jabsco make any difference? Can you get silver impregnated activated charcoal?

 

[tudorsailor]

Does the 'silver impregnated' as specified by Jabsco make any difference? Can you get silver impregnated activated charcoal?

Ebay has it Silver Infused Active Coconut Carbon Loose Water Filter | eBay

TudorSailor

 

[affinite]

I can confirm that it is easy to refill the Aquafilter with activated charcoal. I have been doing this for about 5 years now. I bought the charcoal from eBay. Look for Activated Carbon Charcoal Granulated for Aquarium Fish Tank Filter Media. It seems fine. The water comes out a bit black to begin with and then is fine. I change the charcoal every year.
TS

Is it sterile ?
Do you drink the water or just use it for washing

 

[tudorsailor]

Rightly or wrongly we have been drinking the water. Been ok so f.........................

 

[affinite]

Rightly or wrongly we have been drinking the water. Been ok so f.........................

 

[Freebee]

If I may introduce a note of caution ..........activated carbon has many specifications and many uses, as an example it can be used to trap mercury............ I mention this because activated carbon can be treated and re generated after being exhausted to be used again or sold for re use,

So its important to buy the right grade and spec for what you need. Activated carbon - Wikipedia

Be careful Not to buy some cheap regenerated stuff from an e swindle that might been used to clean up poisons which might be perfectly adequate for some processes but not for all processes, ......just saying....... if you don't know what you are doing best not do it!!! Stay safe!!

 

[PetiteFleur]

An excellent idea - just ordered some for my boat - MUCH cheaper than buying a new filter every year... Perhaps Jabsco could sell it as 'refillable' and you just buy a pack of activated carbon with a new 'O' ring at a much cheaper cost than a new complete filter.