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anyone using a gravity filter


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Home Forums General Forums Food, Hydration, and Nutrition anyone using a gravity filter

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  • #1219848
    william hutchinson
    Member

    @okuncool

    Locale: midwest (boo hoo)

    wondering if anyone out there is using a gravity filter system, and if so what are you using. i was thinking about using the seychelle filter with a couple of platypus bags. anyone out there using somthing different i would love to get input from others about their system. thanks
    will

    #1364541
    R K
    Spectator

    @oiboyroi

    Locale: South West US

    Hey Will,

    Yes I use a homemade version based on Ray Jardine’s design and think the world of it. Really easy to fill and fast to filter (about 1L/min) and resonably lightweight (6.2oz when dry). Very easy to make.

    Some people have posted positive things about the H2O Amigo and Seychelle filter, but I am not a fan of either one.

    Another good option is Aqua Mira though, I gave it up after using it for a week straight due to wait times and taste.

    #1364546
    Benjamin Tomsky
    Member

    @btomsky

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    I used a Seychelle inline filter as part of my hydration system for a few hundred trail miles (over perhaps five trips totaling three weeks). I used it inline straight from a dromedary and in a gravity setup. At first, it was OK, but grew slower and slower to the point that it is essentially worthless now. At it’s best, it would filter 4 liters of water in a few hours (I always used it overnight, so can’t say for sure). However, that performance didn’t last for long, despite vigorous cleaning and careful source selection.

    I have since switched to Clearwater and Aqua Mira. Used at lower concentrations, I don’t mind the taste too much, and the dependability is unbeatable…

    #1364725
    Michael Davis
    Member

    @mad777

    Locale: South Florida

    I use the H2O Amigo from ULA. Love it! Works great, it’s fast, no maintenance, has a pre-filter. Weights 9.6 oz for complete kit.

    #1365328
    nick lidakis
    Member

    @nyc_paramedic

    I’m using the ULA h20 Amigo, albeit modified depending on my needs. I replaced the stock drawcord water bag with an ultralight 4 liter waterproof drysack. This way, I can hang the bag in camp and have extra water, and also wash my hands without fear of spilling any water. The stock drawcord bag, which doesn’t seal close at the the top, would sometimes shift postion and leak or spill water out.

    I also can use a General Ecology First Need replacement canister instead of the stock inline filter. The GE canister, as per the manufacture’s specs, can be used in gravity filter mode sans pump. This canister is the only mechanical “purifier”, not filter, that is EPA rated to remove viruses, protozoa, and bacteria without the use of iodine or other chemicals.

    The canister is slighty heavier than the ULA supplied one, but I feel a little bit safer that no matter what water I might encounter, it will be 100% potable.

    #1365403
    mark henley
    Member

    @flash582

    I’ve used the Amigo and loved it, switched to chems for the lightness and like them, but now I purchased a 2 oz inline filter from justdrink.com. I put the filter inline in my platy hydration tube.

    Viola!

    Not only does it do great job as an inline filter, but slide off the removable platy bite valve and you convert it instantly to a gravity filter with a better flow rate than the amigo.

    I normally just carry the platy during the day and a Liter of gatorade, then filter another 2+L plus refilling the platy for dinner and breakfast.

    Fill up the Platy in the morning and you’re off down the trail in just a minute.

    0.7 oz for the 1L platy, 2 oz for the filter, 4 oz for the hydration setup, and 1.4 oz for the 2+ L platy … 8.1 oz for the whole setup vs 7 oz for just the Amigo and no extra baggage in your pack

    #1365406
    Bill Fornshell
    BPL Member

    @bfornshell

    Locale: Southern Texas

    Mark,
    My home-made Gravity Water Filter only weighs 5.61 ounces. Add the Platy 1 liter at (your weight) of 0.7 ounces and my set-up only weighs a total of 6.31.

    I first started out with a stock Amigo filter but dumped the filter that came with it for the much better Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter. Next came a new bag made from Cuben Fiber and a lightened filter, etc, etc and soon it was a completely new set-up. There is a thread in the MYOG Forum showing how I did it.

    #1365450
    Stephen Eggleston
    Member

    @happycamper

    Locale: South Bayish

    I used the seychelle in a gravity filter set-up for some time. I used a big zip platy on top with a platy resevoir underneath. I set it up so that while hiking the filter outlet was attached to hose/bit valve. Then when at camp I pulled the hose/bite valve off the outlet and attached a short hose and resevoir.

    I prefer the Aqua Mira currently. Gravity filters have the advantage of reducing your chemical exposure, just be sure to understand the filter’s capabilities or lack there of. The seychelle filter usually left me with runny/loose stools due to inadequate filtration ~:(

    #1365721
    william hutchinson
    Member

    @okuncool

    Locale: midwest (boo hoo)

    “The seychelle filter usually left me with runny/loose stools due to inadequate filtration ~:(“

    has anyone else experienced this problem. my issue is i am prepairing for a thru-hike of the pct and i am worried about chemical exposure for such a long time. i really am not sure what my solution could be. i had planned on using two bladders and a seychelle in between but “runny/loose stool” is not going to cut it for me. i would rather use chemicals. there is a new in line filter i saw recently called the sawyer in line filter available at rei. has anyone experienced that or heard anything. i have always hated regular filters because they weigh so much and take forever to pump. i thought the gravity filter would be a good solution, becuase it would reduce weight and i could do other things wile it was filtering, but it sounds like it might not be the safest solution. any thoughts.
    will

    #1365732
    paul johnson
    Member

    @pj

    Locale: LazyBoy in my Den - miss the forest

    Seychelle is, in reality, a cyst filter. I can think of a few reasons why one may have problems using it.

    1. The filter is cracked and so is ineffective.

    2. Bacterial diarrhea (bacteria are generally too small to be filtered by the Seychelle based upon the Mfr’s statement of its absolute pore size; bacteria, from more than one taxonomic family, can cause issues in the human’s hintermost parts)

    3. Sometimes Crypto can fold over on itself (while not the most common shape for Crypto, i’ve seen this myself under a microscope) and in this shape may(???) be able to pass through the Seychelle pores.

    IMHO, Giardia should NOT be able to make it through an undamaged, properly functioning Seychelle.

    You might consider trying the SteriPen UV-C water purifier coupled with a pre-filter (as simple as a bandana over the mouth of your 1L container). Mine takes 4xAA batts (not sure about what batts the newest smaller model takes). I know, I know – batteries; not the ideal solution. You might query the Forum users who have hiked the PCT about the availability of AA batts vs. CR123 batts (used by the AquaStar UV-C purifier) for resupply.

    #1365741
    Mike Storesund
    Member

    @mikes-1

    I use a gravity filter most of the time, with Aqua Mira or Klear Water as backup or extra precaution if I really want to make sure I get the best drinking water I can.

    I started using a platypus combination where I have the 4 liter water tank (big zip and handles on top, tube hole on bottom), the filter link attachment to a 3” piece of hose then to a 5 micron Sweetwater filter (used as pre-filter) to a 3’ piece of hose to the 2 micron Seychelle filter and a final short piece of hose. Everything rolled up in the water tank and weighs just over 10 ounces. Since then I purchased the H2O Amigo and use that as my primary gravity filter.

    Being only 5’6” I do need to tie it off on a higher branch, but I’m okay with that. If I feel the need for extra precaution, I can always add the chemical treatment after the water has been filtered.

    #1365888
    william hutchinson
    Member

    @okuncool

    Locale: midwest (boo hoo)

    nick- you said you were using te general ecology canister in a gravity setup. how well is that working for you. what is the flow rate. how heavy is the canister. i cannot find any information on the net about flow rate or weight of the canister alone.
    will

    #1365938
    BRIAN DARSEY
    Member

    @t-back

    I was inspired by Bill F’s filter mods and so purchased a Hiker Pro filter and started cutting. Instead of a bag I used platapus 2L bag with a shower kit attached. I mated the outflow nipple from the filter to the shower intake hose. Remembering what a friend told me he had done, I used my silnylon bucket and put a hose outlet on it. On the oppisite end of the hose I placed a cheep, generic, plastic fuel filter. I gather water in my bucket. I don’t have to be very careful anymore about floaties and silt because I filter those out before the water ever touches my bio filter. I’ve used it for three weeks and have no visible soil on the Hiker Pro. When the pre filter gets slow I just flip it around on the tubing and backflush it and I’m good to go. Eventually it will clog but then I’m only out $2.50 for a new one verses the cost of the Hiker. So far it has worked well for me. I could try and post some pics if you are interested.

    Brian
    T-BACK

    #1365967
    william hutchinson
    Member

    @okuncool

    Locale: midwest (boo hoo)

    yeah i would definately be interested in photos
    i am still trying to figure out what setup i want. i am starting to consider one of those uv lights.

    #1365997
    BRIAN DARSEY
    Member

    @t-back

    Here are a couple of pics from my last AT hike. Hope they help.

    Prefilter on top, Biofilter in platy.Setup on hillside

    #1366453
    nick lidakis
    Member

    @nyc_paramedic

    The canister (just weighed it again) is 11.7 ounces saturated. I can fill up a liter bladder in about two to three minutes. With the tubing and the ultralight drysack, the total comes in to about 13.5 ounces.

    The General Ecology website:
    Particle Retention (microns)
    .1 nominal
    .4 absolute

    It’s not the most ultra-light. It is the lighest, most reliable, and absolute safest “purifier” setup I can think of right now. There are lighter “filters”, but they won’t protect you against bacteria and viruses.

    I’ve researched chemical tablets, and they depend too much on water temperature and wait times.

    The Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets specify a fifteen minute wait to kill bacteria and viruses, and up to a four hour contact time to kill Cyryptosporidum. But, that is at a water temp of 4 degree Celcius, or 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit. I can’t find any fact sheet or manual (every other product/filter has a PDF) on their website concerning these tablets. What if the water you encounter is much colder?

    I guess one can use the stock seychelle to remove cysts, and then the Katadyn tablets to remove bateria and viruses.

    I almost forgot to add that –concerning the custom setup I have– one can increase the flow rate by rolling and squeezing the closed drysack water bag, like a tube of toothpaste, if you will.I thought of this one day when I realized that I always squeeze liter bags of I.V. saline to incerase the flow rate to patients who are in severe stages of decompensated shock.

    #1366499
    paul johnson
    Member

    @pj

    Locale: LazyBoy in my Den - miss the forest

    Just an FYI.

    There are many sub-micron filters available that will eliminate bacteria.

    And, much to my surprise and initial extreme skepticism, one filter (from Sawyer) claims to eliminate non-filtrable (as they were always previously known) viruses, measuring tens of nanometers in size. As Gomer Pyle, USMC, used to say, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”.

    #1366523
    d k
    BPL Member

    @dkramalc

    pj,

    Have you used the Sawyer? I’ve been intrigued by the description, but wondering how much suction/pressure is required to get water to flow through such a fine filtration. I’d emailed them, but never got a reply (though it may have been filtered out by the spam filter at work, where I emailed from).

    dk

    #1366525
    paul johnson
    Member

    @pj

    Locale: LazyBoy in my Den - miss the forest

    Deborah,

    No, i haven’t used the Sawyer yet. It’s on my “soon-to-be-acquired” list though.

    As far as suction, they say that is NOT an issue due to the surface area involved. I guess i’ll find out for myself next late winter or early spring when i acquire one.

    Sorry i couldn’t be more help.

    #1366526
    d k
    BPL Member

    @dkramalc

    Thanks, pj (also for your answer on the Epic on another thread).

    I think the Sawyer filter is probably in my future somewhere. I like Brian’s setup for gravity filtration also (substituting the Sawyer?), though I’m not sure what type of hose fitting he got on the silnylon bag, or how it’s attached. It looks from the picture to be smaller than a garden hose fitting.

    #1366552
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    > one filter (from Sawyer) claims to eliminate non-filtrable (as they were always previously known) viruses

    The lab report says a pressure of 40 psi was used to push water through the filter. That’s equivalent to 30 metres or 100 feet of water head. This is a LOT of pressure – a LOT! And I bet the flow at the far end was not fast.

    Look guys, there’s an old rule in the marketplace. “If it seems too good to be true …”
    So be careful.

    #1366553
    paul johnson
    Member

    @pj

    Locale: LazyBoy in my Den - miss the forest

    Dr. C, many thanks for the “heads up” on the pressure issue. you said, “a LOT!” – you ain’t kiddin’; “a LOT!” is perhaps a bit of an understatement!!!

    #1366903
    aaron eshelman
    BPL Member

    @djaaronreed

    Locale: Central Rockies

    The 40 psi was for the initial conditioning. The actual test was performed at 20 psi.

    “The test waters were passed through the water filter in a manner similar to
    how they would be used by the consumer (20 psi).”

    Anyone know if this is a “normal” psi for drinking through a tube?

    I too am curious about these filters. They are a little pricey though.

    #1367026
    william hutchinson
    Member

    @okuncool

    Locale: midwest (boo hoo)

    hey nick, i was just wondering about that flow rate on the general ecology filter setup you are using. i am just wondering about how long it takes to filter one liter. i know i am going to use it to filter larger quantities of water somtimes, so if it is going to take 20 minutes a liter that wont work. anyway
    thanks for your info.
    will

    #1482265
    Aaron Lastname
    Member

    @cloudveil9

    But I have a question I'm hoping someone -Might- be able to answer. Earlier in this thread Nick (Who doesn't look like he's been on in a while and I can't PM him) stated he was able to get a 2-3 minute per liter flow rate out of a gravity fed First Need cartridge. I currently use a First Need purifier as it's the only thing I have found that:

    1) Removes bacteria, viruses, and protozoa

    2) Reduces heavy metals and chemicals in water

    3) Improves taste, removes tannin etc. (IE pumps blue water clear!)

    4) Does not use chemicals. (More concerned about long term exposure than taste here, but taste too…I filter my water at home for example to remove chlorine etc, don't want to introduce it to my backcountry water if possible)

    5) Is fast. While tiring, I can fill up all water containers for 2 people very quickly and it's instantly ready to drink…No waiting 30 minutes – 4 hours.

    Of course the drawback is weight of course but I have found no other option. I was thinking about trying Nick's method of just using a water bag and the canister to save about 8oz but I tried last night and got a 1 liter / 13.5 minute flow rate! This was with a canister that is almost new. I removed the pump assembly, then setup the waterbag system that is included with the First Need system and used the included hose (3 feet?) and hung the full bag as high as it would go with that hose above a Nalgene bottle. 13.5 minutes later I had a full bottle.

    Does anyone have any ideas how he achieved the flow rate he stated? Or are you out there Nick? I also compressed the water bag to get it going etc but still 13.5 minutes. Do I need a longer hose, etc? Thanks for any tips!

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