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AS a water treatment plant operator by trade I used to agree with the decreasing micron size method. I have since had my mind changed for me by Charles Mitsis the owner of Spectrapure.
The problem is if for example you use a 10 micron prefilter followed by a 5 micron carbon block any particles smaller than the prefilters rating are passed through to the carbon block causing it to plug prematurely. The carbon is going to trap things in the 5 to 10 micron range and cause head loss or a pressure drop at the RO membrane.
Now if we take a 0.5 micron prefilter it will trap things much smaller so it does not pass on to the carbon so the carbon continues to function as it was designed adsorbing VOCs and chlorine. Better yet they now have a 0.2 micron prefilter that is absolute rated meaning it is much more efficient plus it is a pleated material and has 10x the surface area so can trap much more before plugging. The 0.2 micron is also of sufficient size to filter out viruses and bacteria unlike any other filter so now you can run the carbons longer without fear of growing things inside the housings if you keep a a properly maintained system. I intend to run my carbon for its full 20,000 gallons instead of changing at 6 months like before. I use a low level chlorine test kit to monitor its condition, if I see chlorine breakthrough I know its exhausted.
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