Anyone ever had a carbon stage bleed yellow?

perverseosmosis · 04/21/2020, 03:43 PM

While replacing filters, my 15 year old RO/DI system finally cracked and leaked beyond my ability to patch it together again, so I ordered a replacement. Knowing my family wasn't going to tolerate our city water in the meantime, I rigged up the newly opened carbon stage so I could gravity feed water through it. City water goes in the top, one-stage of carbon filtered water comes out the bottom. Not great, but something, I thought.

After running a few gallons through it into a clean pitcher, my son asked why his water looked like wiz. Sure enough, it was yellow!

I checked the filter and it had started bleeding:

What's in a carbon filter that would do this? My internet searches have turned up longer-term problems like bacteria in well water, but nothing that would happen in an hour. Thoughts?

nozleman · 04/23/2020, 05:39 PM

I bet somehow you flushed your RO membrane and that is years of the build up on the membrane.

perverseosmosis · 04/25/2020, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nozleman

I bet somehow you flushed your RO membrane and that is years of the build up on the membrane.

That's the thing though. This filter never saw water from the system. The filter was brand new and when I went to screw the housing back in, the connects between stages cracked apart. The whole system went in the trash after that.

The filter's only exposure has been the clean stage canister, my backpacking gravity filter bag (which I use frequently and clean) and city water...for an hour.

Here's what it looks like after sitting there a few days. The spot has grown and made the water all yellow. I'm going to crack it and the one it replaced and see what's different.

perverseosmosis · 04/25/2020, 01:11 PM

"Well, there's your problem!"

There's an enormous metal slug encased in the carbon. I tested it with a magnet. Some filter manufacture is missing part of their machine I'm guessing.

heritage · 04/25/2020, 07:57 PM

Holy crap !
I wonder if that's what's used to compress the carbon ?
Looks like its about the right size.

reeftivo · 04/30/2020, 05:53 PM

wow, good catch. i was about to suggest a bad batch of carbon that may have some iron in it until i scrolled down LOL.

that's crazy! the weight alone should have triggered some QC questions at their factory, unless they just pass them through untouched after assembly.

dogged a bullet if you caught that early. Maybe after you show the manufacturer, they will compensate you with some freebies.

perverseosmosis · 04/30/2020, 08:50 PM

I certainly didn't feel very lucky at the time, but breaking the entire RO system trying to install that filter was the best possible outcome!

04/21/2020, 03:43 PM	#1
perverseosmosis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 68	Anyone ever had a carbon stage bleed yellow? While replacing filters, my 15 year old RO/DI system finally cracked and leaked beyond my ability to patch it together again, so I ordered a replacement. Knowing my family wasn't going to tolerate our city water in the meantime, I rigged up the newly opened carbon stage so I could gravity feed water through it. City water goes in the top, one-stage of carbon filtered water comes out the bottom. Not great, but something, I thought. After running a few gallons through it into a clean pitcher, my son asked why his water looked like wiz. Sure enough, it was yellow! I checked the filter and it had started bleeding: What's in a carbon filter that would do this? My internet searches have turned up longer-term problems like bacteria in well water, but nothing that would happen in an hour. Thoughts?

04/25/2020, 07:57 PM	#5
heritage Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PHILLY Posts: 561	Holy crap ! I wonder if that's what's used to compress the carbon ? Looks like its about the right size. __________________ Chris

04/30/2020, 05:53 PM	#6
reeftivo Skim junkie Join Date: May 2008 Location: chino, CA Posts: 3,417	wow, good catch. i was about to suggest a bad batch of carbon that may have some iron in it until i scrolled down LOL. that's crazy! the weight alone should have triggered some QC questions at their factory, unless they just pass them through untouched after assembly. dogged a bullet if you caught that early. Maybe after you show the manufacturer, they will compensate you with some freebies. __________________ I told you not to be stupid you moron!(Stern) Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube/20g tideline sump-mixed reef, Aquamaxx c-tech Ca Rx, Akula 160 skimmer, paxbellum N18, mitras LX7 lighting with T-5s, apex controller

04/23/2020, 05:39 PM	#2
nozleman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Camarillo, ca Posts: 208	I bet somehow you flushed your RO membrane and that is years of the build up on the membrane.

04/25/2020, 01:11 PM	#4
perverseosmosis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 68	"Well, there's your problem!" There's an enormous metal slug encased in the carbon. I tested it with a magnet. Some filter manufacture is missing part of their machine I'm guessing.

04/30/2020, 08:50 PM	#7
perverseosmosis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 68	I certainly didn't feel very lucky at the time, but breaking the entire RO system trying to install that filter was the best possible outcome!