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Filtering Water

arigram said:
Even if there is something wrong with the present filtration system, why didn't I get cleaner negatives when I used only distilled water?
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Since you posted an example in an (there was a url link here which no longer exists) (that I missed previously), could you check the base side of that negative*? It's not very probable, but drying marks on negatives can have that shape, although they usually fade and don't show up as perfect lines.

* Against light, it reveals even the finest scratches.
 

That's completely different than what I imagined. Yes, that looks like drying marks to me.
 
Do you think these are also drying marks?
 

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DanielStone said:
has anyone had any luck with using a coffee filter under a tap to work as a 'quickie filter', such as when traveling and developing in the hotel room?

just wondering.

-Dan
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********

Yes.
 
Nope... that looks like some form of organic matter... like long-stranded bacteria. Look that up. Perhaps periodic treatment of the system with a bactericide and/or chlorine bleach followed by a thorough flush would help. Do you drink that water?
 
If it is linen or hair you can see it with a loupe.
I steel thinking that they are drying mraks
 
At the risk of beating it to death... I really think those are strings of bacterial matter. Drying marks don't overlap like that and are not so random. Look it up.
 
try washing the film with some antibiotical stuff (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
 
Mike1234 said:
At the risk of beating it to death... I really think those are strings of bacterial matter. Drying marks don't overlap like that and are not so random. Look it up.
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That sounds complicated and way above my level of understanding. I wouldn't know how to approach this problem really. And its not that I can trust anyone around here to help me out.
:/
Is there a possibility that the Jobo components (Lift, tanks, reels, axle) are somehow infected with unseen by the eye bacteria that come out when wtare and chemicals fill them?

I am doing an experiment: I took a couple of "dirty" pieces of negative and run them through the Jobo with coffee-filtered distilled water. Then let them sit inside a plastic jug filled with distilled water and Photo-flo. Let them to hang in the drying cabinet without any heating.

I am sure I am doing something horribly wrong, but what is it?
 
hope that works! It would be sad if you step to the "only digital" side .
"Black & white film is sexy" it's a nice signature
 

It's not complicated, Ari. I routinely sterilize my dog's water bowl with dilute chlorine bleach followed by a thorough wash. If I don't do this those long strings of bacteria grow in his water... as they will in any aquose medium. Just sterilize periodically with a complete rinse.

Try it just one time, Ari. What can you lose but a little time and a couple of filters?
 
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Try what exactly? I mean, what kind of chemicals should I use? Where to buy them? I am not really sure how to go about sterilizing, if that's the cure of the problem.

Can I fix the negatives that show this problem or are they only fixable by digital means?
 
Just cheap/common chlorine bleach diluted to 8ml/l flushed through the entire system to kill all the bacteria. You'll need to install new filters in addition to washing every component. If that resolves the problem then you'll need to think about treating your whole system BEFORE it ever reaches your wash water or DRINKING water.

Is there a testing facility there you can seek advice from?

Most likely the damage to your film is permanent. Yes, I suggest digital restoration but only after trying to re-wash in clean/uncontaminated water with some gentle finger rubbing in Photo-Flo solution mixed with distilled water.
 
Important Good News:

The negatives may be easily fixable!
I went to the darkroom just now and checked one negative piece hanging in the drying cabinet.
On the frame I showed you last as a close up of the "hairs", I found them still on it, but I gently rubbed it with my fingers and it came off!
That means I can re-soak the negatives (a ton of them) and rub the dreck off!

Question: How should I go about it? I am thinking to use the thin plastic examination gloves I usually use to handle film and wipe very gently the negatives while they are still wet.
 
Ari, they "look" like hairs but I'm nearly certain they're long strands of bacteria. They're much finer than hairs, right?? A nearly certain give-away is how they bend into such tight curves. Do human or animal hairs do that? No, they don't. Once those miniscule particulates are embedded in the emulsion they're very difficult to remove.

That said, the exam gloves and a mix of Photo-Flo in distilled water MIGHT do the trick... or at least help. But you do risk scratching the emulsion.
 

They are most probably bacteria as you mention. I will take care as much as possible not to damage the emulsion, but I will give it a shot.
Do you think that if I purify the containers, I won't have this problem again?
Is it possible that a certain element creates it, such as bad Photo-flo for example?
 
Mike1234 said:
Ari, they "look" like hairs but I'm nearly certain they're long strands of bacteria. They're much finer than hairs, right?? A nearly certain give-away is how they bend into such tight curves. Do human or animal hairs do that? No, they don't.
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You clearly do not live with cats. Yes, hairs do bend into such tight curves, especially when saturated. I've fished out of my eyes more almost-invisible hairs than I can count.

(For the pedantic, I believe I am really talking about the fur undercoat, not the hair or guard hair.)
 
Just treat your water before use with 8ml/l of common chlorine bleach then let the OPEN containers stand for 24 hours before use and filter one last time. The chlorine will completely dissipate so it won't affect your chemicals or film emulsions. You may want to consider a whole-system chlorine treatment approach before the water ever reaches your film or you.
 

Did you see how extremely fine those so-called "hairs" are?
 
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