Water filtering

MartinCrabtree · Apr 24, 2023

I finally have a place where I can set up a darkroom. Problem is the water is positively packed with iron. There is a filter but it has limited effectiveness. It's affecting my washer and clothing so I know it won't work for developing. Everywhere I search only shows advertising. So can I ask the collective for some methods to fix this?

I've waited decades to have a darkroom and this is disappointing to say the least. But the place is all mine as long as the taxes get paid so I gotta find a permanent fix.

MattKing · Apr 24, 2023

Is it municipal water, water from a well, or ???
Do you have a water analysis report?
Are there any neighbours/local businesses that might have needed to deal with this - breweries, for example? They might be able to share advice.

MartinCrabtree · Apr 24, 2023

I'm rural and it's well water. I have 2 maybe 3 neighbors but I'm not a real social creature.

BCM · Apr 24, 2023

Iron can be filtered out using cartridge filters to the point where it should not affect your chemistry. I have similar issues and have a softener in the house with RO but the darkroom is on another line which has a two stage filter.

mshchem · Apr 24, 2023

In Iowa, USA, much of the water is quite hard, calcium carbonate bedrock. I have a water softener for all water, uses rock salt, about 20 kg a month. Some water softeners are equipped with iron reduction, these use "iron fighter" salt with an added ingredient.

I use a fancy RO system for my darkroom, not for washing, just for making chemistry.

Unless you want to do what I've done.

Install a sediment filter for your darkroom washing (film and print) water. These are inexpensive, most consist of cotton string wound into a very effective filter.

For developing RO is an option, generic DIY systems can be purchased for $250.

Buying demineralized purified or distilled water is an option too.

If you are on a well, and have suspended minerals coming in look at a "whole hose filter" for all incoming water.
Picture is a whole house filter upstream of water softener. MHOFWIW, I would start with a whole house filter.

snusmumriken · Apr 24, 2023

Iron particles are a problem with my (hard) water supply. I use a vertical cartridge filter designed for under-sink installation, but I attach it to the darkroom tap as and when needed (chiefly when washing film or mixing up chemicals). Between darkroom sessions I take the filter cartridge out and let it drain and dry, which may not be important but I thought it might avoid any weird things growing in there.

My current (and first) cartridge still allows a good flow, but is gradually discolouring from the bottom up, so I may need to replace it soon. But it has already lasted so many years (5?) that I can't remember what size particles it is supposed to stop. Hope someone else can advise us on that.

mshchem · Apr 24, 2023

This is the RO system I use in my darkroom

https://www.waterfiltersonline.com/5-stage-reverse-osmosis-ro-pure-drinking-water-system.html

mshchem · Apr 24, 2023

snusmumriken said:
Iron particles are a problem with my (hard) water supply. I use a vertical cartridge filter designed for under-sink installation, but I attach it to the darkroom tap as and when needed (chiefly when washing film or mixing up chemicals). Between darkroom sessions I take the filter cartridge out and let it drain and dry, which may not be important but I thought it might avoid any weird things growing in there.

My current (and first) cartridge still allows a good flow, but is gradually discolouring from the bottom up, so I may need to replace it soon. But it has already lasted so many years (5?) that I can't remember what size particles it is supposed to stop. Hope someone else can advise us on that.

Yes, sounds like you have a good solution.

When I was on rural water, ie community well, biggest issue was particles, sediment filter took care of the crud.

Now, if one wants to use XTOL, I would recommend pure water, even softened water (converts calcium carbonate into sodium carbonate) can be a huge issue.

Kino · Apr 24, 2023

A "spin-down" filter before any traditional treatment filter will catch the larger iron sediment and extend the life of the filter. It can be flushed-out easily and gets the really big particles early.

I lived in a house that had horrible iron infested water from a well and this filter helped a lot. Large particles can be trapped in a fiber type media and continue to dissolve iron into the water; this helps minimize that problem.

Old_Dick · Apr 24, 2023

We have hard water with iron We have a 5 micron whole house filter which takes care of sediment. I use distilled water for all my chemistry. All final washes and photoflo is with distilled water. Hope this helps.

Neal · Apr 24, 2023

We had terrible iron issues for over 30 years. I finally called the local Culligan dealer and they added a fancy new filter system that has virtually eliminated the problem. It wasn't cheap but we wished we had looked into it sooner.

Good luck!

mshchem · Apr 24, 2023

Kino said:
A "spin-down" filter before any traditional treatment filter will catch the larger iron sediment and extend the life of the filter. It can be flushed-out easily and gets the really big particles early.

I lived in a house that had horrible iron infested water from a well and this filter helped a lot. Large particles can be trapped in a fiber type media and continue to dissolve iron into the water; this helps minimize that problem.

This is a great idea. Some water softeners have these incorporated and have an automatic back flush device.

mshchem · Apr 24, 2023

mshchem · Apr 24, 2023

I water filtration.

Kino · Apr 24, 2023

Me too! I have a 5 micron, whole-house carbon filter for domestic supply running through a pressure regulator (to preserve my Jobo's seals) and then separate media for hot and cold lines prior to all my darkroom equipment.

I was shocked to find my municipal water pressure fluctuated from 75 to 125 PSI at times. That can blow up a lot of things over time...

Tim Stapp · Apr 24, 2023

A

Kino said:
Me too! I have a 5 micron, whole-house carbon filter for domestic supply running through a pressure regulator (to preserve my Jobo's seals) and then separate media for hot and cold lines prior to all my darkroom equipment.

I was shocked to find my municipal water pressure fluctuated from 75 to 125 PSI at times. That can blow up a lot of things over time...

At one house, we were a block from the municipal water tower on the main from the pump to the tower on a 12 inch main.

I had to install a pressure regulator on the one inch incoming line because 1) every faucet leaked. 2) water hammer caused issues when faucets/valves were closed. 3) water heater relief valve would open, spewing water all over the basement. I never recorded pressures, but as above, they exceeded the hot water heater relief valve.

Rick A · Apr 24, 2023

We're on a well and have high iron content. We have a softening system and use "iron out" salt in it. I have zero issues using tap water in my DR. Of course, I use distilled to mix chemistry to stock solution, but use tap for everything else including mixing developer to final dilution and washing film except final rinse.

Water filtering

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