Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Steve on November 01, 2006, 12:40:29 pm
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Does anyone have experience with these 1 micron disposable filters?
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They work awesome we sell probably 60 in the summer months for people with hot tubs at their camps or customers with teenagers for the fact of all the oils body lotions
with heavy usage you should get about 2 months
lower bather loads some of my customers have gotten 4 months
they work much better than any scum bug
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I have yet to use any filter other than the microban filter. I absolutely love it, however, I cant compare it to pleated filters.
I have had my tub for approx 1.5 years. I am on my fifth filter now. So I average one every 3 months. It is nice in the sense, that I dont have to pull my filters, wash them and soak them, I do not need to add chemicals to the tub to clear the water and so on, so it is truely maietance free.
Some argue the price is to high on them. I dont know how much pleated cost with chemicals, but I think you should also factor in time and energy to clean them. My time is limited with shift work, two kids and a wife with a rennovation list a mile long. So to me 30.00 canadian every 3 months is great. I pop out the old filter and put in a new one and I am good to go. I have never had cloudy water, I have never had a foam issue with my tub, I have never had smelly water nither.
My water maitenance is so easy that 5 min. a week takes care of my water. I dont even test anymore, I just know my tub and water and I add two scoops of alk up once a week, add my bromine to my dispenser, and shock twice a week. Thats it.
The problem with the microban is that you need to identify the signs that you filter is going south and coming to an end of its life. I wait to I see a little piece of the filter in the water, the filter breaks down as it gets old. If you pull it as soon as you see this then you are golden. If you let it wait it gets messy and I would say you can change your water or just get net and sift it out.
Thats the only negative I can think of, either than that, it is a great filter. I think the less chemicals in the water the better the water. I just dont think I would enjoy the extra work and time on the tub if I used pleated filters.
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Great feedback guys, thanks. Anyone else?
So to be clear, what chemicals has this filter eliminated for you bosco? I do understand that clarifiers are no longer needed but is there a difference with any other products you would normally add?
Steve
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Steve, I only use bromine, shock and alk up thats it.
I dont need clarifiers or chemicals for the filters to clean. Im not sure what other chemicals may get added to the tub because I have never used them. Every six months I get a jug of bromine, a jug of shock and 2 cans of alk up. Thats it.
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They work great. I recommend using a clarifier or enzyme to kick-start the process of getting them to filter better.
Don't use any scale inhibitor.
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I'm glad to read the rave reviews of these filters. They were another reason why I went with Arctic. These filters are supposed to screen particles down to 1 micron and eliminate the need for chemical clarifiers, descummers, de-foamers, etc. By the way, how much do they cost and can you get them at any pool/spa store?
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They work great. I recommend using a clarifier or enzyme to kick-start the process of getting them to filter better.
Don't use any scale inhibitor.
I STRONGLY urge you not to use a clarifier at all. At 1 micron, why would you need them to filter "better"? These filters will plug up much quicker and you will shorten their life expectancy by doing so. That's straight from the manufacturer!
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I was given a microban filter when I took home my tub. I used it for the first 3 months, and replaced it with a pleated filter. I don't miss the microban filter at all.
I notice no difference in my water clarity, and it cost less with pleated.
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They are great money makers...
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These filters are supposed to screen particles down to 1 micron and eliminate the need for chemical clarifiers, descummers, de-foamers, etc.
My Sundance has the MicroClean II (as they call it) disposable filter that filters down to around 5 microns and supposedly filters oils. I still get a bit of a waterline scum ring though, even though it's only me using the tub and I consider myself quite "clean". :) My water is crystal clear with no odor or anything, but based on my limited experience I'm not sure ANY filter system alone can prevent scum...
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link=1162402829/0#6 date=1162408886] but based on my limited experience I'm not sure ANY filter system alone can prevent scum...
You are 100% correct! Water quality will ALWAYS be based on filtration, circulation and water balance. Take one of those away and water will go south on you!
Steve
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I'm glad to read the rave reviews of these filters. They were another reason why I went with Arctic. These filters are supposed to screen particles down to 1 micron and eliminate the need for chemical clarifiers, descummers, de-foamers, etc. By the way, how much do they cost and can you get them at any pool/spa store?
So let me understand this? You went with Arctic because of this (one of the reasons anyway) yet you have no clue the cost of replacement? How did you determine the true value of this feature without knowing that? ::) Being in the "plastics biz" and all... ;D
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There was a thread on these several....or at least a few months ago.....you might search on that. Lots of the same stuff mentioned here was said, but there was more detail too.
I tried them, did not like them. I dont want to be limited in what I CAN add to my water if needed. Also too pricey, and cleaning a pleated filter takes so little time.
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Thanks Anne. Can you tell me what you didn't like about them?
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Thanks Anne. Can you tell me what you didn't like about them?
Part of my problem was that I was not told how to use it properly, so I used clarifier when I had cloudy water, and it worked GREAT that day, but then of course I damaged the filter, so I had worsening filtering problems.
The micropure filters CANNOT be used with clarifiers, defender or other stain/scale products, etc. That would be fine if the filters truely eliminated the NEED for them, but I dont think they do. I generally have really hard water, and micropure does NOT remove calcium. They were developing something new this summer that may be revolutionary, but not as of this spring when I last talked to the rep. I contacted Micropure to ask about the calcium issue. I expressed my concerns that my hard water would eventually result in heater damage. His reply- dont sweat it- replace your heater in a few years!!!!!!!!
I like the idea of easy water care, but I do not like:
disposable products
being unable to use Defender and Metal Gon
being unable to use clarifier *every now and then*
the extra cost
my $0.02!!!! :)
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Does anyone have experience with these 1 micron disposable filters?
Steve,
I have no real experience with the above filter but just a comment on the 1 micron claim
One micron is 1/25 of 1 thousands of an inch :o a human hair is about 3 thousands of an inch if these filters were to actually trap particles one micron in size they would plug in about 15 minutes. I'm not trying to pull a Sledjunkie but it seams like a sales pitch to me. I work for a major water treatment plant in SW Ontario and we get questions about this all the time from people being approached by "in home" water treatment system sales people. If you were to truly try to filter down to the one micron level (ultra filtration or membrane filtration) you would have to add some type of backwash system to prevent the filter from plugging. In my opinion I would just stick to the pleated filters
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One micron is 1/25 of 1 thousands of an inch :o a human hair is about 3 thousands of an inch if these filters were to actually trap particles one micron in size they would plug in about 15 minutes.
Thank goodness for bypass valves! :D
Terminator
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They don't filter down to 1 micron until they start capturing debris and expanding. That's why I recommend a small bit of enzyme at the start- not for routine maintenance.
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One micron is 1/25 of 1 thousands of an inch :o a human hair is about 3 thousands of an inch if these filters were to actually trap particles one micron in size they would plug in about 15 minutes.
Thank goodness for bypass valves! :D
Terminator
I agree. Sundance has been using a one micron filter since 2002 coupled with their low flow circ pump. When they went to the high flow circ pump they had to change to the five micron filter because they couldn't (or wouldn't trust) enough water flow through a one micron filter. How are the MicroPure filters working on spas where the water is passing through at greater than six gallons per minute? Bypass?
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I'm glad to read the rave reviews of these filters. They were another reason why I went with Arctic. These filters are supposed to screen particles down to 1 micron and eliminate the need for chemical clarifiers, descummers, de-foamers, etc. By the way, how much do they cost and can you get them at any pool/spa store?
So let me understand this? You went with Arctic because of this (one of the reasons anyway) yet you have no clue the cost of replacement? How did you determine the true value of this feature without knowing that? ::) Being in the "plastics biz" and all... ;D
Hey Steve (or should I call you Stevie?), you sure have an edge to you! You know what, I didn't check out the pricing of filters because Arctic gives you an option of either the Micropure or the pleated so your point is moot (by the moot means it really doesn't matter).
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One micron is 1/25 of 1 thousands of an inch :o a human hair is about 3 thousands of an inch if these filters were to actually trap particles one micron in size they would plug in about 15 minutes.
Thank goodness for bypass valves! :D
Terminator
I agree. Sundance has been using a one micron filter since 2002 coupled with their low flow circ pump. When they went to the high flow circ pump they had to change to the five micron filter because they couldn't (or wouldn't trust) enough water flow through a one micron filter. How are the MicroPure filters working on spas where the water is passing through at greater than six gallons per minute? Bypass?
My Arctic tech guy was just out doing a final check on my Tundra which will be ready for a first soak tonight. I asked him about your points and he said they've never had a problem with flow. Since these filters are good for about 3 months, I will report back with any complications I may have. Could it be that because they use the low speed of pump 1 to filter instead of a circ pump the water speed is greater thereby causing the water to be forced thru?
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Hey Steve (or should I call you Stevie?), you sure have an edge to you!
I prefer the term abbrasive but cute as a bugs ear.... ;D
Steve will be fine.
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My Arctic tech guy was just out doing a final check on my Tundra which will be ready for a first soak tonight. I asked him about your points and he said they've never had a problem with flow. Since these filters are good for about 3 months, I will report back with any complications I may have. Could it be that because they use the low speed of pump 1 to filter instead of a circ pump the water speed is greater thereby causing the water to be forced thru?
That is exactly my point. I have the older style SD system with the one micron filter coupled with the low flow circ pump. This runs 24/7. I also have a two speed pump coupled with a pleated filter that also filters at whatever intervals I want to program it. SD opted not to use a one micron filter for that pump and uses a pleated filter. When they changed the design in the last couple of years and went to a high flow circ pump to do all the filtering, they changed the filter to a five micron filter. I would estimate that the high flow circ is close to the flow of the two speed pump on low. It seems that SD engineering didn't feel comfortable with that kind of flow through one micron. My spa with the two speed pump also draws water through the filter when the pump is on high. There is a bypass, but I have never felt it on and it only works if the filter or intake is clogged. I believe later model SD spas bypass on high by design. It may be that your spa is designed to bypass when pumps are on high...and maybe even bypassing on low so there would never be an issue. If it is bypassing on low, then only part of the water drawn through is being filtered...and this may be by design.
I am not judging one system or the other, just curious.
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what spas do they fit? wheres the best place to get them? and how much do they cost?
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ftp://http://www.hottubessentials.com/micropure-disposable-filters.asp
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Guys and Girls
I am realy not trying to pull a Sledjunkie but I wouldn't spend extra money on these filters. There is no way they can trap 1 micron particles. If the cost is only minimal then OK but if there is a large up charge I wouldn't spend it.
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I have heard that filtering under 5 microns can be dangerous for a spas equipment. Is their any truth to this? I think the concept is that certain levels (particularly calcium hardness) cannot be maintaned at the reccomended levels?
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I have heard that filtering under 5 microns can be dangerous for a spas equipment. Is their any truth to this? I think the concept is that certain levels (particularly calcium hardness) cannot be maintaned at the reccomended levels?
The micropure rep told me that these filters DO NOT remove calcium, so I doubt that the above is a problem unless he was wrong. Could it be damaging to a spa just because the water flow could not be adequate through one? From my previous limited experience, either the filter does not reduce down to one micron, or the surface area of it is large enough to accomodate a HUGE amount of water, because when my filter pump is on high, it is pushing a huge volume per minute through the filter. When I think of the effort it takes to get water though my backpacking water filter (granted, I think it goes to 0.2microns) Micropure doesnt make sense.
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I am looking at the Artric spa, how do you like yours. Can you emai me at
dfindlay@rideuta.com...Thanks...
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I am looking at the Artric spa, how do you like yours. Can you emai me at
dfindlay@rideuta.com...Thanks...
Were you asking me, Wes, Bosco or all three of us? I'll send you some info.
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How do they perform compared to a Tri-X filter?
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I have nothing but positive to say about micropure filters. I have been using them since I got my tub 1 1/2 years ago. I cant compare to the other style filter because I have never used it. I love not having to clean the filters, I get great water flow, no extra chemicals, and my water has never had an issue.
The only bad thing about them is that when they get older, they break down and little white particles will float in the water if you leave the filter in to long without changing it.
I Pay 90.00 canadian a year for 3 filters that last me 4 months each. When I am finished with it, I just throw it out and put in a new one.
Many are going to argue that they dont work or cost to much. I just think that I would rather pay a few bucks more for a maitenance free filter. Thats just me.
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I too have been using them over a year. They work fine and are generally conveniently disposable. That said, I keep a pleated filter and clarifier on hand for periods of heavy use by people not normally in a tub. When it's just us in it, it generally keeps the water acceptably clear with a little foam eventually but not enough to warrant clarifier or defoam. It will recover from heavy use, but not quick enough for me. So if you constantly entertain oily shedders, you're probably not going to be happy and will have to switch a pleated in to run clarifier. You risk imploding your filter if you use clarifier with it.
Judging by how narrow the pleats are on an equivalent sized 50 sq ft filter for an Arctic, I really wonder how you can really get one clean by soaking and rinsing. The gunk produced by using a clarifier is pretty sticky nasty stuff and not easily removed from anything to which it's attached. I'm with Bosco. Generally, it's a pretty convenient filter.
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stl-rex, good to see you around. I was wondering where you have been