Rio 2000 6 Pack of Ceramic Replacement Filters Save 24% Off

I''m currently using this for my domestic water needs.

It isn''t designed to remove chlorine, or polish out

rust, or improve taste, or any of that. It''s design

is to remove germs, bacteria, & cysts, for which

it excels, and has no equal. However, there are some

significant CAVEATS, read on:

I''m using the RIO for the filtration of catchment water

(rain caught from the roof, diverted to a tank, and pumped into

the house for drinking, showering, cooking, etc.)

I have it installed in a 10 inch "big blue" filter housing.

I am using two Matrikx carbon pre-filters. This is a MUST!

If you don''t pre-filter, you will need to disassemble your

filter element every few days to brush it clean, which is a

PITA. A 5-micron Matrikx followed by a 2-micron Matrikx carbon

filter should give you 3-6 months between "brushings". My

family is 2-people, YMMV.

[ UPDATE 2012 Oct. 20: After several months of operation, I found it was necessary to

brush/scrub the ceramic every 6 weeks. When the system pressure goes above 95psi,

I disassemble the RIO and service the "candles". The carbon pre-filters

get replaced every third brushing of the ceramic candles. Our monthly consumption

for 2 people is about 1500 gallons. Yes, you read that right. All our wash done in town. ]

Brushing filter elements with a scotch-brite pad

will renew the candles by removing a tiny layer of ceramic. Having

done this dozens of times before I got my pre-filtration sorted

out, I estimate these candles should last for about 50 cleaning

cycles before they wear thru. This equates to a 10-50 year life-cycle(!)

Cleaning is facilitated by removing candles from the cartridge adapter,

then stroking them lightly with the scotch-bright wrapped around the

candle.

[ UPDATE 2012 Oct. 20: A year+ of service, & the candles have lost about a quarter of their active

ceramic material, scrubbed away by periodic cleaning. For catchment filtration,

I expect service life around 4-5 years. Of course, you''ll probably break a candle

or two with all the handling required over that period for brushing off the

sediment. Probably should have spares. ]

It should be noted that these six candles are not the 7 inch

Sterasyl, nor the 9", nor the 10". I don''t know the exact measurements

off hand, but the diameter is smaller than anything else Doulton produces,

so I have to conclude these are a special size produced just for the

RIO product. The BPT (British Pipe Thread) nipple is standard to all

the other Doulton candle products. You could use these as a replacement

for many of the counter-top carafes, and you would be dollars ahead, with $

at about half of any other offer. The pipe nipple length is about 3/4 inch,

with rubber o-ring included. No wing-nut is included or necessary for the RIO.

Another point I should make is that the pressure drop across this

unit is 15psid clean, 30psid when dirty. If you have low water pressure,

or a weak jet-pump, you might want to consider upgrade to a

positive-displacement pump (Dankoff slow pump), multi-stage deep well

style centrifugal submersible, or chose another filtration solution

(OR, place 3 sets of these in parallel.) Another note, these will

flow up to 6gpm. Most Matrikx filters flow well at 2-3 times their rated

flows, just make sure to check the pdf specs to make sure you''re not

over-doing it. Higher flows on Matrikx filters may also require parallel

gang arraignment, or a larger 4.5x10/4.5x20 filters.

6-pack Doulton "candle" element, what''s not to like? The only reason it

does not get five stars is because nowhere does Doulton or it''s resellers

inform the consumer of the imperative need for pre-filtration.

Without adequate PRE-filtration, the RIO is an impractical solution due

to premature clogging, necessitating excessive maintenance (i.e. "brushing.")

[ UPDATE 2012 Oct. 20: If your water source is very low in turbidity,

you might find pre-filtration unnecessary, but I would still recommend pre-filtering

all water BEFORE it gets passed thru the RIO. ]

After evaluating dozens of filters from several popular manufacturers,

I have found only ONE that HONESTLY details the performance of their filter products,

and that one stellar shining star of filter providers is the one, the only, MATRIKX.

Their filters do what they say, and do it better than many/most of the name brand

filter manufactures. Watts, GE, Pentek, etc. are a joke. GAC filters, by any mfg, are

useless. Filters from Wallmart and Home Depott are lame; Micron ratings and service

life estimates are a lie. It is possible to use Matrikx filters and forgo the RIO

altogether, but their filters do not have silver antimicrobial matrix, thus, no

resistance bacterial grow-thru.

This is the best price I''ve seen for this item. Filter holder module not included.

[ UPDATE 2012 Oct. 20: The price has dropped again. At the time of update, the price of $114

is one-third of the asking price at introduction. This is a good deal for the filter candles

and the black-plastic caddy that holds them together as a unit. If you need the 10 inch Big Blue Filter Housing,

(seriously, that''s what it''s called in the industry) please do yourself a favor and shop around.

Should be no more than half the price currently asked for the 6-candle RIO package. ]

Been using these filters for a few years now, both as primary whole house and as filters after a slow sand filter. They''ve always done a good job keeping the muck out. Each test (monthly) shows no bacteria, but it must be said that the last year+ the primary filter is the slow sand, which removes anything living.

These are good filters, and having this filter in-line provides us with a bit more peace of mind. Recommended.

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