Water Treatment

Way to go OH... We going to be calling you UL before its all over with lol. I use Aqumira Pro with a modified 2L Platy, with Tablets as a back up. Dont forget the back up. I have on more than one occasion had to use the backup.

TM,

As far as pack weight goes I am always stiving to cut the weight down. Is the AquaMira Pro the two step liquid? What source do use to purchase it?

Thanks for the info!

OH

OH,

I agree with TM. I use the aquamira Frontier Pro with tablets as a back up. The Frontier Pro is a filter that costs $20. It filters to 0.3 microns and weighs 3oz. I hope this helps.

OH... as PM stated... well adding to it... its a screw on filter that will fit a platty or a standard water bottle like you buy at the local 7-11. But the screw will unthread and you can use it with a sil nylon water bag as well. Just screw the two peices back together with the sil in between the two peices. I like the platty design better but if you were going to be using it for a group the same filter can be used like on a 2,3 or 4 gallon water bag. The flow rate is not bad either. I usually start mine up and go do something else. In a matter of a few min. it will filter the 2L platty bag that I use it on. Jason Klass has a some what OK video on his site at http://jasonklass.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-new-water-filter-design.html. The only mod I did was instead of using 2 platties ( one for the filter and one to colect "dirty" water) I just cut the bottom out of the filter bag. Now I can simply scoupe the bag to collect the water. If you had some of the newer platties that use the zip bottom then you would not have to cut it anyway. The other thing is I added a camelbac shut off valve to the water filter. It will simply slide into the filter nozzel and while not completly tight it will offer a small drip. But you have no pressure anyway. Oh the last thing is I added a length of surgical tube to the end of the valve. I have seen people simply use the drink tube that is included with the various bottles but I like the seperate tube. I have seen the existing bite valves get loose from continued pulling off and putting it back. And I perfer to have a short legth of the tube with me while on the trail. You never know when it may be needed.

I have a Katadyn Hiker Pro. I bought it last fall but haven't had a chance to take it on the trail yet. It weighs about 13oz. Once primed, it may take on an oz. or two. A buddy of mine has one that we used on our hike to Mt. Blanca, CO last Aug. Its works great and has an adapter that fits nalgene bottle and most bladders, or can be conneted directly to a bladder tube. In that case, you could leave the adapter and save a oz or two. It has a pre filter with a float to keep it out off the bottom and it filters down to 0.3 microns. It is a little heavier than PM's setup and probably bulkier too, but it's not super expensive. I think I paid about $70.

Never again will I pump lol. I have the MSR Sweet Water and there is no finer pump. The adapter is built onto the unit itself. The great thing about the Aqumira is that when you replace its only $20 ($10 on Ebay if you shop it out) There is prob. something that you can use the old ones for if you really think about it. I have not used one up yet but wont throw it away.. Leave the little sucker on my desk untill I figure some thing out.

TM,

I just watched the jason Klass video and all I can say that is the way to go! I can even see how you can adapt the system to fill my camelbak! Thanks that will be what I will be planing on doing. By the way I couldn't get the link to work but I found it.

Thanks,
OH

I got mine from anti-gravitygear.com, and it came with everything that I needed. It uses an evernew bag, but I got where I just use liter water bottles. This worked great for me on the BRT, and I didn't have to wait for the gravity to work. I just filled up and went.

I also want to check into Sawyer filters too. They have one that is light and filters to 0.1 microns!!!!!! Sorry about not posting a link but I am using Amanda's phone

Dwight,

Thanks for the info. No need for the link I can find it. I have noticed the Sawyer filters but didn't look that close but I will now.

OH

OH, I don't know why that link did not work. But you found it. I love my Pro but I had it to freeze up when Colt and I did the BRT back in Jan. Had to revert to the iodine tabs. Also on the ERL my prefilter was stopped up. So I had to remove it. Bottom line is I still carry my tabs, and "I will never pump again"... lol

TM,

I don't know why your link wouldn't work. I keep getting a page not found warning. Like I said I found it, if it is out there I will find it. One more question do use the tablets that the talk about with your system or just filter? I haven't looked but does your system filter to the same particles per million or what ever that the Sweetwater does? In any case I wiil be looking for that info also.

thanks,

OH

I just use off the shelf Tablets at Sportsmans Warehouse, Sports Athu... ect. The Pro filters to 3 microns and will filter 200L of water before needing replaced (acording to their website). As you see its fairly versital from screwing onto a platty to a standard water bottle to using with a sil bag for lager capacity. It comes with a bite valve but I took mine off, and don't know where it is lol. But its a really nice filter.

Answering my own question. Both the sweetwater and theAqua Mira Frontier Pro filter removes 99.9%of Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

OH

TM,
Thanks, our answers crossed in cyperspace!

OH

TM,
Am I right in assuming that you cut a hole in the water bag after you screwed on the filter? Otherwise, I either read it wrong, or am missing something. Either way no hole cut = more explaining needed .

Kyle,
No hole has to be cut. I can't bring up the video that he linked to, YouTube is blocked at school! Search for Jason Klass then go to hydration and you will find it. Also you might go HERE and view antigravitygears set up.

OH

So is the flow rate not painfully slow with the water having to go through a sil bag and then the gravity filter? Seems like a small hole would make the flow rate faster. And if you make the hole small enough, there would still be plenty of fabric to screw the filter into place.

Kyle,

The top water bag is treaded for the water filter then on the bottom of the filter a tube is placed that runs to your fresh water source. This is simply from watching the video that Klass has out. The flow rate looks good in the video. I think it may be mentioned in the video. Sorry I can't be more specific but either TM or PM will be able to give you first hand info.

OH

So, the video that was posted was for a system using a two platys and an aqua mira filter. This is the system that I use (don't know why I didn't understand this). I was thinking that y'all were talking about a water bag like the one in the AGG gravity filters. Still don't know where the sil bag comes in play with TM's system. One thing is for sure though...I'm feeling dumber and dumber (and more out of the loop) by the second.

Kyle,

There is a hole in the sil bag if you are using it as a gravity filter with a sil bag. Mine looks like it was hole punched. You line the hole with the filter and then screw it on. I hope this helps explain things.

Sorry for not being more clear. PM is correct. There has to be a hole there. The filter itself has a prefilter inside it (replaceable).

You can also use chlorine bleach to purify your water. Its the same as Aqua Mira (Chlorine Dioxide) and a little goes a long way. One drop of bleach (non-scented) will treat one liter of water. If the taste bothers you, you can add a powdered drink mix to cover the taste. You don't have to wait very long to drink the water, unlike the iodine or Aqua Mira, usually less than 5 minutes.
UL

Thanks PM, I don't think I was explaining myself too good either.

UL, I have been looking at this lately, and the longest wait time I've seen in 20 min. And that was for really cold water.

Yep, for very cold water you should wait around 20 mins, but for water above 50 degrees or more, 5 mins. should knock out the koodies.
UL