Just bought a Berkey!
 

I am getting my ass in gear. I just got paid today and got 10 SAE's, a lot of canned food and 20 pounds of jasmine rice, pasta, water and I just bought a Berkey water purifier on Ebay.

I never knew getting preps could be so much fun!

I also put 3 earthboxes out today, 2 with broccoli and one with corn. I have 9 more that are getting tomtoaes, cantaloupes, watermelon, okra, sweet peppers, cucumbers, and other stuff in the coming weeks.

My next purchases are going to be a good bike, rifle and shotgun and more silver and more food. I am going to get a sun over soon, a small camping oven from walmart and a lot of propane, some good books, lots of jeans-tees-socks-underwear, a good sleeping bag, hiking boots, good quality backpack, and a 1 month supply of SAM ADAMS!

I want to thank everyone for all their insight and information you all have posted.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I bought a Berkey too. The water is awesome. I went to the Dentist last week. She said they have a new flouride treatment for $10. I said that's bug poison ya know. She said, oh no we use it in small amounts. I said no thanks. Please tell your kids:D

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I was kind of pissed as I just learned you need an attachment for the flouride and arsenic filter???

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I don't think its an attachment, just another set of filters.

Yea, I have a berkey too. Its really nice. I can drink water now.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I have a berkey too they really do work well. Not only is it great for a water shortage problem but it will protect you from all the poisons in the water in the meantime.

Sounds like you are really enjoying prepping. There is something empowering about taking positive action to insure your future. Reading your post made me want to redouble my efforts as well.

Good luck and God speed!

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Sam Adams just had a recall. Bits of glass in some of the bottles....

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Glad you are taking MASSIVE ACTION.... you seperate yorself from the FEW WHO DO VS THE MANY WHO TALK.

You are doing everything correct....I always tell people...Preps, ammo and bullion IN THAT ORDER


You are well on you way to having control over your circumstances rather that being a victim of it.


T

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Oh yeah .......


Welcome to GIM ...........You are among good friends.



T


You have the Best screename I have seen in a LOOOOOOOOOOng time!

Awesome job!

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Yeah, I bought my Daughter a Pure triple action water filter since she uses city water. After I got it home I saw it didnt filter fluoride. I should have read the label but I just assumed...You know what they say about assuming.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I rec'd my Berkey last week. I have not used it yet, but I'm happy to have one on-hand in case of emergency.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I should receive my aquarain this week. We ought to do our own GIM comparison.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

How about that. This is how it was meant to be.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Are the filters interchangable?

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

.................

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Not to my knowledge.

The aquarain filters have much smaller filter pores. Should result in cleaner water. The filters are also a little cheaper than the berkey.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

FWIW,Ive read they ARE interchangeable. Im planning on getting some black Berkeys for use in my aquarain.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Looking at the 2 units, it looks like they are the same thing. The stainless models at least....

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

except mine was 219 bucks (4 filter model).

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Why would you do this? The aquarain filters are supposed to be better, with smaller ceramic pore sizes, and they are cheaper.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I like the larger activated charcoal on Black Berkey.If you arent dealing with the chemicals,just creepy crawlies,I agree,aquarains smaller pores are better.

Im seriously considering making a filter with 3 five gallon buckets,Aquarain filter on top,Black Berkey in the middle,and water storage on the bottom. Best of both worlds.Something like this...
http://www.alpharubicon.com/kids/hom...erkeydaire.htm

On municipal water,for the most part activated charcoal is what you want for the chemicals,bacteria isnt really the problem.Im on municipal water.

BTW,my friend uses stream water and uses the aquarain,makes excellent water.His problem is bacteria,not chemicals, so in that situation does the aquarain ever shine.

Ive also thought of putting an AC sock over the aquarain but not sure that would really work all that well as water could seep in around the charcoal Im thinking.

I like this charcoal source too,have to get some....Like that 5 gal bucket!

http://stores.ebay.com/Carbon-Eze

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

That is not a bad idea, buy several large buckets of charcoal and use them as prefilters....

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I have a Royal Berkey with four filters. I think that means I can filter 12,000 gallons of water through the four filters, based on the 3000 gallon per black Berkey filter claims I've seen.

For those of you who are using your Berkey or similar filtration systems, how are you keeping track of the volume of water you pass through it?

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

The aquarain has a measuring device attached to the filters. When you wear the filter too small from cleaning then it is time to replace.


Don't have to worry about per gallon count too much.

I am still waiting on my filter. Hopefully will get it this week.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I just started using my Berkey so I can't speak from experience, but over at the frugal squirell forum I read that the Berkey's filters actually last a lot longer then the aquarain. FWIW.

I would personally go with the black berkeys since they get a lot more contaminates out then the regular ceramic filters.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

My friend has used his aquarain for years and years and it still works like a charm,doesnt seem to have slowed down at all.He is early 60's and thinks it will outlast him.

IMO both Berkey and aquarain are worth their weight in gold.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Might be better to use it after the Aqua or Berkey.Let them stop the bacteria and then have clean water flow thru charcoal at drip rate to remove chemicals.Keep the charcoal cleaner maybe?And filter better too at that slow rate. Either way I like the idea.Would make some FINE water out of any water source pretty much I would think.

Add it to my to do list..:D

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I've got a Berkey, and I talked my mother-in-law into buying one, too, when I found out she was into preps (don't know where she was getting her info, though; she thought diamonds were a good SHTF investment!).

The Aquarains are great, too. We've used them on caving expeditions in Mexico, with some silver tossed in for extra good luck. The local water was nasty. The outhouses, goat pens, etc., all drained down to the river, and the water all got hauled from the river. The Aquarains worked wonderfully. The only people who got sick were a handful on one expedition who were, much as it pains me to say this, singing the praises of silver's purification properties and drinking water they'd "purified" only with silver. Got sick as dogs, every one of them.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

wow, good to know that these purifier's do the job. I feel it will come in handy in the near future.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

hey guys, getting a berkey is on my to do list as well

but wanted to know if anyone has any experience with the company berkey links to, JamesFilter...any good/bad experience with them???

http://www.jamesfilter.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=30

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

PF-2 info-Aluminum Oxide if that matters to you.
--------------------------------------

PF-2 reduction elements are designed for use in conjunction with Black Berkey� water
purification elements to adsorb the following unwanted elements found in drinking water.
• Fluoride
• Arsenic V and pre oxidized Arsenic III
• Other residual heavy metal ions

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
FLUORIDE: Testing for fluoride was based on 20-30ppm of the ion in the influent aqueous solution at a flow rate of no
more than 3 gpm per cubic foot of media. Results of < 1ppm of the fluoride ion in the effluent were typical for the media
(>95% reduction). Under optimum conditions, effluent concentrations of less than 50 ppb were readily achieved
(>99.75% reduction).

ARSENIC: This product uniquely targets the entire family of arsenic oxide anions as well as the arsenic cations.

REPLACEMENT:
Under normal conditions it is recommended that each set of two PF-2 elements be replaced after 1,000 gallons (The
Berkey
Light
™ system is about 2.75 gallons therefore the PF-2 filters should be replaced after 363 refills. If the system is refilled
about one time per day, the PF-2’s should be replaced annually, if the system is refilled about twice per day, the PF-2’s
should be replaced about every six months).

NOTES:
1) Do not boil this element.
2) PF-2 elements reduce filtration flow rate by 15-20%.
3) The media used within the PF-2 filter elements contains high-grade activated aluminum oxide, which currently is the
most efficient media available for extracting fluoride from water. We have been informed that aluminum oxide differs
from aluminum in that it is inert although the lab tests cannot distinguish between aluminum and aluminum oxide.

Below
are the results we obtained when testing our PF-2 elements (the water was not pre-filtered through the Black Berkey�
elements). The reduction over time is due to additional residual process dust being washed free from the PF-2 elements
as the system is used.

To give a scale for comparison purposes we include test results from a national brand toothpaste
and water boiled in an aluminum pan.
•
National brand toothpaste
52.878 ppm aluminum oxide
•
Water boiled in an aluminum pan for five minutes:
2.791 ppm aluminum
•
PF2 after conditioning (5 cycles):
.178 ppm aluminum oxide
•
PF2 after 10 Cycles:
.037 ppm aluminum oxide
•
PF2 after 20 Cycles:
.029 ppm aluminum oxide
While the above results indicate that the residual process dust adds a minute amount of aluminum oxide to the water, Black
Berkey� purification elements reduce aluminum from water. We tested water that naturally contained .320ppm aluminum
and filtered it through the combination of the Black Berkey� and the post conditioned PF-2 filtration elements (5 cycles).
The results showed a net reduction in detectable aluminum (both aluminum and aluminum oxide) contamination (Raw
influent: .320ppm - Effluent after passing through the Black Berkey� and PF-2 elements: .232ppm).
*

Actual capacity is dependent on the presence of other competing contaminants in the source water. High levels of Fluoride, arsenic and heavy
metals may reduce the capacity and efficiency of the elements.
Berkey� PF-2 ELEMENTS (Set of Two):
SIZE: Length 6”, width 2.5”, COLOR: WHITE, REPLACEMENT: 1,000
GALLONS
Berkey

�
PF-2 Fluoride and
Arsenic Reduction Elements

Page 2
Pf2brinsrt 10-2-07
FILTERS MUST BE PRIMED PRIOR TO USE.
Do not install before reading installation
procedures - Do not screw on the PF-2 elements more than eight revolutions.
PRIMING PROCEDURE
The media within your PF-2 elements contains micro fine process dust that can cause the purified water to have
a bitter taste. To dislodge the process dust from the PF-2 elements, it is necessary to prime each element.

To
prime your filters, use the following procedure:
1) With blue caps in place wash the exterior of each PF-2 element with mild dish soap.
2) With clean hands, remove both blue caps from each end of each PF-2 filter element.
3) Place the rubber-priming button (tan colored) onto one end of a PF-2 element and align the hole in the button with the
hole in the PF-2 element.

4) Press the priming button up against a sink faucet so that the priming
button creates a seal between the faucet and the PF-2 element.
5) While holding priming button against faucet, turn on the cold water
gently, allowing water to fill the cavity of the PF-2 element and
discharge from the opposite end. Allow water to discharge for at least
20 seconds or until water runs clear whichever is longer. Hint: Place
thumb on top of faucet to apply pressure and create a better seal.
6) Turn the PF-2 element the other direction and prime the other end
repeating steps 3-5. The element has now been successfully primed.
7) Prime each additional PF-2 element repeating steps 3-6.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
1) Remove upper chamber from filtration system and place it upside down on a counter so that the stems of the Black
Berkey� purification elements are facing upward.
2) With the water flow-arrow pointing away from the upper chamber (the PF-2 elements have threads on one end only)
screw the PF-2 elements onto the stems of each Black Berkey� element eight full revolutions. Notes: a) Do not
screw on more than eight revolutions as this may damage the internal media screen. b) The flow arrow should
point away from upper reservoir).
3) Replace the upper reservoir onto the lower reservoir (the PF-2’s should now be hanging inside the lower reservoir). Fill
the upper reservoir with water and let it drain into the lower reservoir. When the lower reservoir is full, discard the first
batch of water, which may contain residual process dust. Your purification system is now ready for use.

Notes:
1) When lower reservoir is full of water, the PF-2 filters will be immersed.
2) When water level in lower reservoir rises above the bottom of the PF-2 elements, it is normal for small amounts of water
to burp through threads connecting PF-2 elements to
Black Berkey�
purification elements.
3) The lower reservoir in most gravity purification systems has a two to three gallon capacity and a typical household uses
about one refill per day. We recommend that the upper reservoir be filled at night. The water from upper reservoir
should be purified by morning. It is normal for the purification process to slow down significantly when water level in
lower reservoir rises above the bottom of the PF-2 elements. Households requiring more water can speed up the flow
rate by drawing off the purified water into a water pitcher or other container when water level in lower reservoir rises
above the bottom of the PF-2 elements.
For maximum removal efficiency, maintain the water being treated between a PH level of 5 and 8.
Actual capacity is dependent on the level of
contamination of arsenic, fluoride and other competing heavy metal ions. Unusually high levels of these contaminants may reduce the capacity and
efficiency of the elements.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I ordered mine through them a few weeks back. I had a great experieince with them. The unit came about 2 weeks after I rec'd notice it shipped (1 day after order placed online), but I don't know what method it was shipped by. I forgot to look, I was so excited to open up the package and check it out.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

It seems the aquarain is priced a bit lower then Berkeys unit and suppposedly the aquarain filters can be manually cleaned and used over again, many times.

Would anyone agree that the Aquarain looks like the best deal for the money and the ability to clean /reuse its filters many times ?

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

The berkey has the same filters.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

are you sure ?

from what Ive read..the aquarain filter.. filters out to a smaller micron size compared to the berkey filters

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Not the same filters, but they are cleaned in the same manner.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I drink tap off my well. The crap in the water makes me strong. I had fluoride as a kid and I am smart as hell, intractable as any non-flouridated kid, and I only had two wee cavities. During the day I drink fluoridated water.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I think it really depends on why you are buying a filter.

Alot of these guys are using their berkeys to clean out nasty city water and remove as many chemicals possible. In that scenario, the berkey wins.

We have good deep well water. I bought my aquarain for emergency purposes only, i.e. collected rain water, questionable water, etc. So what I needed was a fair priced device that was extremely good at filtering out water borne pathogens. In this case, I think the aquarain was a good choice.

In the end, for emergency purposes, both will server you much much better than the guy that has neither. My advice would be to pick one and don worry about it, you are still FAR FAR better off than the next guy who doesn't have any source of drinking water.

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

Techguy, when you say "chemicals" please explain. Been reading that a lot of pharmaceuticals are in our rivers. Would the berkey be best for those?

Re: Just bought a Berkey!
 

I think everyone has to come to their own decisions about that.

My criterea was as follows:

Do I need a water filter for emergencies? YES
Do I need a filter for every day? NO
Am I worroied about drugs in our rivers: In a survival situation: NO
Am I worried about mirco organisms killing me in a survival sitaion: YES
Which filter has the smaller ceramic pores?
Which filter gives me the most value based on price vs function?
Which filter has the lower cost media filters?


Based on the above criteria, I chose the Aquarain. Again, I am only using it for emergency filtering of water in a survival situation. In those instances, no one will be worried about whether or not some unproven amount of estrogen in the water will give you cancer 20 years from now. We will all be worried about getting enough water to survive the week.


The only way to truly remove ALL the chemicals and drugs from your water if that is really what you are worried about is a reverse osmosis filter system. You certainly would not want to trust a berkey or aquarain to clean chemicals from heavily contaminated water, such as swimming pool water.

The reason I say that is that you are trusting the charcoal to do the dirty work for you, yet you have no way of knowing just when the charcoal starts losing effectiveness. When is bad? Does letting 5% of the chemicals through equal bad? How about 10%??? The only way to know for sure is a RO system if that is what keeps you up at night.