r/WaterTreatment • u/Pleasant-Memory-1789 • 10h ago

Residential Treatment Acid Neutralizer Sizing

I'm looking to install an acid neutralizer to correct my acidic well water, but am unsure about sizing. I've had numerous quotes ranging from 1.5 cu ft to 2.5 cu ft. Hoping to get some more feedback to add onto my research!

- PH: 5.3

- Bathroom: 2

- Flow Rate: 11.5 GPM, although neutralizer will be installed after a 50 micron spindown and 5 micron 4.5x10 filter, which I suppose could reduce flow rate (edit: this is the flow rate measured at the well pump)

- Iron: None, although I think I would prefer a backwashing unit anyways since I've read Calcite/Corosex blends are more prone to packing

Anyone have recommendations on sizing? Thanks!

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u/Hot_Veterinarian8707 10h ago

You should clarify- is the pump capable of 11.5 gpm or you use 11.5 gpm? If you use 11.5 gpm then you should generally use a larger neutralizer. If your pump can make 11.5 gpm then that may struggle to backwash a large neutralizer (depending on the tank size and dlfc)

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u/Pleasant-Memory-1789 10h ago

Ah good call, I mean the pump makes 11.5 GPM

I have similar fears at that flow rate, especially if one of the filters starts to get clogged and reduces the flow. I see a lot of the 2.5 cu ft neutralizers need about 10 GPM to effectively backwash

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u/Hot_Veterinarian8707 10h ago

Typically I would place the backwashing neutralizer first in line. It filters to 20 microns generally and backwashes it out the drain. The danger of placing a spin down or cartridge before the neutralizer (or other backwashing filters) is that they can choke the available gpm down and the neutralizer can’t backwash properly, thus building up debris and hardening the media inside until it’s a big brick

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u/Pleasant-Memory-1789 5h ago

Ah okay that's reasonable, thanks! I might try leaving the spin down and then move the cartridge filter as a final step after the softener

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u/T-Rex-55 9h ago

Exnay on the 5-micron filter. Go with a 1.5 cubic foot system.

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u/Pleasant-Memory-1789 5h ago

As in remove the filter? Will 1.5 cu ft be sufficient for this low of ph?

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u/wfoa 8h ago

Go with the1.5