CuZn - Refillable Empty Water Filter Cartridge, 4.5"D x 10"H - WHITE, Compatible With 10" Big Blue Type Filter Housings

Edit: To make a long story short, if your municipal supply or plumbing has sediment and you don't pre-filter for it, refillable canisters will eventually clog. Not sure why the ones I received were already clogged.When my CuZn cartridges would not flow water, I tried a couple of other brands and they worked better. However, as it turns out, the CuZn cartridges have replaceable pads at the top and bottom. The other brands I use must be discarded after being clogged. They have some sort of spun filter fused to the cap that not only makes you have to buy a new one down the road, it also lowers the amount of media you can pack. I bag my media (some is reusable and I 3-stack), and that makes the other brands that much more of a packing problem.The CuZn filters have a plastic grid trapping a stainless steel mesh that sits over the pad at each end. You can remove the grid with a little effort and the mesh and pad are freed. I pulled those out and replaced the plastic grid. Best flow I have ever had. I am going to put the stainless steel mesh back as it was only the pad that was the problem and the mesh is coarse. Anyway, 5 stars for having the best product for most applications (despite having to modify for my application) and for their tenacious customer service.Original Review:The refillable canisters I received turned out to be watertight on the output. Drove me crazy troubleshooting plumbing, etc., changing media, reducing media, and so on. Finally decided to leave the canisters empty and get help, but no flow through the empty canisters! Took them out and tops are water tight. Never heard of such a thing. Have to remove the caps for water to come out the top or let water trickle out the bottom for 5 minutes.Bad batch of canisters?!

Almost 4 months of use so far doesn't give a great review, but so far, it's been perfect. I filled it with a 5 lbs bag of activated carbon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYYP2A0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It filled the container with almost all of the 5 lbs bag. This fits in a 20" big blue filter housing and comes with everything needed (except the media). Well constructed and goes together easily. I have read that activated carbon will get water "highways" over time, where water makes a channel in the carbon. I've removed the filter twice and given it a good shake/stir to collapse any highways to try and get the most life out of the carbon. Based on my water usage, I'll need to replace the carbon in at about 4 to 5 months. Carbon will also grow bacteria, so carbons life is limited. I use this filter behind a 5 micron string filter. I've tried the pleated filters and found the string filters work better for me. Best part about this filter is one can use any media needed for the water conditions. It may seem like a lot up front, but over time, this is the way to go.

The cartridge feels very sturdy and the top screw cap seems tight. Another reviewer mentioned water bypass through there. I will apply Teflon tape there to make sure it is sealed properly. Also ordered KDF 55 from same seller. I called seller wanted to know what kind of carbon refill I should put in, CuZn sales is a very responsive and helpful person with tremendous knowledge. It is rare nowadays to have human response. We must have spent 60+mins in 2 telephone conversations. He took time to answer all my questions. He confirmed my area uses chloramine instead of chlorine. Suggested to use reticulated KDF 85 instead of KDF 55. He also sent me a report to backup recommendation. Also suggested what kind of catalytic carbon to use to treat chloramine. I definitely recommend this company.

Just redid my whole house "Big Blue" 20 inch system which had consisted of two Big Blue 20"x4.5" housings: one for a sediment filter, other for a ph filter. My original housings were blue in color, which I always thought was stupid because you can't see inside the housing. So I found Big Blue compatible CLEAR housings (on Amazon) and ordered them, then found this CLEAR refillable cartridge which I'm using to correct my acidic water's ph. So now I can clearly see the remaining level of calcite/magnesium in the ph filter, as well as see the color of the sediment filter so I'll know when to replace each. This refillable housing is just what I was looking for. And it is rugged and well built. Previous refillable ph filter I had was a white plastic, flimsy plastic thing that cracked along the side. But since it was hidden inside a blue housing, I had no idea of the damage. I searched quite a bit for a CLEAR filter cartridge before I stubled onto this product from CuZn. I did not come across any competing products... Again, I give this item 5 stars for it's ruggedness, build quality and price! I'll try to remember to update this review in a few months after I have to refill it...

These are just fine. The walls are thick and feel solidly built. I bought 2 of these Refillable, Empty Water Filter Cartridge Universal Big Blue (4.5" D x 20" H). They fit perfectly into Pentek 20" Big Blue filter housings. I loaded them with mixed resin bought here on Amazon. It took THREE 5 pound bags of resin to completely fill both cartridges. I took my time loading the resin, making sure it was packed tight. My spot free rinse system consists of three filters. First in line is a 10 inch Pentek Big Blue filter housing loaded with an Icepure Big Blue Sediment and Activated Carbon Water Filter, (to clean up the chlorine and chemicals in the water so the resin will better do its job and las longer) then the two Pentek Big Blue 20" housings loaded with the resin. My water before filtering was 180 ppm TDS....after filtering I'm reading a grand total of zero TDS....

High quality good product.Meets my requirement for fiiling DI resin for DI water