how to convert up flow AN to down flow

[Paul Carillet]

We've been in our 8 year old home in Western NC for 5 months. We are on a well water system which consists of a deep well and a 3/4hp submersible pump. The treatment system has a 10X54 tank with air injection, 10X54 up flow AN tank with in & out head, Green sand filter for Iron and a water softener. I opened the sediment filter to find there was no cartridge in it so installed one. A week later the cartridge was full of dark silt and black gravel about the size of aquarium gravel. I'm thinking media from the up flow AN is escaping. After doing some research I'm convinced it would be best to convert it to a down flow Acid Neutralizer set up. I'm looking for advise on how to properly do this. Thanks, Paul C

[Tom Sawyer]

What is the make and model of your equipment

[Paul Carillet]

I know that's a basic question but there is no identification tags or markings that I can see. Also my ph is 6.5 before the AN and 6.8 after. Here is a link to a few pictures. Maybe that will help identify the equipment. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y152o4c5728tx0c/vMsIooH0XD

[ditttohead]

You should not be getting gravel into a filter. this would usually come from the bottom of one of the tanks and would require massive flow to lift it high enough to exit a tank in an upflow system, not likely. It sounds like you have a bad bottom screen. If that is the case, this needs immediate attention. Can you take a picture of your system so we can see the exact flow and deign? Sounds like you have a fairly thorough system. Converting the AN to a downflow design is desirable and fairly easy.

[Paul Carillet]

Can you take a picture of your system so we can see the exact flow and deign? Pictures are here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y152o4c5728tx0c/vMsIooH0XD
Following the pressure tank is the AN tank followed by the air injection tank followed by the green sand filter tank and finally the water softener. My pressure switch is 30/50. The air injection tank was before the pressure tank when we moved in. Someone told me that was bad and could cause a problem if it were to get blocked up, that it should be after the AN tank. I moved the air tank to after the AN tank only to find that then the air injection entrance was getting gravel etc. and reducing water flow. Maybe I need to remove the AN tank from the system for now?

[Paul Carillet]

I have removed the AN tank so no more gravel. Can someone tell me what is involved in converting it to down flow and exactly what order should tanks be installed in? Thanks

[ditttohead]

To convert your system to a downflow, you need to order a control valve, the 7000SXT or 2510SXT are ideal for this application. Order a backwashing filter valve. The riser tube should also be replaced, you would need to completely empty the tank of all gravel and calcite to be sure to get the new riser all the way to the bottom properly. If you are getting gravel through the AN filter, I would question if it is actually upflow. Double check bcause gravel would be very difficult to get to flow to the top of the tank. Be sure to order the proper backwash flow control to match your tank and media and water temperature. Can you post a picture of your existing equipment and the gravel you were getting into the filter?

[Paul Carillet]

"Be sure to order the proper backwash flow control to match your tank and media and water temperature. Can you post a picture of your existing equipment and the gravel you were getting into the filter".

Here are links to the pictures. Didn't know water temp figured into it too.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bmtp59e7wrfo7o1/all.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cjsrl4ibl875rk7/ANtank.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/baa35emq8t...onairtanks.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/phnmn6h9auik84u/gravel.jpg

[Paul Carillet]

Finally see how to post water sys pictures here. As you can see the AN tank just has in and out and that is how it was connected, in to in out to out.