Another toilet question

Last week I ran some extra plumbing so I could run the toilet cistern and washing machine from my bore pump. I did this to conserve our rainwater supplies. Our bore water is potable (but not quite as nice as the rainwater) but has already left some mineral deposits on the pan.
Is there something I can put in the cistern which will stop the deposits forming on the pan (and in the workings of the cistern, which I assume will happen in the long run). Is there something I can use in the pan itself to remove the deposits? Note that these deposits are not under the water line (yet) but on the above water section. Whatever I use must be compatible with a septic system.

Thanks in advance to all the chemical gurus and toilet cleaning technicians out there. :rolleyes:

Mick

Mick, you're worried about strange deposits in the pan, and you're asking THIS LOT? :eek:

You are a braver man than me :D

Richard
cowardice is the better part of valour :rolleyes:

I dont think there is a product that would stop the staining only stain removing products... Hmmm teflon coated toilet bowl, might as well everything has teflon coating these days... can we add a lazer guidance system(new GMC range... ala bathroom products).

Try and find a black toilet bowl to hide it maybe?

Why don't you try an inline filter between the cistern and the water supply? We use a cartridge type filter on our tank water to filter out the crap. You can get different filters - maybe they make one for hard water areas...

Seeing the deposit is above the waterline it might be Calcium Carbonate (lime). Check if Vinegar removes it ?

Ed T

Mick,

err.. can you describe the deposits?

There are a number of treatments which can be used, one of them is a simple electrode system at the bore itself which takes care of those nasty red iron stains. Others involve slight chemical filtration (not expensive) depending on what the nature of the "deposit" is.

Cheers,

P

Thank you all for being so restrained, I was bracing myself for a swag of jokes! ;) The deposits are mostly whitish grey, so I'm guessing calcium or salts. There can't be too much in the water as it tastes okay (well better than most town water anyway :p ) Hadn't thought about taking a proactive approach and filtering it, good idea. However I'm guessing that to filter it effectively I'll need to identify the contaminants so the appropriate filter media can be selected, and testing charges will probably cost more than anything else :rolleyes: . I could probably dredge up some high school chemistry and devise a few of my own tests.... Anyway, all and any suggestions welcome.

Mick

JM Mick, Have to say that I don't agree with Silents idea. I thought that the idea was to send the crap ON it's merry way; not filter it out;). Probably not a good idea to use a ball pein hammer & cold chisel to remove the deposit. Yet again. the new pan will be clean for a while.

Seriously. it sounds like calcification. Would that CLR stuff be compatible with the septic?
I have seen ads for a magnetic "gizmo" (related to thingy's, jiggers etc) that screws into the pipeline with the idea being that the magnetism alters the calcium molecule somehow which stops them from accumulating. Black magic maybe; or sales hype.

Ken

Quote:

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Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

Thank you all for being so restrained, I was bracing myself for a swag of jokes! ;)
Mick

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Oh and so was I, Mick and so was I. :)

I would just look at a filter for hard water/bore water. They make water softeners but that's probably overkill for a toilet. I think you need reverse osmosis though. This will help in the laundry too because hard water doesn't create suds very well and so you need more detergent.

Try a search on Google. I did a quickie on 'water filter inline "hard water" site:au' and got a few hits, even some magnetic gadget - remember the 'polariser'? :rolleyes:

Sorry,

I know how to fix red stains, not white ones :o :o .

I've found the pump guys usually know what they are talking about (I did say USUALLY). One of the benefits of living in a rural area (well near a rural area) is that the big irrigation guys will test water to see if they can sell you the solution!

Have a phone around, if you can't get an answer locally I'll see what I can drum up down here.

Cheers,

P

Midge,
you've reminded me, my cousin's father-in-law runs a pumping and irrigation shop and he seems to think he owes me a lifetime of favours :) as he gives me everything at just above cost :D - I did redo his kitchen for him a few years ago at a bargain price. I'll have to give him a call and pick his brains.

Mick

Mick, try the RO guys at Sharplift, Trevor if he is still there.

Cheers

Well what can i add? except to say that its great to see so many contributions from members who really know their $h!thttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ons/icon14.gif


Doug

This site has all the good merde

http://www.sulabhtoiletmuseum.org/