Customer Reviews

Katadyn Ceradyn Replacement Element

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Katadyn Ceradyn water filters have been used by my family and everyone in our NGO for years here in Uganda. None of us ever have any trouble with any illness related to water-born bugs. Also, please note that the Ceradyn filters are a much better use of your money than the Gravidyn filters because they last significantly longer.

Everyone in our family has stayed healthy using these filters the past 2 1/2 years in Africa.

Prospective buyers, please beware that this filter element DOES NOT come with a threaded nut to secure this filter to your filter housing. I guess Katadyn assumes that if you are buying this replacement filter, that you already have one. However, since I was buying this filter element to put inside my Big Berkey Stainless Steel Housing gravity filter, I did not have one. After buying some Doulton Ceramic candles from a different website (gravityfilter dot com), I was able to get the gentleman to toss in a "katadyn threaded washer" with my order. Gravityfilter dot com sells all sorts of filter elements for gravity filters. I am not saying that they are the Cheapest, but this website was rather convenient in that they had all the things I was looking for. After EXTENSIVE research, I have been able to conclude that the Black Berkey Filter Elements that are included with the Big Berkey fitlers are NOT adequate nor are they superior to these katadyn filter elements. If you are curious as to what research I have done regarding this matter, feel free to click on my profile and see my review of the Big Berkey system. All in all I am happy with this Katadyn filter element and will use it in an emergency. However, I do prefer the Doulton Ceramic candles for reasons which you can read on my Berkey review.

I purchased these to replace my black berkey elements that I had used for 2.5 years with no maintenance. These are not as wide as the black berkeys but are taller. The stainless big berkey drip filter housing is compatible, but the lit doesn't sit fully flush to rim. It floats a small bit on these candles since they are a bit too long. I'd guess an 1/8" maybe.

They drain faster than the blacks but my guess is long term the blacks are more durable. They mount in the berkey fine but they do not come with nuts, which I think they should considering the cost. I ordered the small parts kit direct from katadyn which includes washers and nuts.

The threaded ends of these elements are much more firm when mounted than the black berkeys. The blacks seem very fragile based on heavier elements and thin threaded nipple. These were a reddish tan color. I contacted katadyn and asked as all the pics are white, they responded very quickly and said they vary in color, and not a problem. They recommend running a cycle or two before drinking to get rid of ceramic dust and activated carbon dust. I noted a "new product" sort of smell/taste initially. This smell seems to have reseeded somewhat after a few fillings.
Katadyn told me they can be scrubbed a bit before use and even with baking soda water if you so desire. They came with no instructions, assuming you own a katadyn drip filter that had a set included. I prefere the stainless berkey to katadyn plastic. If I were to do it again I'd buy one size bigger than the "big berkey".

I was amazed that a company that did so much shipping did not take the effort to wrap to protect something so delicate as ceramic filter candles. I would have thought that it would have been obvious to the simplest of shippers that it needed proper padding.
Also when I returned the 3 (three) items that 3 (three) items would have been shipped back to me as replacements and not just one. It does not give me a lot of confidence to do business with you as a company.