Sand in the tank, rust after a water outage, or fine silt that keeps blocking your filters? The right sediment filter depends on the particles, how much water you use and how you want to maintain the system.
Use this guide to compare coarse prefilters, cartridge systems and backwashing AFM vessels, or find the correct replacement for a filter you already own.
Start with the closest match below. Some supplies need two stages: a coarse prefilter first, followed by finer filtration.
Sand & visible grit
Catch larger particles before they reach irrigation equipment, cartridges or a media vessel.
Rust & finer suspended particles
A practical option for finer sediment when the cartridge size and rating suit the water demand.
Recurring sediment & greater demand
A reusable media bed captures suspended particles and is cleaned by reversing water through the vessel.
You already have a filter
Match your existing housing before choosing meltblown, string wound, pleated or mesh filtration.
Clear water is not proof that it is safe to drink. Sediment filtration targets suspended particles. It does not, by itself, disinfect water, soften it or remove dissolved salts. Brown staining or cloudiness can also need treatment based on a water analysis.
| Option | Main role | Maintenance | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disc / screen | Coarse prefiltration and protection of downstream equipment. | Open and clean the disc stack or screen as instructed. A flush valve does not always replace element cleaning. | Connection size, micron rating, flow capacity and pressure loss. |
| Cartridge system | Finer particle filtration using replaceable cartridges. | Replace loaded depth cartridges; clean only elements specified as washable. | Housing size, cartridge fit, micron rating and acceptable pressure drop. |
| Manual AFM vessel | Media filtration for suspended solids, with operator-controlled cleaning. | Manually run the required backwash and rinse cycle. | Service flow, backwash flow, pressure and drainage. The manual head does not need electrical power. |
| Automatic AFM vessel | The same media-filtration approach, with automated backwash control. | The valve runs programmed cleaning cycles; settings still need to suit the water. | All manual-vessel checks, plus a power supply for the automatic valve. |
Budget comparison: consider the initial purchase, replacement cartridges, cleaning effort and backwash-water use. A cheaper filter can become costly if it needs frequent replacement.
A micron (µm) is one thousandth of a millimetre. A lower number describes finer particle filtration, but it can also mean faster blockage when the incoming water contains a lot of sediment.
| Rating | Common role | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| 100–130 µm | Coarse prefiltration for larger grit and particles. | Fine silt can pass through; use finer filtration downstream where required. |
| 20–50 µm | A coarser cartridge stage where sediment loading would overwhelm a finer cartridge. | Useful as a first stage, rather than a universal final rating. |
| 5–10 µm | Common finer-sediment cartridge options. | Choose the rating alongside flow, sediment loading and downstream requirements. |
| 1 µm and finer | Fine polishing after suitable upstream treatment. | A micron label alone is not a disinfection claim or proof of an absolute removal rating. |
Nominal and absolute ratings are different. Compare the manufacturer’s retention efficiency, not just the number on the label. AFM performance also depends on the media grade, bed design and filtration velocity.
Before ordering: check the housing model, cartridge length, Slimline or Big Blue diameter, end configuration and micron rating. A cartridge of the same length can still be the wrong fit.
| Construction | How it filters | Maintenance & shopping |
|---|---|---|
| Meltblown | Polypropylene depth filtration that traps particles within the cartridge structure. | Normally replaced when loaded. Browse sediment cartridges. |
| String wound | Wound yarn forms a depth filter around a central core. | Replace when loaded; select the correct housing format and rating. View string wound options. |
| Pleated | A folded filter surface provides a larger filtration area. | Only clean and reuse models specified as washable; replace damaged or persistently blocked elements. View pleated options. |
Choose this when someone can reliably operate the valve and complete the backwash and rinse sequence.
Choose this when programmed cleaning is more practical for regular use or a busier installation.
Use a suitable disc or screen prefilter where larger grit needs to be intercepted.
Select a correctly sized cartridge system or AFM vessel for the suspended-solids load.
Add finer polishing, carbon or disinfection only where the water analysis and intended use require it.
This is a selection guide, not a fixed system design. Heavy sand, persistent colloidal cloudiness, dissolved iron or manganese can need additional pretreatment. A carbon or UV stage has a different job from a sediment filter.
For an existing media vessel, confirm the media grades, layer arrangement and loading quantity. A bag of media is not a complete filter.
Shop AFM replacement mediaFor an engineered commercial installation, explore bag-filter housings and replacement bags. Match the bag size, seal, micron rating and operating limits.
Shop housings & filter bagsThe incoming particle load may be too high, the cartridge too fine for the first stage, or the housing too small for the demand. Check pressure loss and the water source before choosing a larger system, a coarser prefilter or a different treatment approach.
No. Meltblown and string wound cartridges are normally replaced. Only wash elements specified as reusable, follow the cleaning instructions, and replace them when cleaning no longer restores performance or the element is damaged.
No. Finer filtration may be appropriate after upstream sediment removal, but can block rapidly on dirty water. The correct rating depends on the particle load, flow and the equipment being protected.
It may catch rust flakes or iron particles already present as solids. Dissolved iron and manganese need treatment chosen from a water analysis; a sediment filter alone is not a complete iron-removal solution.
Use the peak simultaneous flow, not only your daily consumption. Include available pressure and acceptable pressure loss. For an AFM vessel, confirm that the pump and drain can also support the required backwash flow.
Send us your water source, water analysis or sediment description, peak flow in L/h or m³/h, pipe size in mm, available pressure in bar and a photo of any existing filter. For a backwash vessel, include pump details and available drainage.
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