Water testing is a important step in selecting the correct backwashing filter.
Order a comprehensive water test from National Testing Laboratories.This series of softener-sized backwashing filters addresses the most common problems of city and rural customers.
Automatic backwashing filters are simple, straightforward devices with few moving parts. They need an electrical supply, but their electrical consumption is negligible—about the same as the timer on your kitchen range.
Water enters the filter tank from the top via the control valve, passes downward through the filtering medium to the bottom of the tank where it enters a riser tube that sends it up and out to your service line. It's a simple device, and there isn't a lot that can go wrong. The control valve times the operation and backwashes the medium at intervals that you preset—for example, every fourth day or every sixth day—according to need. Backwashing cleans the filter medium, fluffs it up, and restores the filter's capability. The backwashing process is done in the early morning hours when filtered water is least likely to be needed.
Each of the filters offered below features an advanced Vortech mineral tank loaded with filter media.
With the Vortech tank, no gravel underbase is needed, as is the case with conventional filter tanks.
Calcite filters also feature a dome-hole tank to ease in servicing media.
The filters offered below are complete with everything you need to install, plus easy-to-follow printed instructions and phone/email support if needed. Included with each filter:
Stainless steel bypass valve for easy connection to your plumbing.
Flexible drain tubing.
Funnel for easy loading of media. (Weight of the filter media makes pre-loading before shipping impractical.)
When you order, you'll be asked to choose between a connection to either 3/4" or 1" pipe. The price is the same, but you'll make your installation easier if you know your pipe size when you order. (If you're installing on pipe larger than 1", you should probably consider a larger filter.)
Carbon provides excellent dechlorination and aesthetic improvement and is the most frequently chosen medium to treat chlorinated city water. Removes chemicals and small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, and can be a good iron remover, but only if used behind an oxidizer like air or chlorine.
Maximum Service Flow: | 5 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 4 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
9" X 48" |
Media |
1.0 Cubic Foot Bituminous Coal Activated Carbon |
Maximum Service Flow: | 6 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 5 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
10" X 54" |
Media |
1.5 Cubic Feet Bituminous Coal Activated Carbon |
Maximum Service Flow: | 7 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 6 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
12" X 52" |
Media |
2.0 Cubic Feet Bituminous Coal Activated Carbon |
Maximum Service Flow: | 8 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 7 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
13" X 54" |
Media |
2.5 Cubic Feet Bituminous Coal Activated Carbon |
Catalytic carbon is a specially prepared carbon for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and iron from well water, or chloramines from municipal tap water. Makes a great “whole house” filter for general city water use, especially where chloramines are used, and works well with oxidizers like air and chlorine for sulfide or iron removal. This filter costs more than the standard GAC filter above because catalytic carbon is quite expensive.
Maximum Service Flow: | 2.5 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 4 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
9" X 48" |
Media |
1.0 Cubic Foot Jacobi Coconut Shell Catalytic Carbon |
Maximum Service Flow: | 3.75 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 4 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
10" X 54" |
Media |
1.5 Cubic Feet Jacobi Coconut Shell Catalytic Carbon |
Maximum Service Flow: | 7 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 6 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
12" X 52" |
Media |
2.0 Cubic Feet Jacobi Coconut Shell Catalytic Carbon |
Maximum Service Flow: | 9 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 7 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
13" X 54" |
Media |
2.5 Cubic Feet Jacobi Coconut Shell Catalytic Carbon |
Calcite is a neutralizing medium designed to raise the pH of acidic water. Calcite filters use the same valve, but have a slightly different tank with a dome hole that permits the addition of calcite without removing the filter valve. We now offer the dome hole tank in Vortech style, so no gravel underbed is needed.
Calcite dissolves slowly as the filter operates, so it has to be replenished occasionally. It will normally be several months before calcite needs to be added.
(Calcite is inexpensive but heavy, so shipping is a factor in cost. Our price includes shipping.)
Maximum Service Flow: | 5 |
Backwash Required: | 6 |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
10" X 54" |
Media |
1.5 Cubic Feet Calcite |
High purity natural zeolite is an excellent sediment filtration media. It has the advantages of high flow rate vs. low backwash requirement. The 10" filter requires about 7 gallons-per-minute backwash capacity, but supports a service rate of 7 to 10 gallons per minute. It has a nominal filtration rating of 5 microns—better than Filter Ag or Multi-Media.
Maximum Service Flow: | 9 |
Backwash Required: | 7 |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
10" X 54" |
Media |
1.5 Cubic Feet Zeolite |
Katalox Light is an ideal medium when used with aeration or chlorination, for iron and hydrogen sulfide odor removal. It has a high iron capacity and works well at lower pH levels, without aggressive backwash flow requirements.
Maximum Service Flow: | 5 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 5 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
10" X 54" |
Media |
1.5 Cubic Feet Katalox Light |
Maximum Service Flow: | 6 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 7 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
12" X 52" |
Media |
2.0 Cubic Feet Katalox Light |
Filox is the most active of iron filtration medias available, but it requires a strong, daily backwash. Filox filters will fail over time if not backwashed sufficiently. Recommended where iron levels are high and backwash flow rates are plentiful.
Maximum Service Flow: | 6 gpm |
Backwash Required: | 7 gpm |
Filter Control |
Fleck 5600 SXT |
Tank Size |
9" X 48" |
Media |
1.0 Cubic Foot Filox |
A control valve cannot be installed without either a yoke or a bypass valve. The filters on this page come standard with a bypass valve. The bypass is an especially helpful feature when servicing a filter. If for some reason you prefer the yoke, let us know when you order and we will refund you the price difference.
Filters we sell come complete with a media funnel (a funnel especially designed for loading media into filter and softener tanks) and flexible drain tubing. There is no charge.
If you wish to purchase drain tubing or a softener funnel separately, visit our backwashing filter accessories menu.
General Media Guide : Properties of the most common filter media.
Backwash & Flow Characteristics of Filter Media
Backwashing Filter Selection Page for Fleck Filters : Includes a variety of filter sizes. All filters have Fleck control valves.
(whole house & well units)