Manitowoc K00538 20,000 Gallon Arctic Pure Plus Replacement Water Filter Cartridge for AR-20000-P, 5 Micron with Built-In Scale Inhibitor

The Manitowoc K00538 is the replacement cartridge for the Arctic Pure Plus AR-20000-P water filter system, the six month service item for operators running an ice machine that makes 500 to 900 lb of ice per day on filtered water. Each cartridge carries a 20,000 gallon chlorine reduction capacity at a rated flow of 1.5 gpm, and the proprietary media filter reduces dirt and fine sediment to 5 microns while stripping chlorine taste and odor and renewing the built-in scale inhibitor, so one swap restores particulate, taste, and scale protection together. It serves the AR-20000-P head; machines making up to 450 lb per day pair with the AR-10000-P and its K00537 cartridge, and machines in the 1,000 to 2,100 lb range with the AR-40000-P and K00539. Replacement is a quarter turn to the left to pull the old cartridge and a quarter turn to the right to seat the new one, followed by a five minute flush at full flow before the water feeds the ice machine again.

5 Micron Filtration with Proprietary Media Filter

The proprietary media filter provides dirt holding capacity and fine sediment reduction down to 5 microns, keeping particulate out of the ice machine water path while the media reduces chlorine, taste, and odor for clearer, better tasting ice. The cartridge operates from 30 to 125 psi in water from 35°F to 100°F, and it must be protected from freezing, which can crack the filter housing and cause water leakage.

Built-In Scale Inhibitor Against Scale Formation

A built-in scale inhibitor helps protect against scale formation on equipment surfaces, and a fresh charge arrives with every cartridge change so mineral protection renews on the same schedule as the filtration. That combination is what supports reliable, long-lasting machine performance and great tasting ice between swaps.

Sanitary Quick-Change Design with Quarter-Turn Installation

The sanitary quick-change cartridge design minimizes contamination of the filter media during change-out: twist a quarter turn to the left until it stops and pull the cartridge down to remove it, then insert the new cartridge into the head and twist a quarter turn to the right until it stops. The cartridge measures 3.62 in. wide by 15.34 in. tall, so confirm hanging room under the filter head before ordering.

Six Month Replacement Cycle with a Five Minute Flush

Manitowoc recommends replacing the cartridge at least every six months, when rated capacity is reached, or when flow to the machine becomes inconveniently slow, since performance varies with flow rate, influent line pressure, and local water conditions. Flush each new cartridge by running water at full flow through the system for five minutes, and do not use water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without adequate disinfection before or after the system. In areas with heavy particulate, the optional AR-PRE-P pre-filter with its K00536 cartridge extends this cartridge's working life by catching sediment first.