Filter Strainer Baskets

Tank filter-strainer baskets: keep leaves and large debris out of your tank

A filter-strainer basket is installed in the top opening of a plastic tank to keep leaves and other large debris from entering with the liquid. It provides simple pre-filtration and is particularly useful for rainwater collection, irrigation and maple sap collection.

Agrico Plastics offers two filter-strainer basket sizes: 8" and 16". The mesh is made of polyethylene and the body is made of polypropylene.

Installation does not require a complicated connection. Remove the tank lid, insert the basket into the opening and direct the incoming water into it. Debris is retained in the basket while the water passes through the mesh and enters the tank.

Pre-filtration and filtration are not the same thing

The purpose of the basket is to stop debris large enough to be retained by its mesh.

For example, when a downspout feeds a rainwater collection tank, leaves and other debris can be carried into the tank with the water. The basket intercepts them before they accumulate at the bottom of the tank.

The same principle applies to maple sap collection and certain irrigation applications: the basket provides a simple first barrier before storage.

This type of pre-filtration should not be confused with fine filtration or water treatment. A filter-strainer basket does not make water potable and does not replace filtration equipment required to remove fine particles or treat the water.

8" or 16" filter-strainer basket: which one should you choose?

Both models perform essentially the same function, but their dimensions and installation requirements differ.

Selection therefore starts with the opening available on the tank. A 16" basket is not automatically better simply because it is larger, and the diameter of the openings offered on the tanks cannot be changed. The tank should therefore be selected from the outset with the required opening size.

Also consider how the liquid enters the tank and whether the basket will remain installed permanently or only during filling.

The 16" basket changes how the tank lid can be used

This is an easy detail to overlook when selecting the basket.

When the 16" filter-strainer basket is installed, the tank lid cannot be properly reinstalled over it. It will not sit securely in place.

This limitation should be considered according to the installation. If the basket is used only during filling and then removed, it may have little impact. If you intend to leave the basket installed permanently, protection of the tank opening should be considered.

This is precisely the type of detail that should be checked before simply choosing the larger basket.

For rainwater collection

A filter-strainer basket can serve as a first stage when a downspout is directed into a tank.

Remove the lid, place the basket in the opening and direct the downspout toward the basket. Leaves and large debris are then retained before they enter the tank.

The complete installation still needs to be considered. The basket does not control tank overflow by itself and does not replace the other fittings required for a rainwater collection system.

Depending on the installation, a bulkhead fitting can be added to create an outlet, overflow or connection for other equipment.

For maple sap collection

The same pre-filtration principle can be used to prevent certain debris from entering the tank with maple sap.

The basket makes it easier to remove the material it retains rather than allowing that material to accumulate inside the tank.

It remains a pre-filtration component. Any filtration or treatment requirements for subsequent stages of your process must be determined separately.

Cleaning should also be considered

A basket filled with leaves or debris will eventually reduce the available flow of water through the mesh.

Accessibility is therefore important. The installation should allow the basket to be easily removed, emptied, rinsed and reinstalled.

The more debris present in the environment, the more frequently the basket should be checked. A filter-strainer basket works by retaining material before it enters the tank; that material must then be removed.

Frequently asked questions

Does a filter-strainer basket make water potable?

No. It is designed to retain leaves and other large debris. It is not a water treatment or purification system.

Can I direct a downspout directly into the basket?

Yes. This is one of its intended applications: remove the tank lid, insert the basket into the opening and direct the downspout into it for simple pre-filtration.

Which basket size should I choose?

Start by checking the opening on your tank. Agrico offers 8" and 16" baskets. You should also consider how the liquid enters the basket and the fact that the lid does not fit properly when the basket is installed.

Can the basket remain installed permanently?

It depends on the installation. Access should be provided for regular cleaning of the filter, and you should determine whether protection of the tank contents is required because the threaded lid does not fit properly when installed over the basket. Otherwise, there is nothing preventing the basket from remaining in place permanently.