Comparing Popular Water Filters

When comparing water filtration and scale-prevention systems for ice machines, it’s important to look beyond basic chlorine reduction and consider overall water quality, equipment protection, and long-term maintenance costs. Two commonly evaluated options are the Everpure i2000 (EV961222) and the ScaleX Pro 12" Answer (SXP-12TAR). While both systems aim to protect ice machines, they rely on very different technologies. The i2000 uses activated carbon and polyphosphates, while the 12" Answer uses catalytic carbon paired with advanced NAC technology. Understanding how these media types handle chlorine, chloramines, hardness, scale, and microbial growth can help you make a smarter, more cost-effective choice for your equipment.

Everpure i2000(EV961222) and ScaleX Pro 12" Answer(SXP-12TAR). The i2000 uses activated carbon and Polyphosphates and the 12" Answer uses Catalytic Carbon and NAC technology. Activated carbon is very effective at reducing chlorine from the water but ineffective at removing chloramines from the water. Catalytic carbon removes both chlorine and chloramine from the water. For scale treatment, the i2000 uses polyphosphates for scale treatment. Polyphosphates are good up to 5 grains(85.5 ppm of hardness).

Water Hardness Chart

At ScaleX Pro, our filters use NAC technology for scale treatment. NAC technology is good up to 1453 ppm (85 grains of hardness) and will remove existing scale on equipment. NAC converts the dissolved calcium and magnesium into aragonite in the form of calcium carbonate CaCO3 crystals. Since calcium and magnesium are a solid now, they will not stick to the surface.

Another major issue with ice machines is bacteria and mold growth. Bacteria and mold need water, air, and food. When you use polyphosphates for scale treatment, you are providing a food source for bacteria and mold. Eliminate the food source and you won't get mold.  With NAC technology, you are not providing a food source and a byproduct of NAC is that the dissolved CO2 in the water is converted into a gas, which is a natural biocide.

Both systems deliver filtration, but the differences in technology lead to very different performance outcomes. The Everpure i2000 is effective at reducing chlorine and offers limited scale protection, but its activated carbon cannot remove chloramines and its polyphosphate feed can contribute to bacterial and mold growth in ice machines. ScaleX Pro’s 12" Answer, on the other hand, provides broader contaminant reduction with catalytic carbon, eliminates both chlorine and chloramines, and uses high-capacity NAC technology for scale prevention, treating significantly higher hardness levels while also removing existing scale. Because NAC doesn’t introduce nutrients into the water and naturally creates a biocidal environment, it helps protect ice machines from the microbial issues that commonly plague systems using polyphosphates. For operators seeking cleaner water, stronger scale control, and lower maintenance, NAC-based filtration offers a clear advantage.