Home » Replacement Pool Filter Cartridges – The Most Common

Replacement Pool Filter Cartridges – The Most Common

filter cartridges Pool cartridge filters have some significant advantages over traditional sand filter systems. They’re more compact, they take up less space, they require less water pressure and energy, use much less water, and have a greater level of filtration – meaning your pool water stays cleaner longer.

All this convenience, however, comes at a cost. Specifically, it comes at the cost of from time to time having to purchase replacements for the filter cartridges.

What Are the Most Common Replacement Pool Filter Cartridges?

There a large number of different manufacturers of pool filter cartridge systems. These include:

Aquaswim, Davey, Hurlcon, Intex , Onga, Poolrite, Waterco, Zodiac.

The dimensions of the filter cartridges vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from model to model. Therefore, the specific type of replacement cartridge you need will depend on the specific make and model of your pool filter cartridge system.

However, for standard size backyard pools some of the most common include the following:

  • Aquaswim CF100
  • Aquaswim CF150
  • Hurlcon QX-150
  • Hurlcon CL600
  • Hurlcon GX600
  • Hurlcon ZX-200
  • Hurlcon ZX-250
  • Intex 59900
  • Onga BR-9000
  • Onga LCF90
  • Poolrite Enduro EC-150
  • Waterco Trimline CC50
  • Waterco Trimline CC75
  • Waterco Trimline CC100

Is It Necessary to Buy the Specific Brand Name Replacement Filter Cartridges?

No. Thankfully, it is possible to purchase generic replacement filter cartridges suited to most makes and models of pool cartridge filter systems. These generic replacement cartridges are high quality and are optimised to give cleaner water with minimal filter maintenance.

What’s more, the generic filter cartridges are considerably less expensive than the similar brand name cartridges – frequently around half the price!

filters

About Pool Cartridge Filters

The two most common types of pool filters sold in Australia are sand filters and cartridge filters.

Pool cartridge filters require less space for installation than sand filters. In addition, they not only require a much lower water flow pressure, and therefore less energy, to operate, but they also require much less water for maintenance.

This is largely because, unlike sand filters, cartridge filters do not require backwashing – meaning not only is water not flushed out of the system, there’s no need for the space and plumbing required for a backwash system.

For these reasons, pool cartridge filters are ideal for locations where space is tight and where water consumption is a concern.

The filters typically contain three or four cartridges. These consist of pleated, accordion-like material manufactured from spun-bonded polyester in the shape of a cylinder that is housed inside of a tube. As the pool water passes through the finely woven material particles of dirt and debris are trapped, thereby allowing clean water to flow from the middle of the cartridge and back into the pool.

In terms of cleaning capacity, cartridge filters can generally filter particles as small as 30 microns and, for short periods of time they are capable of filtering particles as small as 10 microns. Putting this in perspective, a grain of sand is around 1,000 microns.

This is a superior rate of filtration to traditional sand filter systems. Plus, they require less regular maintenance and, because they don’t require backwashing, they can save up to 10,000 litres of water a year.

There is, however, a downside. Because there’s no backwashing, the cartridges eventually become blocked as particles become trapped on the surface of the filter material or, worse, clogged into the material’s pores thereby causing the cartridges to become clogged. As a result, the cartridges need to be taken out, cleaned, and eventually replaced.

The Pros and Cons of Pool Cartridge Filters

Pros Cons
Requires Less Installation Space The Cartridges Require Cleaning
Uses Less Water The Cartridges Require Replacing
Requires Less Maintenance  
Filters Finer than Sand Filters  

Recommended Products

Pool Filter Cartridges

Do you want to reduce your pool cleaning time? Read our guide How To Clean A Pool: A Time Saving Guide.

swimming in the pool

Related Reading:
Easy Way to Clean Algae from a Pool Filter Cartridge
What’s the Best Pool Filter? Sand vs. Cartridge vs. DE
How to Clean Pool Cartridge Filter (Using Muriatic Acid)

1 thought on “Replacement Pool Filter Cartridges – The Most Common”

  1. Hi, I am chasing a generic cartridge to replace a Hurlcon ZX310 thanks, 75 internal, 230 external and around 450 high thanks. Can you let me know what you have thanks.

    G

    Reply

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