SMART Water Filter Replacement Cartridge

Keep your Crystal Quest system working with a fresh SMART water filter replacement cartridge. Multiple filtration media work together to reduce chlorine, chloramine, unwanted taste and odor, and a range of metals and organic contaminants.

Four sizes: match the size or part number on your system or cartridge sticker.
Three capacity levels: Plus, Ultra and Ultimate use different ERA media ratios to extend cartridge lifespan.
One cartridge, multiple media: coconut shell carbon, catalytic carbon, redox alloy and ion-exchange resin, plus ceramic and tourmaline media.
Typical replacement: 12 to 24 months, about 18 months for most homes. Water quality and usage affect actual life.

What SMART filtration helps reduce

Chlorine and chloramine: address common municipal-water disinfectants and associated taste and odor.
Metals and organic chemicals: the media blend targets heavy metals, VOCs, THMs, pesticides and herbicides.
Particles: filter pads add particulate filtration within the cartridge.

Performance depends on the contaminant, incoming water quality, flow and cartridge condition. For a specific water problem, match treatment to your water test results.

Plus, Ultra or Ultimate?

The key difference is the ERA (Eagle Redox Alloy) media ratio and resulting service capacity. Within the same size, Plus offers the lowest upfront cost, Ultra adds capacity, and Ultimate provides the highest capacity and longest service life of the three. Actual replacement timing still depends on your water and use.

Use “Which SMART is right for me?” beside Type for the full comparison. Rated flow stays the same across all three levels of a given size.

Compare capacity by size

Published capacity in gallons
Size, diameter x height	Flow	Plus	Ultra	Ultimate
2-7/8" x 9-3/4"	0.5 GPM	10,000	20,000	30,000
2-7/8" x 20"	2.5 GPM	80,000	90,000	100,000
4-5/8" x 9-3/4"	3 GPM	80,000	90,000	100,000
4-5/8" x 20"	6 GPM	160,000	240,000	300,000

Capacities are estimates at less than 100 ppm hardness and vary with incoming contaminants and usage. Capacity is not a guarantee of a fixed number of months or the same reduction performance for every contaminant.

Match your existing cartridge

Start with the sticker on the front of your system or cartridge. Match its size or part number, then confirm the SMART stage in your system manual. Dimensions mean width across x height, in inches. For example, 2-7/8" x 9-3/4" is 2 and 7/8 inches wide and 9 and 3/4 inches tall.

Open “Which size fits?” beside Size for the housing image and common under-sink, countertop, inline, whole-house and RO examples. A larger cartridge requires a matching housing. Sealed inline filters use a different format.

When to replace it

Plan for 12 to 24 months: about 18 months for most homes, depending on feed-water quality, system configuration and use.
Replace sooner if taste, odor, flow or pressure changes. With gauges, replace when the inlet-to-outlet pressure difference has grown well beyond the fresh-cartridge reading.
RO pre-filters on chlorinated city water: annual replacement is best practice to protect the membrane.

Taste and odor alone cannot confirm that a cartridge is still reducing every contaminant.

Common questions

Does SMART replace a water softener or reverse osmosis?

SMART is a multistage filtration cartridge. For hardness, dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride or microbiological concerns, use the dedicated treatment your water requires. It is not a substitute for a water softener, RO system, specialty cartridge or disinfection.

Can I upgrade from Plus to Ultra or Ultimate?

Choose the same cartridge size and confirm your system's specified SMART replacement. The higher levels add service capacity within that size; they do not increase its published flow rate or make a different housing size fit.

What comes with my order?

One SMART replacement cartridge in the size and level selected. The housing, sump, cap and installation tools are not included. Cartridge color may vary; order by size and part number.

Where are the installation instructions?

See the Installation tab for the replacement overview. Follow the instructions for your complete system, including cartridge position, seal care and flushing. Find your system manual in the Document Center.

What testing can I review?

The complete chlorine-reduction test report covers countertop model CQE-CT-00103, tested at 0.2 GPM through 500 gallons. Its results apply to those tested samples and conditions; they do not establish the capacities or all contaminant claims for every SMART size and level.

Specifications for your selection

2-7/8" x 9-3/4" / SMART Ultra

SKU: CQE-RC-04003
Capacity: 20000 gallons
Flow rate: 0.5 GPM
Diameter (width): 2.875 in
Length (height): 9.75 in
Replace every: 12 to 24 months

Published capacity applies at less than 100 ppm hardness. Capacity is an estimate and depends on incoming water contaminants and filter usage.

Cartridge type: Multi-stage SMART replacement cartridge
Available levels: SMART Plus, SMART Ultra, SMART Ultimate
Tier difference: The ERA (Eagle Redox Alloy) media ratio changes between the tiers to extend cartridge lifespan. Compare capacities within the same size; actual life depends on water quality and usage.
2-7/8" x 9-3/4": 0.5 GPM; Plus 10,000 gallons; Ultra 20,000 gallons; Ultimate 30,000 gallons
2-7/8" x 20": 2.5 GPM; Plus 80,000 gallons; Ultra 90,000 gallons; Ultimate 100,000 gallons
4-5/8" x 9-3/4": 3 GPM; Plus 80,000 gallons; Ultra 90,000 gallons; Ultimate 100,000 gallons
4-5/8" x 20": 6 GPM; Plus 160,000 gallons; Ultra 240,000 gallons; Ultimate 300,000 gallons
Filter media: Acid-washed coconut shell granular activated carbon (GAC), catalytic carbon GAC, ion-exchange resin, Eagle Redox Alloy 6500 and 9500, ceramic and tourmaline balls
Filtration pads: Micron filter pads; no numeric micron rating is specified
End caps: Polypropylene
Inner and outer wraps: Polyolefin
Netting: Polyethylene
Gaskets: Buna-N
Cartridge temperature rating: 40 to 145 F (4.4 to 62.8 C)
Replacement guidance: Typically 12 to 24 months, about 18 months for most homes
Part numbers, 2-7/8" x 9-3/4": Plus CQE-RC-04002; Ultra CQE-RC-04003; Ultimate CQE-RC-04004
Part numbers, 2-7/8" x 20": Plus CQE-RC-04016; Ultra CQE-RC-04081; Ultimate CQE-RC-04082
Part numbers, 4-5/8" x 9-3/4": Plus CQE-RC-04027; Ultra CQE-RC-04028; Ultimate CQE-RC-04029
Part numbers, 4-5/8" x 20": Plus CQE-RC-04030; Ultra CQE-RC-04031; Ultimate CQE-RC-04032

Dimensions are cartridge width across (diameter) x height (length), in inches. Match the size or part number on the front sticker and confirm the intended SMART stage.

Published capacities apply at less than 100 ppm hardness. Capacity is an estimate and depends on incoming water contaminants and filter usage.

Use within the limits specified for the complete housing and system.

Actual life depends on feed-water quality and usage. Replace sooner if taste, odor, flow or pressure changes. For RO pre-filters on chlorinated city water, annual replacement is best practice to protect the membrane.

Cartridge color is subject to change without notice.

Parts included

One SMART replacement cartridge in the selected size and level
Housing, sump, cap and installation tools are sold separately

Follow the replacement instructions for your complete system. Confirm the correct SMART cartridge and its position before starting.
Shut off the water supply and release system pressure as directed in the system manual. Place a drip pan underneath before opening the housing.
Remove the used cartridge. Clean and thoroughly rinse the sump; inspect and seat the housing seals as directed in your manual.
Remove all protective wrapping from the new cartridge. Install it in the specified direction and reseal the housing without cross-threading or overtightening.
Restore water slowly, check for leaks and flush for the time or volume specified for your system before use.

SMART Filter Cartridge