Cartridge pool filters can provide effective filtration without the backwashing required by sand or DE systems, but the right model depends on the entire circulation system—not on pool volume alone. This guide compares seven commonly searched models and explains how to verify fit, flow, plumbing, clearance, and current availability before buying.
Replacing an element rather than buying a complete housing? Our pool filter cartridge identification worksheet walks through the housing model, part number, dimensions, end caps, and kit quantity before ordering.
How this guide was prepared: This is a research-based comparison, not a hands-on laboratory test. We reviewed current manufacturer product pages, installation manuals, published specifications, and safety guidance. Specifications and availability were rechecked on September 16, 2026. Product listings can change, so confirm the exact model number and manual before purchase.
Affiliate disclosure: Some product links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Temperature Master may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate relationships do not change the selection criteria described below.
Pressure-vessel safety: A pool filter can retain dangerous pressure even after the pump is switched off. Before opening, tightening, or servicing any filter, shut off power at the breaker, open the manual air-relief valve, stand clear of the filter, and wait until the pressure gauge reads zero. Follow the exact manufacturer’s opening and closing procedure. If the clamp, lid, gauge, air-relief assembly, or tank is damaged, stop and use a qualified pool professional.
Quick comparison
| Model | Best fit in this comparison | Important verification |
|---|---|---|
| Pentair Clean & Clear Plus CCP320 | Documented 320 sq. ft. four-cartridge system | 120 GPM published residential flow rate; actual system flow varies |
| Hayward SwimClear 525 | Large filter-area option | Confirm exact model number, plumbing and required clearance |
| Pentair Clean & Clear 150 | Single-cartridge Pentair option | Check the current manual and listing because model families differ |
| Intex 28637EG C1000 | Legacy above-ground filter-pump option | 1,000 GPH—not GPM; Intex lists this model as discontinued |
| Hayward SwimClear 425 | Large four-cartridge option | Confirm the seller’s exact model and current manufacturer documentation |
| Hayward XStream 150 | Above-ground filter/pump system | Official manual lists 150 sq. ft., 100 GPM design flow and 30 PSI maximum working pressure for CC1500 |
| Jandy CS200 | Compact single-cartridge design | Confirm pump output does not exceed filter design flow |
How to choose the right cartridge filter
A filter cannot be sized responsibly from a single rule such as “100 square feet per 10,000 gallons.” Pool volume is only one input. A proper selection considers the required turnover time under local rules, the pump’s actual flow at the system’s total dynamic head, pipe size and velocity limits, filter design flow, maximum working pressure, debris load, equipment-pad space, vertical service clearance, and compatibility with the pool’s sanitation and heating equipment.
- Start with the exact model: Similar names may cover different generations, sizes, port layouts, and pressure ratings. Match the model number on the filter or listing to the manufacturer’s manual.
- Verify design flow: The filter’s published flow rate is not a promise that the installed system will achieve that flow. Pipe size, fittings, elevation, valves, heaters, and other components add resistance.
- Check pressure and plumbing: The filter must be rated for the system and installed with the specified pipe or hose connections. Do not improvise clamps, lids, pressure components, or adapters that the manufacturer does not approve.
- Allow service clearance: Cartridge elements usually lift vertically. Confirm the manufacturer’s required clearance above and around the tank before purchase.
- Consider a larger filter area: When the manufacturer and installer approve the pairing, more filter area can reduce resistance and extend the time between cleanings. It does not replace correct water chemistry or sanitation.
A new filter will not correct a circulation problem caused by an unprimed, air-bound, blocked, or incorrectly valved pump. If water is not moving normally, diagnose the circulation side first with our guide to a pool pump that is not pulling water. For replacement planning, use visible damage, pressure behavior, and the manufacturer’s guidance—not age alone—and see how long pool filters and cartridges typically last.
Turnover targets vary by jurisdiction and pool type. Do not assume every pool must complete a cycle in five or six hours, and do not reject a filter merely because its listed rate is below 100 GPM. Use the applicable code, the equipment manuals, and a hydraulic calculation from a qualified installer.
How we evaluated these filters
The comparison favors documented specifications, accessible manufacturer manuals, correct safety features, service clearance, replacement-element availability, and suitability for the stated pool type. We do not claim that these seven products were installed or tested by the author. “Best” labels below describe a research use case within this list, not a guarantee for every pool.
Research pick: Pentair Clean & Clear Plus CCP320
The CCP320 is the most clearly documented all-around option in this comparison. Pentair lists a 320-square-foot filtration area, four polyester cartridges, a 120 GPM residential flow rate, 2-inch plumbing, and a 50 PSI maximum continual operating pressure. Pentair also cautions that actual system flow depends on plumbing and other components.
Its large filter area and four-cartridge design can suit many in-ground residential systems when the pump, plumbing, pressure, and clearance are compatible. Pentair’s current manual lists 62 inches of vertical clearance for the CCP320, an important detail for covered or compact equipment pads.
- Strengths: current official specifications, four-cartridge design, documented 120 GPM residential rate, and manufacturer safety resources.
- Limitations: it is not automatically compatible with every in-ground equipment pad; verify 2-inch plumbing, available space, system flow, and current warranty terms.
Large filter-area option: Hayward SwimClear 525
The SwimClear 525 is marketed as a large-area, multi-element cartridge filter. A larger filter area may be useful where debris load and longer intervals between cleaning matter, but the number “525” alone is not enough to approve a system match.
Before buying, confirm the exact model on the seller’s page against Hayward’s current manual. Check the design flow, maximum working pressure, port size, vertical clearance, replacement-element part numbers, and whether the listing is intended for residential or commercial use. Commercial installations must follow the applicable local code and cannot be inferred from a consumer listing.
- Strengths: substantial nominal filter area and a multi-cartridge format.
- Limitations: large tanks require more service space, and online listings can mix model numbers or generations.
Single-cartridge Pentair option: Clean & Clear 150
A single-cartridge filter can be simpler to remove and rinse than a four-element assembly. The Clean & Clear 150 is worth considering when the current Pentair manual confirms that its flow, plumbing, pressure rating, and service clearance fit the planned system.
Do not size it solely from a pool-volume threshold such as “up to 15,000 gallons,” and do not assume an Amazon title is an authoritative specification. Match the full item and model number to Pentair’s current product documentation. The cartridge filters suspended particles; it does not replace sanitizer or remove bacteria by itself.
- Strengths: one-element format and compact footprint relative to many multi-cartridge tanks.
- Limitations: correct sizing still requires system-level flow and head calculations.
Legacy above-ground option: Intex 28637EG C1000
The Intex 28637EG is a compact cartridge filter-pump system for compatible above-ground pools. Its published name refers to 1,000 gallons per hour (GPH), which is about 16.7 GPM—not 1,000 GPM. Intex’s official support database currently marks the 28637EG as discontinued, so buyers may encounter old stock or third-party listings.
If considering this legacy unit, verify the pool model, hose diameter, included fittings, electrical requirements, GFCI protection, current replacement-cartridge availability, and whether Intex identifies a supported successor. Use only manufacturer-approved clamps and fittings; substituting a metal clamp because it feels stronger can damage a hose or connection and is not recommended here.
- Strengths: compact combined pump/filter format for compatible above-ground systems.
- Limitations: discontinued model, lower flow than the original article claimed, and compatibility limited to supported pool and hose configurations.
Large four-cartridge option: Hayward SwimClear 425
The SwimClear 425 is another large-area, multi-cartridge candidate. A large cartridge area may reduce how quickly pressure rises under a given debris load, but it does not treat an algae bloom on its own. Algae control requires correct circulation, brushing, filtration, and water chemistry.
Confirm the seller’s exact model against the current Hayward documentation, especially because similar SwimClear names and marketplace data can be inconsistent. Check design flow, pressure rating, port size, installation clearances, replacement cartridges, and lid or clamp instructions before ordering.
- Strengths: large nominal filter area and multiple cartridges.
- Limitations: it should not be selected from algae or pool-gallon claims alone; exact model verification is essential.
Above-ground pump/filter system: Hayward XStream 150
The Hayward XStream CC1500 filter is documented in Hayward’s manual as a 150-square-foot full-flow cartridge unit with a 100 GPM design flow and 30 PSI maximum working pressure. Packages sold with a pump may use different package numbers, so verify every included component rather than relying on the listing title alone.
Hayward’s manual specifies an Easy-Lok ring assembly, but “tool-free” does not mean pressure-free. Never loosen the ring or lift the lid while pressure remains. Shut off power, open the air relief, stand clear, wait for zero pressure, and follow the manual’s reassembly steps and torque or alignment instructions exactly.
- Strengths: official flow and pressure specifications are available, and compatible packages combine an above-ground pump and filter.
- Limitations: the 30 PSI maximum working pressure and exact hose/plumbing configuration must be respected.
Compact single-element option: Jandy CS200
The Jandy CS series is available in 100-, 150-, 200-, and 250-square-foot models. The CS200 offers a 200-square-foot element in a comparatively narrow tank, which may help on equipment pads where width is limited.
Jandy’s troubleshooting guidance specifically lists an oversized pump or pump output above the filter’s design flow as possible causes of high pressure or short filter cycles. That makes hydraulic compatibility more important than choosing the largest pump available. Confirm the current CS200 manual, port arrangement, required clearance, and replacement element before purchase.
- Strengths: compact single-element design, multiple sizes in the same family, and current manufacturer manuals.
- Limitations: pump output and system restrictions must stay within the model’s published limits.
Safe cartridge-filter maintenance
Use the manual for the exact model. A pressure gauge should return to zero after shutdown and pressure relief; replace a damaged or unreadable gauge. Record the clean starting pressure after installation or a thorough cleaning. Many manufacturers call for cleaning after a specified pressure increase above that clean baseline—for example, Pentair identifies 10 PSI above starting pressure for the Clean & Clear Plus—but the threshold is model-specific.
- Shut off power at the breaker so the pump cannot restart.
- Open the manual air-relief valve, stand clear, and wait until all pressure is relieved and the gauge reads zero.
- Open the filter only by the procedure in the exact manufacturer’s manual. Never improvise tools, clamps, or replacement pressure parts.
- Inspect the tank, clamp or locking ring, lid, O-ring, air-relief assembly, gauge, manifold, and cartridge. Stop if anything is cracked, deformed, corroded, or damaged.
- Clean and reinstall the element using the approved method and orientation. Replace cartridges based on damage or performance, not a universal calendar claim.
- Reassemble exactly as the manual specifies, then restart from a safe position and check for leaks or abnormal pressure.
Bottom line
The Pentair CCP320 is the strongest research pick in this list because its current specifications and safety documentation are clear. The other models may fit particular systems, but the correct choice depends on verified model data and system hydraulics. The Intex C1000 deserves special caution because its rating is 1,000 GPH and the 28637EG is discontinued.
Before buying, give a pool professional the pool volume, required turnover, pump model and performance curve, pipe or hose size, estimated total dynamic head, equipment-pad dimensions, and any heater or sanitizer details. That information supports a defensible selection and avoids relying on a generic gallon-to-filter-area shortcut.
Sources and update notes
- Pentair: Clean & Clear Plus product specifications and manuals
- Pentair: Pool Filter Product Safety & Help Center
- Hayward: XStream CC1000/CC1500 owner’s manual
- Intex: 28637EG C1000 official support and replacement-parts record
- Jandy: CS Cartridge Filter specifications and manuals
- CDC: Pool Chemical Safety
Updated September 16, 2026: Rebuilt the article around manufacturer documentation; corrected the Intex C1000 flow unit from GPM to GPH; identified the 28637EG as discontinued; removed unsupported universal sizing, cleaning, lifespan, algae, and commercial-use claims; added pressure-vessel safety guidance, research methodology, affiliate disclosure, and source links.
