Chlorine keeps city water safe on its way to your tap, but nobody wants to taste it, smell it or drink what it leaves behind. Add the metals and trace chemicals that can ride along in older pipes and treated supplies, and one plain carbon cartridge starts to look thin.
The SMART water filter replacement cartridge is Crystal Quest's flagship multi-media cartridge. Instead of one media doing one job, it packs coconut shell carbon, catalytic carbon, two Crystal Quest Eagle Redox Alloys, ion-exchange resin, and ceramic and tourmaline media into a single shell, so several kinds of treatment happen in one pass.
At a glance
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Four sizes: match the size or part number on your system or cartridge sticker.
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Three capacity levels: Plus, Ultra and Ultimate use different ERA media ratios to extend cartridge lifespan.
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One cartridge, multiple media: coconut shell carbon, catalytic carbon, redox alloy and ion-exchange resin, plus ceramic and tourmaline media.
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Typical replacement: 12 to 24 months, about 18 months for most homes. Water quality and usage affect actual life.
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Lab tested for chlorine: the IAPMO R&T test report above is yours to read in full.
What you are looking at
Each SMART cartridge is a sealed shell with polypropylene end caps, polyolefin inner and outer wraps, polyethylene netting and Buna-N gaskets. Inside, the media sit in layers that blend slightly where they meet. A single 1-micron filter pad at the base supports them and catches fine particles. The sticker on the front gives the size, the SMART level and the part number, which is the fastest way to reorder the right one.
How SMART media works
Coconut shell carbon: adsorption
Activated carbon is riddled with microscopic pores, and Crystal Quest's acid-washed coconut shell carbon has roughly 1,050 square meters of internal surface in every gram. Organic chemicals such as many VOCs, pesticides and the compounds behind chemical tastes and odors stick to that surface as water passes. Carbon also reacts with free chlorine and converts it to harmless chloride.
Catalytic carbon: the chloramine stage
Many cities now disinfect with chloramine, a longer-lasting blend of chlorine and ammonia that ordinary carbon handles slowly. Catalytic carbon is coconut carbon with a more reactive surface that breaks chloramine down more effectively. Because every Crystal Quest carbon blend pairs regular and catalytic carbon, you do not need to know which disinfectant your city uses.
ERA 6500 and ERA 9500: redox
Eagle Redox Alloy is Crystal Quest's own copper-zinc redox media. As water flows over the granules, electrons move between the metals and dissolved contaminants (oxidation and reduction). ERA 6500 is built for chlorine reduction. ERA 9500 is built for ferrous iron and hydrogen sulfide. Redox chemistry also converts some dissolved metals into forms that stay on the media. The ratio of ERA in the blend is the main difference between Plus, Ultra and Ultimate; it changes between the levels to extend cartridge lifespan.
Ion-exchange resin: metals
A modest amount of potable-grade ion-exchange resin trades harmless ions for dissolved metal ions, adding a metals step that carbon alone does not provide.
Ceramic and tourmaline media
Ceramic and tourmaline balls help condition the water and support a balanced, slightly alkaline pH.
Filter pad
A 1-micron filter pad at the base keeps the media in place and adds particle filtration inside the cartridge. No overall micron rating is claimed for the cartridge.
What it reduces
Primary targets:
- Chlorine and chloramine, and the taste and odor they cause
- Heavy metals, including lead and mercury at lower levels
- VOCs, THMs and other disinfection byproducts
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Pharmaceutical residues and other organic chemicals
- Particles, through the 1-micron filter pad at the base of the cartridge
Also reduced: ferrous iron and hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell) through ERA 9500, at the low levels a cartridge stage is meant for. Performance depends on the contaminant, incoming water quality, flow and cartridge condition; for a specific water problem, match treatment to your water test results.
Not designed to treat: hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride, nitrate, arsenic or bacteria and viruses. For those, choose a dedicated stage or a SMART combination: SMART + Calcium GAC Fluoride, SMART + Aluminum Oxide Fluoride, Nitrate Removal + SMART, Arsenic Removal + SMART or Alkalize/Ionizer, Mineralizer & Oxidation + SMART.
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?” 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.
Why Crystal Quest
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Media we make our name on. ERA 6500 and ERA 9500 are Crystal Quest media with their own data sheet, and SMART is the blend our countertop, under-sink and whole house systems are built around.
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Broad coverage from one cartridge. Carbon, catalytic carbon, redox alloy and resin each handle a different kind of contaminant, so one housing does the work of several single-media stages.
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Published capacity for every size and level. Twelve combinations, each with its own gallon rating and the conditions behind it.
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Over 1,000,000 people served since 1994. Crystal Quest builds under ISO 9001 quality management, has made water filtration in the USA for over 30 years and offers lifetime support by phone, email or chat.
Where it fits
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Single systems: SMART is the one stage.
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Double systems: carbon block first, then SMART.
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Triple systems: sediment, then SMART, then carbon block.
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Specialty systems: SMART comes before the specialty stage (fluoride, nitrate, arsenic and others); in a triple, carbon block, then SMART, then the specialty cartridge.
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Reverse osmosis pre-filter: SMART protects the membrane from chlorine in Crystal Quest under-sink and whole house RO systems.
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 “Sizing guide” 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.
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?
The Maintenance & care tab has the replacement steps. For your complete system, also follow its own instructions, 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.
Does the SMART cartridge remove chloramine?
Yes, it is designed to. SMART pairs regular coconut carbon with catalytic carbon, which breaks chloramine down more effectively than ordinary carbon, so it suits cities that use either chlorine or chloramine.
What is ERA media?
Eagle Redox Alloy (ERA) is Crystal Quest's copper-zinc redox media. ERA 6500 targets chlorine and ERA 9500 targets ferrous iron and hydrogen sulfide. The share of ERA in the blend is what separates Plus, Ultra and Ultimate.
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- 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 pad
- A single 1-micron filter pad at the base
- 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
SMART media (Crystal Quest data sheets)
| Coconut shell carbon |
Acid-washed coconut shell GAC; about 1,050 m²/g surface area, iodine number 1,000 mg/g |
| Catalytic carbon |
Catalytic coconut shell GAC for chloramine as well as chlorine |
| ERA 6500 |
Copper-zinc redox alloy for chlorine reduction |
| ERA 9500 |
Copper-zinc redox alloy for ferrous iron and hydrogen sulfide |
| ERA operating pH |
6.5 to 8.5 |
| Ion-exchange resin |
Potable-grade resin with selectivity for heavy metals |
| Ceramic and tourmaline balls |
Help condition the water and support a balanced, slightly alkaline pH |
| Treatment methods |
Adsorption, catalytic chloramine reduction, redox (oxidation and reduction), ion exchange and particle filtration |
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.
What is and is not included
| Not included |
Housing, sump, cap and installation tools (sold separately) |
