Unicel 5CH-35 | 35 sq ft Top Load Spa Filter

The Unicel 5CH-35 is a top-load spa filter cartridge delivering 35 square feet of filtration across 203 pleats of Reemay® 2033 polyester media. Built to meet or exceed OEM specifications, it's a direct replacement for Elite Spas by Maax®, Marquis®, and other systems using this cartridge. Filtration is the quiet backbone of clean spa water. Every soak leaves behind body oils, lotions, hair, and fine debris, and the cartridge is what removes all of it before it clouds the water, feeds bacteria, or coats your plumbing. When a filter is worn or clogged, the effects spread everywhere: dull water, higher chemical use, softer jets, and a pump and heater straining against restricted flow. What stands out here is the pleat density. At 203 pleats in a compact cartridge just 8 inches tall, the 5CH-35 packs a remarkable amount of filtering surface into a small footprint — more surface means more places to trap debris and more time between cleanings. The top-load design makes upkeep genuinely easy: a semi-circular handle molded into the top lets you grip and lift, while the 1-1/2 inch male pipe thread bottom screws securely into the housing for a tight, leak-free seal. Made in the USA. Pro Tip: Same square footage does not mean same filter — check the part number. Unicel makes more than one 35 sq ft cartridge, and they are not interchangeable: the 5CH-352, for example, is also rated 35 sq ft but is 12-1/2 inches long with a bar handle and a 2-inch thread, where this one is 8 inches with a semi-circular handle and a 1-1/2 inch thread. Read the number printed on your current cartridge before you order. Brand UNICEL®