Original manufacturer option
Genuine Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage replacement set
Filter AQ-C3-R
Your search matches the manufacturer’s listed filter identifier.
Before you buy
This is not the Max Flow replacement for AQ-5300+ or AQ-6300M. Similar names do not mean the sets are interchangeable.
Why this filter
What’s included
The set includes two Claryum cartridges and one sediment pre-filter. Aquasana also lists a replacement alert battery.
What it filters
Independent certification confirms that this filter, when used in the listed system AQ-5300, reduces lead and mercury, among other listed substances. That does not mean it removes everything or guarantees safe tap water. Open the test details below for the full list and limits.
Which system these results apply to
These test results apply only when used in AQ-5300. They cover the filter and system together, not the filter on its own. Confirm your installed system before relying on these results.
How this compares
This is a checked replacement, not a Best Overall or Best Value winner yet. Before choosing a winner, we need other filters we can trust, a fair comparison of how they work and how reliable they are, and current prices including shipping.
Filtration tests and details
These records explain which filter results we have checked and what their limits are. The same certification name does not mean two filters work equally well.
Standards used in these tests
The listings use NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53, NSF/ANSI 401. A shared standard name does not mean two filters reduce the same substances or have the same tested capacity or performance.
How the certification identifies this filter
This filter is shown here as AQ-C3-R. The certification listing uses AQ-5300. Reviewed model-mapping evidence connects that certified identity to this product; matching brand names or retailer titles alone would not establish this connection.
What we have verified about filtration
WQA's independent listing for certified model AQ-5300 certifies reduction of asbestos, cysts, lead, mercury, methyl tert-butyl ether (mtbe), pfoa, pfos, turbidity, voc (as chloroform) under NSF/ANSI 53, a standard covering specific health-related contaminant reductions. This means reduction under the certification's test conditions—not removal of every contaminant or a guarantee about your tap water. Certification establishes verified capabilities; it does not establish superiority over another filter.
Chlorine, chloramine and particles
The exact-model NSF/ANSI 42 listing certifies reduction of chloramine, chlorine, fine particles (Particulate Class I), taste and odor. These are separate verified capabilities from the health-related reductions above; a generic certification logo alone would not tell us which of them an alternative filter provides.
Additional verified reductions
The exact-model NSF/ANSI 401 listing certifies reduction of the following 16 listed substances or particles: Atenolol, bisphenol A (BPA), Carbamazepine, DEET, Estrone, Ibuprofen, Linuron, Meprobamate, Metolachlor, Microplastics, Naproxen, Nonyl Phenol, Phenytoin, TCEP, TCPP, Trimethoprim. This is a defined list—not a claim to remove every trace chemical or particle. An alternative must be checked against its own exact-model list before we can describe its coverage as equivalent.
Tested conditions and limits
WQA · AQ-5300 · NSF/ANSI 42 · Chloramine, Chlorine, Taste and Odor. The listed tested capacity is 600 gallons for this scope. Listed flow: 0.5 gallons per minute. WQA lists AQ-5300 with replacement AQ-C3-R. The 600-gallon service cycle does not apply to mechanical filtration. Laboratory pressure, temperature and concentration limits are not supplied by this directory. Older AQ-5300R and Max Flow rows are separate. These listing conditions are not a guarantee of your water quality or actual filter life.
WQA · AQ-5300 · NSF/ANSI 42 · Particulate Class I. The listing's 600-gallon capacity does not apply to these reductions. Listed flow: 0.5 gallons per minute. WQA lists AQ-5300 with replacement AQ-C3-R. The 600-gallon service cycle does not apply to mechanical filtration. Laboratory pressure, temperature and concentration limits are not supplied by this directory. Older AQ-5300R and Max Flow rows are separate. These listing conditions are not a guarantee of your water quality or actual filter life.
WQA · AQ-5300 · NSF/ANSI 53 · Asbestos, Cyst, Turbidity. The listing's 600-gallon capacity does not apply to these reductions. Listed flow: 0.5 gallons per minute. WQA lists AQ-5300 with replacement AQ-C3-R. The 600-gallon service cycle does not apply to mechanical filtration. Laboratory pressure, temperature and concentration limits are not supplied by this directory. Older AQ-5300R and Max Flow rows are separate. These listing conditions are not a guarantee of your water quality or actual filter life.
WQA · AQ-5300 · NSF/ANSI 53 · Lead, Mercury, Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE), PFOA, PFOS, VOC (as chloroform). The listed tested capacity is 600 gallons for this scope. Listed flow: 0.5 gallons per minute. WQA lists AQ-5300 with replacement AQ-C3-R. The 600-gallon service cycle does not apply to mechanical filtration. Laboratory pressure, temperature and concentration limits are not supplied by this directory. Older AQ-5300R and Max Flow rows are separate. These listing conditions are not a guarantee of your water quality or actual filter life.
WQA · AQ-5300 · NSF/ANSI 401 · Atenolol, Bisphenol A, Carbamazepine, DEET, Estrone, Ibuprofen, Linuron, Meprobamate, Metolachlor, Naproxen, Nonyl Phenol, Phenytoin, TCEP, TCPP, Trimethoprim. The listed tested capacity is 600 gallons for this scope. Listed flow: 0.5 gallons per minute. WQA lists AQ-5300 with replacement AQ-C3-R. The 600-gallon service cycle does not apply to mechanical filtration. Laboratory pressure, temperature and concentration limits are not supplied by this directory. Older AQ-5300R and Max Flow rows are separate. These listing conditions are not a guarantee of your water quality or actual filter life.
WQA · AQ-5300 · NSF/ANSI 401 · Microplastics. The listing's 600-gallon capacity does not apply to these reductions. Listed flow: 0.5 gallons per minute. WQA lists AQ-5300 with replacement AQ-C3-R. The 600-gallon service cycle does not apply to mechanical filtration. Laboratory pressure, temperature and concentration limits are not supplied by this directory. Older AQ-5300R and Max Flow rows are separate. These listing conditions are not a guarantee of your water quality or actual filter life.
View sources
These sources explain the fit, features and filter test results described above. They are not retailer price checks.
Installation and care
Installing the replacement
Shut off the cold-water valve and open the dedicated faucet to release pressure. Match each new cartridge to its housing’s color. Check the seals for damage and follow the manual to reattach the housings straight; tighten by hand, not with tools. Slowly turn the water back on and check for leaks. Run the faucet for 10 minutes before drinking; discard that flush water. Systems made before 2024 may not click when the housing attaches.
Caring for the filters
Aquasana says the filter housings must be replaced every five years to reduce the risk of leaks. Follow the manual when changing the reminder battery. Keep new and used coin batteries away from children. These filters do not make microbiologically unsafe or unknown-quality water safe without suitable disinfection.
Where to buy
We haven’t confirmed a current price and availability for this filter. Shopping comparisons are not available yet.