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In this review, we are going to take a closer look at the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage (model number AQ-5300) and the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow (model number AQ-5300+).
Both are under sink water filter systems which combine activated and catalytic carbon with other filter media to improve the taste and quality of drinking water.
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage AQ-5300 Under Sink Water Filter
Price:
$
Filter Process:
Sediment Pre, Activated + Catalytic Carbon, Ion Exchange, Submicron Filtration
Filter Life:
600 Gallons
Flow Rate:
0.5 Gallons Per Minute
Annual Cost:
~$140
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage AQ-5300+ Max Flow Under Sink Water Filter
Price:
$$
Filter Process:
Sediment Pre, Activated + Catalytic Carbon, Ion Exchange, Submicron Filtration
Filter Life:
800 Gallons
Flow Rate:
0.72 Gallons Per Minute
Annual Cost:
~$160
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
You can use our code “AQBOS50“ to get up to 50% off of any purchase you make on aquasana.com.
Aquasana AQ-5300 & AQ-5300+ Max Flow – Key Features
Both Aquasana AQ-5300 and AQ-5300+ under sink water filter systems feature 3 filter stages:
A 20-micron sediment pre-filter traps rust, silt, and sediment that would otherwise clog the following filter stages. It thereby extends their lifespan.
An activated carbon filter removes chlorine taste and odor as well as organic chemicals.
A media blend of catalytic carbon with ion exchange resin and submicron filtration. This is where the bulk of the contaminant removal happens. You get rid of chlorine, chloramines, cysts, lead, mercury, asbestos, BPA, dozens of VOCs and pharmaceuticals, pesticides, PFOA, PFOS, and more.
So what’s the difference between the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage and the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow? As the name suggests, the Max Flow uses larger filter cartridges and thus provides higher flow rates of 0.72 gallons per minute, whereas the regular system provides 0.5 gpm. Also, Max Flow filters last for up to 800 gallons versus 600 gallons for the smaller filters.
By the way, these are no inline under sink filters. Both use their own dedicated full-metal faucet which is included in the package (choose from 3 faucet designs: chrome, brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze).
Gallery
Aquasana 3-Stage Water Filter Pros
None of Aquasana’s water filters contain BPA, so that’s good!
But far more importantly, both our Aquasana under sink water filters are NSF-certified against standards 42, 53, 401, and P473 to effectively reduce 78 different contaminants providing much cleaner and healthier water.
We also like that healthy minerals will be retained so they add to your required daily intake.
And lastly, you get a 90-day satisfaction guarantee paired with a 1-year warranty – all for a relatively affordable price!
What Contaminants Are Being Removed?
What are the contaminants that the Aquasana 5300/5300+ remove?
Well, there are way too many to list them all, but here’s a summary:
Chlorine taste and odor – 97.3-97.66%
Chloramines – 97.6-97.66%
Particulates (Class I) – 99.6-99.9%
Lead – 94.1-99-7%
Mercury – 95.8-99.6%
Cyst – 99.99%
MTBE – 83.5-86.6%
Asbestos – 99.0%
PFOA and PFOS – 95.2-96.0%
Microplastics – 99.6%
Herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc. – Up to 98.9%
The Aquasana AQ-5300+ – learn more on Aquasana.com
Installation
Both Aquasana AQ-5300 and AQ-5300+ are easy enough to install yourself, so no need to hire and pay a plumber. All necessary parts are included and the manufacturer did a decent job explaining the whole process step by step, so just refer to the manual (linked below).
That said, you will have to drill through your sink or countertop if you don’t have a spare hole to accommodate the dedicated faucet.
Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
Tools you’ll need:
Adjustable wrench
Philips head screwdriver
Variable speed drill (with 7/32″ drill bits)
Level
Pencil and measuring tape
Safety glasses
Bucket and hammer
Follow these steps to install:
Shut your cold water supply and open the kitchen faucet to allow the pipes to drain.
Use your adjustable wrench to disconnect the cold water supply.
Fix the brass tee to the cold water supply pipe and the shut-off valve.
Connect the brass tee and white tubing. Then, fix the plastic sleeve to the white tubing.
Assemble the rubber washer, faucet spacer, and nut on the dedicated faucet.
Connect the dedicated faucet. You’ll need to slide the chrome nut and white plastic collar on the poly tubing and fix it to the faucet base. Use a wrench, but don’t over-tighten.
Choose a spacious spot under your sink and mark holes corresponding to the holes on the system manifold.
Drill the marked spots and screw the system manifold to the wall.
Remove the battery’s strip and wait for it to flash and beep five times (that confirms that you’ve installed it properly).
Connect the filter housings to the bottom of the system manifold. Start with the red housing, then the yellow housing, and lastly, the black (for AQ-5300) or green (for AQ-5300+) housing.
Insert the tubing from the brass tee end in the inlet side of the system.
Insert the tubing from the faucet into the system’s outlet side.
Open your water supply.
Check for leaks.
Flush the system for 10 minutes to remove carbon fines.
Video
The Package (Parts)
Full-Metal Faucet
Rubber Washer
Faucet Spacer
Lock Washer
Faucet Nut
Chrome Nut
Plastic Collar
Plastic Tube Insert
Poly Tubing
Screws & Anchors
Brass Tube Insert
Brass Nut
Brass Tee
Plastic Collar
Maintenance
What you need to do in terms of maintenance is change filters once they’ve reached their capacity (600/800 gallons) but at least every 6 months to stop bacteria from growing inside the filter system.
The good news is that you don’t have to disconnect any hoses or water lines and you don’t even have to shut off the water supply. Filter housings twist off with a simple snap – nice and easy!
To take out the guesswork, your system will alert you whenever it’s time for another change. The battery alarm will sound and flash red when water is flowing. This is why you also need to switch batteries with each filter replacement (new battery is included with the cartridges).
By signing up for Aquasana’s Water for Life program you receive a discount. But even regular prices are acceptable.
Follow these steps to change the Aquasana 5300/ 5300+ filters:
Turn off the cold water valve beneath the sink. Open the dedicated faucet for a few minutes to drain any present water.
Unbox and unwrap the new filters.
Twist each filter housing to the left and drag it down to remove it from the manifold.
Turn the bottom of the housing anti-clockwise to open it (place it over a sink to catch any present water).
Drag each old filter down to remove it from the housing. Check and replace any damaged O-rings.
Press each new filter to the top of the filter housing.
Reattach the filter housing’s bottom to the top half, then tighten it by turning it left to right.
Fix each filter housing to the system manifold.
Open the battery door to replace the battery.
Turn on the cold water valve gradually. Close the faucet and check for leaks.
Flush the system for about 10 minutes to remove carbon fines.
The Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage and the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow are NSF-certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) against NSF standards 42, 53 (+P473), and 401.
NSF 42 covers chloramine, chlorine, particles, and bad taste and odor reduction.
NSF 401 certification confirms that the filters reduce Atenolol, Bisphenol A, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and other emerging compounds.
Earlier Product Versions
As far as we know, these filters have no earlier versions.
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Cons
Using one of Aquasana’s 3-stage under sink water filters will make your water taste and smell noticeably better. Also, lots of harmful contaminants that might be lurking in your water supply will be removed. However, we read user complaints about tubing popping out, broken filter housings, a flimsy faucet, and failing O-rings, so leaks can definitely be an issue.
Personally, we would have liked a higher flow rate. 0.5 and 0.72 gallons per minute is rather low. On the plus side, thorough filtration takes time…
Also, if you are living in a larger household you will need to change filters more frequently which adds to the cost.
Some users also complained that the service pipes were too short; more length would have made it way easier to install.
Aquasana AQ-5300 & AQ-5300+ Max Flow Review: Our Verdict + Best for
Most people enjoy the benefits of having one of Aquasana’s under sink water filter systems in their home. They would buy again and recommend the products to their friends and family. We can only agree. We definitely have powerful water filtration here, which is even NSF-certified. Cost is reasonable. 4.0 stars!
In our opinion, the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Under Sink Water Filter System aka Aquasana AQ-5300 and the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under Sink Water Filter System aka Aquasana AQ-5300+ are best for people who insist on NSF-certified drinking water filtration.
We’ll compare the Aquasana AQ-5300 and Aquasana AQ-5300+ to the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage and Epic Smart Shield under sink water filters.
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage
Price:
$$$
Filtration Process:
Activated Carbon + Proprietary Blend
Filter Life:
2,000 gal
Water Flow Rate:
Not Specified
Annually:
$440
Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
Sediment Pre, Activated + Catalytic Carbon, Ion Exchange, Submicron Filtration
Filter Life:
800 gal
Water Flow Rate:
0.72 gpm
Annually:
~$160
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.
First, the Clearly Filtered system (fully reviewed here) filters water through three different stages. Stage one uses granular activated carbon, stage two uses an unspecified “special blend” that captures PFAS, heavy metals, VOCs, radiation, and more, and the final stage primarily binds fluoride and arsenic. This system’s filtration is really broad. It has undergone rigorous testing against NSF standards 42, 53, and 401, with impressive results for more than 200 contaminants.
The system is built in the USA, has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, a 12-month filter life, and a limited lifetime warranty. The inline filter setup removes the need for an extra faucet. Downside: Rather pricey.
The second system, Epic Smart Shield (review here), is a more affordable inline filter with a single carbon block. It has NSF certification to remove lead, chloramine, chlorine, asbestos, mercury, VOCs, and more. Extra NSF testing also confirms its effectiveness against other contaminants. Installation and maintenance are easy, with a “Made in the USA” origin. The system provides a lifetime warranty, great customer support, and a recyclable filters program. Although the flow rate is lower than Clearly Filtered, it’s faster than Aquasana.
Bottom line: The Clearly Filtered is a premium system, and we would say, by far the best of the three – but not everyone has the budget. On the other hand, the Epic Smart Shield is affordable, still effective, and tested for many contaminants. The Aquasana removes more types of water contaminants than the Epic Smart Shield but has a lower flow rate. So the decision here depends on what you need. Personally, we prefer the Epic.
This completes our review of the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage AQ-5300 and AQ-5300+ Max Flow under sink water filters. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
Gene Fitzgerald is one of the founders of BOS and currently head of content creation. She has 8+ years of experience as a water treatment specialist under her belt making her our senior scientist. Outside of BOS, Gene loves reading books on philosophy & social issues, making music, and hiking.
Learn more about Gene and the rest of the BOS Team.
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.
Leave a Comment:
Lola says
October 26, 2020
The AQ-5200 we installed was a huge disappointment. After a month of very light use, we decided to move it about 10 inches to make filter cartridge replacement easier for everyone. After this move, the housing began to leak, and the customer support was useless, suggesting that “the pressure changed” (from the same supply line???) and “put quarters under the filters” (huh?). Never again.
I have had the AQ 5300 max flow for two plus years and I am very happy with the quality and quantity of water at my dedicated
kitchen tap. Filter changes are easy but you do have to be mindful of the connections.
I have the as 5200 and have had no problems with it going on 4 years now. I have found after replacement it can leak but I realized that was installer error. I turned off the water, took them out and put them back in carefully twisting to full tightness and no leak afterwards. my curiousity is does this take care of pfas6 and is getting the three stage filter worth it. The only value I see is it makes the filter last 20% longer based on water flow. Due to heavy water I change my filters every 3-4 months the red shows the metals but the yellow looks as clean as when i install it so I am assuming it is doing the job. Love any feedback you all have.
Hi Chris,
First of all, the 5200 is NSF tested and certified (by the WQA) to remove PFOA and PFOS (95.2%), so that’s 2 out of 6. Now PFAS6 are all similar in molecular structure, so it’s safe to assume that the rest of them will also be reduced.
As for the third filter stage, this is really up to you. If your water is heavily contaminanted, a sediment pre-filter could make a lot of sense. What you could also do is get a separate sediment filter so that you don’t have to buy the 5300. This’ll be a lot cheaper, too.
