The Unicel 8CH-502 is a top-load spa filter cartridge delivering 50 square feet of filtration across 258 pleats of Reemay® 2033 polyester media. Built to meet or exceed OEM specifications, it’s the replacement cartridge for Vita Spas, taking the place of OEM part PVT 50WH.
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 258 pleats in a short, wide body just 7-1/4 inches tall, this is one of the most densely pleated cartridges Unicel makes — the large 8-1/2 inch diameter provides the circumference to pack in that much media without needing height. A V-groove semi-circular handle makes lifting it out effortless, and the 2-inch male pipe thread bottom screws directly into the suction fitting for a tight, leak-free seal. Made in the USA.
Pro Tip: If the cartridge won’t thread in, check for a pad adapter in your skimmer. Vita Spa skimmers often contain a “pad adapter” left over from an older slotted-bottom cartridge design, and it has to come out before a Unicel MPT cartridge can thread directly into the suction fitting. This applies to models dated 2006 to present, and to all prior-year slotted-bottom setups once the adapter is removed. It’s the single most common reason this filter seems not to fit — and it takes seconds to correct.
Brand
UNICEL®
