Replacing a Hayward Aqua Rite

meyermalley

Member
Mar 20, 2025
8
Texas
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
My pool has a Hayward Aqua Rite with a t-15 cell that is supposedly only 2.5-3 years old, according to the previous owner, but it was already acting up toward the end of last summer. (Insisting the salt levels are low when they are not.) I had the cell cleaned in August, and the guy said there was some build up before he flushed it all out. Well, that helped for a few weeks and then it was back on its nonsense of reading low salt levels (consistently saying 2100 when it's 3500 according to my Taylor test kit). I regularly recalibrate this sucker every few days, because it'll properly read it in the 3000s when it first comes on.

I've heard the Aqua Rite system is out of date anyway, so I'm looking to redo any and all of it but definitely wanting to get more than 2ish years. (That is abnormally short, yes?) My pool isn't particularly large - is the CircuPool brand the best choice? How do I properly select a cell... size? (I'm not sure of the specific terms here.) Thanks for any help you can provide.
 
Post pictures of the door label and the cell labels.
Well I figured out the issue due to this kind encouragement to post pics. The cell isn't a genuine Hayward - it's an aftermarket knockoff only warrantied for 1 year 🙄 so I'm less surprised it is failing.

I'm guessing the best route is to replace the whole system rather than buy another aftermarket or Hayward cell? The Circupool mentioned? I don't want to keep replacing things every 2 yrs.
 

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Show us the label on the door (serial number)- it will tell us how old the system is & if it’s worth buying a genuine replacement cell for.
Fwiw I am starting season 3 with my pureline t15 generic cell. I have a 26k gal pool & have not babied it. All generics aren’t necessarily the same quality. While genuine cells are ideal I understand the circumstances of trying to get as much life as possible out of an old system without investing too much $ incase it croaks.
 
Looks like it was manufactured in may of 2010 if I’m deciphering correctly
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You would certainly be justified in buying a different system at this point.
 
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No matter what brand, a salt cell can go bad in a short period of time for seemingly no reason.
I had a Pentair IC60 that lasted 8 years. I replaced it and the replacement went bad in 18 months. For the price of a new IC60 cell, I could by a whole new Circupool SWG, so that's what I did.
The Circupool cell lasted 2 seasons. I got in touch with Discount Salt Pools and got some warranty coverage, they were easy to deal with.
Just as a FYI, retail price for a RJ30 cell is 614.00
 
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