Fliter Sand, HTS vs. Zeobrite??

[Digger]

Call me a duh, but what is IMHO?

[Digger]

Actually the hardware store sand was recommended to me by the saleslady who was selling only Zeobrite. She said if you want sand go to a Hardware Store and get silica sand and ask for 20, I guess that is a grade? I know I was not 100% on that either, when you only supposedly change it every 5 years? Even every few years is better than it has been with the Baq., we were having to do every year the last few years. Man, I have to find the posts on Baq and share my 14 years of experiences!! What a crock of horse manure! LOL Isn't that Dutch talk? Maybe I should say, Pool Store manure, LOL!

[CarlD]

Call me a duh, but what is IMHO?

In My Humble Opinion.

$10/50# is a little steep for filter sand but even so, in a 200# sand filter it's only $40. Janet is happy with her Zeolite--I'm happy with sand.

We have numerous threads on adding DE to a sand filter. It's simple.
Backwash and record your pool pressure.
Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of DE through the skimmer (take out the skimmer sock first) and wait 20 to 30 minutes. If the pressure hasn't increased by one lb, add a little more, until your pressure is about a lb higher than before. if you go too high, backwash and start again.

Every time you backwash you'll need to add the DE again.

[Watermom]

BTW (By the way) Digger --- you don't have to change your sand every 5 years. I have had the same sand now for 10 years and not a problem. Al has had his sand longer than that and I think Carl has had his same sand for quite awhile, too. There is no rule for needing to change the sand every 5 years. Likewise, don't let anybody sell you any "sand cleaner." No need for that either.

[CarlD]

Yup. This is my 8th year. Sand gets BETTER as it gets older and dirtier. It filters better. Only if you use some chemical that gums it up should you have to change it.

[waterbear]

Likewise, don't let anybody sell you any "sand cleaner." No need for that either.

True! Best way to clean your sand if it has channeled or is fouled is to open the top of the filter to expose the sand bed, stick a garden hose in the sand and turn it on. As the water loosens up the sand all kinds of junk will float to the top and flow out the filter. GENTLY break up any clumps with something like a broom handle (but be VERY CAREFUL not to damage the laterals!). Do this until the overflowing water is basically clean.
IMHO, this should be done every year here in FL where pools are open year 'round, Depending on the length of your pool season and your water conditons YMMV!

(YMMV= your mileage may vary)

[Digger]

Thank you everyone for all the good information. I think I figured out what IMHO is, in my humble opioion? Is that right? I am not used to all the abbrev., but figuring them out, smile! I should ask our deaf daughter she texts all the time. Wow, I can't believe the sand last that long!! I know when we first got our pool the sand wasn't changed for 6-7 years, and when we spent oddles of money on chemicals, and water was still cloudy, they said it was the sand. Than it was clean the fliter sand. Of course that was with Baq. We were instructed to do a filter clean, filter aid, floc it, man!! Now you are saying don't clean the filter with any cleaners? Hmm! Interesting! Makes sense though if you have to clean it, flush it out, when you add chemicals it would tend to just gum it up.!

[Digger]

Does anyone know where you can get cheaper filter sand. $10 for 50 lb. is the cheapest in our area. I have a 300 lb tank too, which will be 60 plus tax.

[waterbear]

That's about the going price in my area for filter sand. If you figure that the sand is good for 10 years (and many will say it lasts longer than that) it's only $6 a year.

BTW (by the way) I work with Deaf kids and they don't necessarily use the same TLAs (three letter acronyms, which often have more than three letters!) when they text. The ones whose native language is ASL tend to use ones that are a bit different than the HOH (Hard of hearing) or those that had oral instruction in English.

[aylad]

I realize I'm late getting in on this thread--didn't get off work til late last night and was too tired to even turn on the computer--but I did change to zeolite after I started having problems with my sand filter a couple of years ago. I like it--seems to me like it does a little better job of "polishing" the water than the sand did. It is more expensive per bag, but you only use half the amount of zeolite compared to the amount of sand. So--for what it's worth, I've been very pleased and don't plan to go back to sand.

Caveat: That's as long as you start the filter up in backwash mode after the original addition of the zeolite to wash all the dust off before filtering your pool with it--if you don't do that, it makes a HUGE mess!!

Janet