Zeo - Brite/Best/Ultra ?? I'm so confused

[waterbear]

The filtering ability of zeolite is only really mariginally better than sand since most of the filtering takes place between the grains and not thru them. Zeolite usually has more angles and edges on it's surface than sand grains so it has more areas to trap the dirt. It's main advantage is its ability to chemically bind up ammonia which in theory might lessen the formation of chloramines. A salt solution is used to regenerate the ammonia scavaging capability. Don't know for sure but I suspect that a SWG or high levels of TDS would have an advese effect on the ammonia scavaging.
Adding a bit of DE to a regular sand filter will definitely help improve the filtering as will reducing the flow rate by using a 2 speed pump. I have also heard of adding Alum (aluminum sulfate) to a sand filter to help filter finer particles. I believe it is supposed to work by floccing them into larger clumps that the sand can filter out better. Don't know if it really works or not.

From what I have seen and read about zeolite media and from what I know about it from using it in aquariums (use a cartridge in my pool) I would look carefully at the costs involved and if possible speak to others that are using it AND have used sand before spending the extra money. Just my 2 cents!

Also, why are you using a sand filter AND a cartidge filter? Seems like a bit of overkill and unnecessary expense (not to mention the backpressure it would create). If you want your water to be really polished just get a DE filter. Would probably be much less work than having to backwash a sand filter and clean a cart! I have used sand and then cartridge in an aqaurium for coarse and fine mechanical filtration but I don't see the need for it in a pool which will not have the level of orgaincs and dirt that an aquarium gets. (At least I HOPE not.....if it did I wouldn't want to swim in it!)