New Member: Pool Filter: Sand vs DE

[mnittler]

The pool installer is recommending the DE filter. I have never seen a commercial pool use DE and there must be a reason. He says that the DE has better filtration but I am thinking that just back washing the filter and putting it back in operation is pretty easy vs having to pour DE in the filter each time it is backwashed (also having to have DE on hand). Pro & Cons anybody. Love them or hate them after the new wears off? Anything wrong with just a plain old sand filter? I stayed at a hotel this past weekend and peaked at the pool filtration equipment thru a crack in the fence and I saw a chlorine generator (so must have been a salt water pool), UV sanitization system, and a big old sand filter. Pool floor was little blue tile and I could see the grout lines between the tiles on the bottom of the pool so it must have been pretty clear.

[PoolDoc]

If you get an OVERSIZED sand filter, and run your pool on low speed 24/7, you'll get water clarity as good as with a DE filter, but with far less maintenance.

Tell us your pool gallons before you buy the filter, and we can size it for you.

[mnittler]

28,000 gallons

[PoolDoc]

30" filter; 60 GPM flow rate.

*IF* your pool has no 'features', the 1HP 2 speed Whisperflo pump would perform extremely well for you on low, and would backwash acceptably on high.
http://www.pentairpool.com/pdfs/whisperDS.pdf
http://www.a1poolparts.com/-strse-61...ump/Detail.bok

You could match a WFDS-3 or WFDS-4 with a TR-100 filter, and run on low speed, except when backwashing or vacuuming.

Filters:
http://www.a1poolparts.com/-strse-15...ass/Detail.bok
http://www.a1poolparts.com/-strse-76...ide/Detail.bok

[mnittler]

I went back an looked at the proposal again and I had made a mistake on the pool size. It will be an 18,000-20,000 gallon pool instead of the 28,000. Can you recommend the correct size sand filter for this size? I will have either the variable speed or the 2 speed pump installed. I have not been given the option for the 2 speed pump but that looks to be less of a problem in the long run (less electronics and just good ole mechanical timers and relays).

[PoolDoc]

WFDS-3 + TR60 or TR100. You'll get better clarity and fewer backwashes with the TR100

[Brysz]

If you get an OVERSIZED sand filter, and run your pool on low speed 24/7, you'll get water clarity as good as with a DE filter, but with far less maintenance.

Tell us your pool gallons before you buy the filter, and we can size it for you.

Question...you mentioned low speed. My return jet has so much pressure I cant hold my hand in front of it. Could this be a reason for my poor filtration? Thank you...

[PoolDoc]

My return jet has so much pressure I cant hold my hand in front of it. Could this be a reason for my poor filtration?

Very possibly. Complete the Pool Chart, and we'll be able to make a better guess:

Pool Chart Entry Form