Diatomaceous Earth versus Sand filter

[ThePoolGuy]

Backwashing a DE filter is a snap -- I do mine about once per month during swim season and maybe once in the winter, since I never close my Texas pool. It probably takes 30 minutes to backwash and recharge the system. There is no gunk to touch -- no problem.

Now, once per year, in late September, I break the filter down and thoroughly clean it. It is a nasty mess and a real pain. Last fall, it took me over an hour to finish cleaning, reassembling and recharging.

I don't know much about sand, but I know DE filters are incredibly good at filtration. In fact, I think it's the same basic principle most water treatment systems use. With a little effort, a DE system will provide water that is cleaner than the stuff coming out of your tap. I love mine.

What part of Texas you live in?


Anyhow, I look at a DE filter as something that polishes the water It just puts a nice shine on a pool in my opinion. It's probaly not that much more time consuming to clean one over a sand filter either. Sure you got 7 pannals to clean on a DE filter thats usualy a mess..but you also have to scoop sand out of a sand filter. You also don't have to BW them as frequently as a sand filter. I usualy do mine the same about once a month. This has to save on water and make up for the extra cost on buying the DE. There is some people who simply just bump the DE filter a little ( BW for a seconds) and only has to add a 1/2 lb of DE instead of doing the whole BW process.

On a side note, one can also add a scoop of DE to a sand filter to help out the sand a little. FYI: I'm pretty sure you can't do this to a cartridge filter..it would probaly rip it up or clog it up one.

[waterbear]

On a side note, one can also add a scoop of DE to a sand filter to help out the sand a little. FYI: I'm pretty sure you can't do this to a cartridge filter..it would probaly rip it up or clog it up one.

Not necessary with a cartridge. Sand only filters to 60 microns, a CArtridge will filter to 20...almost as good as a DE filtering to 6. And a cartridge filters better when it is dirty! (but don't let it get TOO dirty or it is a pain to clean)