sta rite system 3 cardtidge as good as de?

[coryinsocal]

i was at my local abc pool supply and they were trying to sell me a sys3 cartridge instead of a de saying that these particular cartidges rivaled DE as far as particulate size goes, but i haven't seen anything on the sta rite website stating this or even eluding to the micron rating. has anyone heard anything like this about these filters? i was looking at the 300 square foot one.

my old spin de has worked well but it's so old i can't even find parts for it anymore...

[CarlD]

Carts filter well, but I think they only go down to 20 microns. They are generally more difficult to clean than DE or Sand filters.

[coryinsocal]

that's what i've heard typically, i was just trying to see if this filter or element in particular was touted as being any different....

[waterbear]

i was at my local abc pool supply and they were trying to sell me a sys3 cartridge instead of a de saying that these particular cartidges rivaled DE as far as particulate size goes, but i haven't seen anything on the sta rite website stating this or even eluding to the micron rating. has anyone heard anything like this about these filters? i was looking at the 300 square foot one.

my old spin de has worked well but it's so old i can't even find parts for it anymore...

The system 3 is available as a cartidge, DE, cartridge/DE combination, and as a sand filter. Which one was he trying to sell you? Both the cartridge and the cartridge/DE units look very much alike. If he was talking about the cartridge/DE combo then it will filter as well as a DE since it is. All the filters in the line are called 'Modular Media' filters since they can be converted from one type to another by replacing the internals.

[waterbear]

Carts filter well, but I think they only go down to 20 microns. They are generally more difficult to clean than DE or Sand filters.

I have to disagree. To clean a filter means breaking it down, not backwashing or bumping....Carts are the EASIEST to clean!

[Poconos]

Don't you have to take the filter apart and remove the cartridges to clean them? Never dealt with cartridges and probably never will. What can be easier than throwing a valve on a sand filter?

[duraleigh]

I have to disagree. To clean a filter means breaking it down, not backwashing or bumping....Carts are the EASIEST to clean!

Evan,

I swore I would never get involved in this interminable (and redundant)argument but you have misspoken.

You "clean" a sand filter by backwashing....no further "cleaning" is necessary. It is misleading to inexperienced people to imply that carts have a lower maintenance load.

[coryinsocal]

The system 3 is available as a cartidge, DE, cartridge/DE combination, and as a sand filter. Which one was he trying to sell you? Both the cartridge and the cartridge/DE units look very much alike. If he was talking about the cartridge/DE combo then it will filter as well as a DE since it is. All the filters in the line are called 'Modular Media' filters since they can be converted from one type to another by replacing the internals.

well, she just said "cardtridge" but it could have been the combo. the big point she was making was that i would not have to backwash it (or touch it for long periods of time for that matter). do you have to backwash the cartridge/de version?

***edit*** after looking throught the other owners manuals online, it must have been the cartridge only, as i know she did specify 300 square feet... unless it has a unique cartridge or element, i don't see another way of it being "as good as" the DE... any thoughts?

[coryinsocal]

i guess i should give some background and maybe you guys can help make a recomendation...

my pool is a 26' kidney, about 15,000g or so. problem is, it's really old. it looks nice, but the plumbing is not ideal. there is only one 1.25" suction line running from the skimmer and the bottom drain is full of gravel (below the cover). i'm not sure how it got there, but i know it's not functioning so the deep end doesn't get alot of attention. when i run the filter alot, it keeps up with the pool pretty well, but after a party or any thing less than an 8 hour cycle, it can turn bad and gets out of control easily if i don't really stay on it. it has a 3/4 horse pump that runs good, but looks as old at the pool and has a vintage sta-rite spin DE 25 sq ft. another problem i have is there is no sewage line near the filter, so for the last umpty years, the pool guy has been backwashing (well, who knows where). i'd like to not have to backwash, but i'm concerned getting away from DE and not being able to keep up with the pool as it's tough enough already.

i've been going back and forth between the pentair fns plus 36 sq ft and the starite mod cart in 300 sq ft....

[waterbear]

Evan,

I swore I would never get involved in this interminable (and redundant)argument but you have misspoken.

You "clean" a sand filter by backwashing....no further "cleaning" is necessary. It is misleading to inexperienced people to imply that carts have a lower maintenance load.

I have to disagree. To 'clean' a sand filter requires breaking it down, flushing the sand with a hose to unclump it and get rid of any channeling that has occurred, and possibly using a sand cleaner if there is much scale clumping the sand together. IMHO, this should be a yearly procedure (and is similar to a yearly soaking of a cartridge in TSP or dishwater detergent). Backwashing just removes the excess dirt from the filter that usually just sits on the top layer of the sand. Channeling DOES occur in a sand filter and it lowers the filtering ability. Backwashing does not eliminate channeling. Backwashing is certanly an easier procedure than hosing a cart off....these would be equivalent processes...but to really clean any type of filter requres a filter breakdown and here the cart is definately easier, IMHO!