Desperate NEWBIE needs help on Purchasing a new filter

[drumr]

My pool came with the Hayward Missle Pro cartridge filter with 1.5 hp pump and it did a very good job, but I would spend about 45 minutes every other week washing the gunk out of the filter. I got a poolco 200lb sand filter with a 3/4 hp pump 2 years ago and have been much happier with it. I put 1/3 cup of DE (a big THANKS to whoever did come up with that idea!!) in it and it gets the water as clean as the cartridge did. I only spend a few minutes backwashing every other week and I am not covered in bugs, gunk, and dirt like I always was when I sprayed off the cartridge.

The pool store said you will save pool water by not having to backwash a filter cartridge, which is true, but I hated washing that cartridge out and I may have saved pool water but I still used alot of city water cleaning the cartridge out and alot of the gunk would end up all over me..

I have not have any leaking problems out of my sand filter valve so far, it has performed flawlessly.

JD

[rnjng]

Thanks for all the info, I'm taking the plunge on a sand filter. Look for me in the spring start-up cause I'll need help getting the green out of the pool!!!