Quote Originally Posted by kathgilliam
I don't get it. When you backwash, doesn't the sand go down the drain too? Or is the sand inside of a cartridge?

Nope. The sand is dense and heavy and doesn't float up with the rest of the detritus.

How much is installation of a new filter? We are not interested in doing the installation ourselves, and I'm sure if you have read any of my posts heretofore, you would agree that this is a wise decision.

I have no idea what installation costs for just a filter. Personally, I'm really handy (I designed and installed my own pool into my deck) so I cannot imagine paying anyone to fill a filter with sand and attach two pipes to it. I detach those pipes every winter and re-attach them in the spring.

What's an Intex donut?

Ah. It's a starter pool. Intex is a brand, and its donut pools are called EasySet. It uses an inflatable ring, you fill it with water like a kiddie pool, and the ring (donut) floats on the water. The sides belly out to allow the structure to work. It has a small filter, and comes in diameters from 8' all the way up to 24'. That was my first pool. Lots of discount stores sell the Intex and competing brands. We enjoyed it for 3 years and put in a full-size pool.

If your dad had D.E. for 20 years, doesn't that speak to a good D.E. experience?

Absolutely. There is NOTHING wrong with DE. If you are comfortable with DE, there's no reason to switch. But if you find it confusing and difficult, sand is easier.

On the other hand, my dad never had the benefit of the PoolForum, the B-B-B method, or even much internet access. So his pool was never able to be as clean and clear as mine. The last season before he died, they had an algae bloom. The CYA was over 100--all the pucks and di-chlor powder. I got the algae beat, but the problems had multiplied over the years.

I chose sand because I thought that might work best for me. I was right, and have been very happy with it.

What's a good brand, or does brand not matter in filters?

There are lots of good brands. Hayward's probably the best known, and it's good, but that doesn't make it the best.

K
Hope this helped.