Filter sand: A gritty question

[waste]

Hey all,

With uncharacteristic pseudo-thoroughness, I searched for a few things before I replied I found a few posts re: changing sand (how to) http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=2537 , http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=1068 and one where I recommend using 'pea gravel' (small, 1/8 - 1/4" 'riverstone') to replace 100 lbs of sand on the 140 filters http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=298

Sand used for filtering pool water is of a certain size and quality (sorry I don't remember the specs ), but IF you can find it in 'bulk' it might save some $ (but then again, adding the 'right' # of lbs could be a real pain and getting it into the filter might present some additional problems - bags are easy!, also - purity may be an issue with 'bulk sand'))

Tom, (to save Evan some typing) - at least some of what Evan's talking about can be found in the following threads : http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=168, http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=3394 (esp., post 11), and http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=3707 (#10). I thought that I rememberd more, about using a sand cleaner each year, but couldn't find it - (I'll let him type that )!

The info in the links should help with the changeout, if a changeout is actually necessary (BTW,Sumo, did you resolve the chlorination question?)

[huskyrider]

IMO, a sand filter should use 1/4 of its capacity in gravel around the laterals.
On TR140 C-3's, the filter I use on commercial pools with multiple filters on a bypass manifold, I use 300lbs of gravel and 600lbs of sand in each filter.
On a single 140 for a residential pool I'll use 200lbs to 700 of sand. This is probably more gravel and less total media than the MFG suggests but I've found it to work very well in service.

hal,
buy your sand from a pool supply house and get sand specifically designed for sand filters. Also don't use just 600lbs of sand. I think the Mfg suggests 950 to 1000lbs in each TR140. That's 20 bags per filter.

See Ya,
Kelly

[Waterworks]

I believe that pool filter sand is .35mm - .45mm in size. It is tripled screen to remove the smaller sand particles and the larger particles. If you get sand smaller than .35mm it will pass through the laterals and if you get any larger than .45mm it will not filter out the smallest particles, meaning anything larger than 40-60 microns.

Brad
Waterworks Pools

[Sumo1]

Answer: a"pool guy" friend told me we needed to change the sand every 5 years. Pool operators at the church change every couple of years and there's no written record but we think the sand's been in service between 15-30 years.

[Sumo1]

I'm having to give multiple replies because I type slowly and I keep getting timed out. Does anyone know how I can get more time to type my messages? Haven't found any place in the control panel to adjust it.
Anyway, when I was in the pool last August, the water looked clear and the floor wasn't slimy so perhaps the sand can go another year? Funds are always tight so we sure could use the sand money for other issues we're working on. See next reply........

[Sumo1]

The health dept. has just told us that Georgia code calls for us to add another drain to the pool. At 47'X77' and 194,000gal (I previously thought it was 175K), the idea gives me the willies, if it's even possible to do. A church member tells me that the pool was built on top of a spring. Yee Haa! Could a drain work if we put it at the base of the deep end wall? That way we could plumb it around the end of the pool. How silly of me-I thought I was just signing on to operate and test the pool!!!! Til my next question....Hal

[Poconos]

Sumo....to keep from getting logged out just hit the 'preview post' button every once in a while. The inactivity timer is probably in the ADMIN options and we don't have access to it.
Al
BTW: My sand is 9 years old now, been doing the DE trick for a couple years, and seems just fine.