Can't find sand

[GreatCanadian]

Hello folks.
Just purchased an Intex Sand Filter Pump. None of the pool shops in my area have any sand!! Is there any substitute I can use for #20 silica sand or anywhere else it could be purchased. Local Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Costco doesn't have any either. Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[AClogston]

I'm not sure where you'll find sand (we get ours at the closest pool store), but I recommend staying away from the Quikrete pool sand. When we couldn't find any locally we checked at the local Aubuchon hardware and they carried this particular brand. I'm not sure what the size of it was, but it was bigger than normal silica pool sand and the filtering ability was, as expected, negatively impacted by this.

Just trying to save a fellow operator the expense of learning this lesson.

 

[JamesW]

None of the pool stores in your area has filter sand, and they can't get any? What part of Canada are you in?

 

[GreatCanadian]

I'm in St. John's, Newfoundland. They can get it in, but it will take 10 days to 2 weeks!!! I'll wait that long if I have to, but I'd rather not.

 

[JamesW]

Have you tried Clearwater Pools?

 

[jsf0656]

amazon!

 

[GreatCanadian]

Believe it or not, Clearwater doesn't have any sand. They have Zeobrite but that's about a dollar a pound and I need 100 pounds. I'm not paying that much.

 

[frogabog]

Ace Hardware online. Dunno if they have any stores up there near you, but the HTH brand sand can be ordered and shipped to a local store for free.

I ended up with Target brand from a pool store. I prolly should have just ordered from Ace. Target specs say it's at the top of the range for particle size (per Intex specs). I hope it works. I'll let everyone know if/when it doesn't of course.

 

[GreatCanadian]

OK. I did find a place that carries #1 grade silica sand. They say that's what the pool supply stores in our area use, and they get it from this place. I cannot find any specs on #1 silica sand. Any advice??

 

[DBfan187]

try your local redimix concrete yard, some like ours, carries it

 

[frogabog]

You need grade #20. Totally different stuff.

 

[GreatCanadian]

Ok. Here we go again. I've found "Silurian" pool filter sand at Home Hardware. But it's #18. Would this work or is it bad for the filter that requires #20.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Does it give a grain size on it?

 

[GreatCanadian]

No it doesn't. No grain size mentioned. I assume 18 is a little larger than 20?