I'm new so please forgive me but I have looked several places with no luck yet. Is Silica sand the same as pool sand and are they interchangeable?
Silica sand
- Thread starter flyinokra
- Start date
Sand filter question
I recently bought a house with an 8 year old in ground liner pool that is 40X20. When I ask the previous owner if he had changed the filter sand he didn't know or couldn't remember!? So I would like to change it I guess mainly to start fresh and keep track of it. The filter is a Ranger and I believe it is 25" since that is what it measures across as well as up and down. What sand should I use and is there a difference in silica sand. I am all about trouble free since I am an airline pilot and am gone several days at a time. Thanks
I recently bought a house with an 8 year old in ground liner pool that is 40X20. When I ask the previous owner if he had changed the filter sand he didn't know or couldn't remember!? So I would like to change it I guess mainly to start fresh and keep track of it. The filter is a Ranger and I believe it is 25" since that is what it measures across as well as up and down. What sand should I use and is there a difference in silica sand. I am all about trouble free since I am an airline pilot and am gone several days at a time. Thanks
Re: Sand filter question
Welcome to TFP!!!
There is rarely ever a need to replace the sand. You could inspect it and try Deep Cleaning your Sand Filter to see if there is a reason to replace it.
Welcome to TFP!!!There is rarely ever a need to replace the sand. You could inspect it and try Deep Cleaning your Sand Filter to see if there is a reason to replace it.
Re: Sand filter question
Welcome to TFP!
Unless something unusual happens there is no reason to replace the sand. If you are just being through, all you need to do is to deep clean the filter.
Pool filters require #20 silica sand
Welcome to TFP!
Unless something unusual happens there is no reason to replace the sand. If you are just being through, all you need to do is to deep clean the filter.
Pool filters require #20 silica sand
Re: Sand filter question
Thanks for the quick replies! I should have mentioned that I got bored and couldn't sleep last night so I took a shop vac and sucked out the filter! I'm just weird like that! Wasn't that bad but definitely should have tried the deep clean first! So I started googling "pool filter sand" and most all say "sand" not "silica". I was looking at the Aqua Quartz because it specifically says #20 Silica but I also saw Quikrete and HTH but both say SAND not Silica. Hope that makes since and you can see why the confusion.
Thanks for the quick replies! I should have mentioned that I got bored and couldn't sleep last night so I took a shop vac and sucked out the filter! I'm just weird like that! Wasn't that bad but definitely should have tried the deep clean first! So I started googling "pool filter sand" and most all say "sand" not "silica". I was looking at the Aqua Quartz because it specifically says #20 Silica but I also saw Quikrete and HTH but both say SAND not Silica. Hope that makes since and you can see why the confusion.
- May 22, 2013
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Re: Sand filter question
Welcome to the forum Flyinokra
"Sand" is mostly silica. For all practical purposes in relation to a pool filter you can use either term. Too bad you couldn't sleep as it could have saved you the trouble and expense. Doing that deep clean does help restore a filters performance considerably. I just learned about it and did the first last year. Will be doing it again as I just got tired of rinsing it and kept getting stuff floating up out of it so finally stopped and buttoned it up !! This year I'll be more through as I won't have as much stuff in there to get out
Please add your pool and equipment info into your signature as outlined here - > http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/165-getting-started
Welcome to the forum Flyinokra
"Sand" is mostly silica. For all practical purposes in relation to a pool filter you can use either term. Too bad you couldn't sleep as it could have saved you the trouble and expense. Doing that deep clean does help restore a filters performance considerably. I just learned about it and did the first last year. Will be doing it again as I just got tired of rinsing it and kept getting stuff floating up out of it so finally stopped and buttoned it up !! This year I'll be more through as I won't have as much stuff in there to get out
Please add your pool and equipment info into your signature as outlined here - > http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/165-getting-started
Re: Sand filter question
I wish I could have slept as well. So if you had to go buy filter sand what would you buy or recommend?
I wish I could have slept as well. So if you had to go buy filter sand what would you buy or recommend?
Re: Sand filter question
As I understand it, after adding the new sand to the filter, one should backwash the filter until the water runs clear.
As I understand it, after adding the new sand to the filter, one should backwash the filter until the water runs clear.
So it seems there is no personal preference as to a brand. So I'll just get the cheapest thing I can find i guess.
Yea, no brand, As long as it say #20 Pool/Pool Filter sand you are good. Some hardware stores have it in the Pool supply area.
Most Home Depot stores as well as some Lowes have it in the pool/seasonal section of outside garden.
