Yeah, I was just noticing how mine pales in comparison to other members and the more I learn about this it really needs to be filled out in better detail. I will go home tonight and make sure this gets updated.
Sand Filter w/ Glass Media
- Thread starter KC4life15!
- Start date
FC, and lots of it. GREAT stuff !!!
It's best to throw out everything you've been *cough cough lied to cough* told. Start over entirely. We've been here for 15 years and have amassed almost 1/3 of a million members. Trust that we've seen a thing or two and will steer you right. Want further proof ? Fine. I was skeptical once too. Have a looksie. How Clear is TFP Clear? We do that on the CHEAP.
Step one anytime the water is not sparkly is to see if you lose any FC overnight. If the FC depletes without the sun/UV, something is growing and its time to SLAM Process
If you pass the overnight test, then we have no rush fiddling and figuring out what else is wrong, but you won't be gifted a swamp in the meantime.
That is not how it works. A poor sand filter does not cause chlorine to be "eaten up". Algae does.
As has been suggested, you need ot do an OCLT
To the filter. Do you see water under it? If it has a leak there is going to be water. Mine has always had a tiny leak at the top gasket of the sand filter and I don't worry.
Glass media is a way to get you to spend more money. The filter was designed to use (wait, it's in the name) "sand". My feeling is your pool guy has a little spare time this month and is looking ot fill it in with your wallet......
I am going to administer this test tonight and post the results! I am learning once step at a time- gotta filter the propoganda out of my system!FC, and lots of it. GREAT stuff !!!
It's best to throw out everything you've been *cough cough lied to cough* told. Start over entirely. We've been here for 15 years and have amassed almost 1/3 of a million members. Trust that we've seen a thing or two and will steer you right. Want further proof ? Fine. I was skeptical once too. Have a looksie. How Clear is TFP Clear? We do that on the CHEAP.
Step one anytime the water is not sparkly is to see if you lose any FC overnight. If the FC depletes without the sun/UV, something is growing and its time to SLAM Process
If you pass the overnight test, then we have no rush fiddling and figuring out what else is wrong, but you won't be gifted a swamp in the meantime.
To my pool service guy's credit he steered me to replacing the sand filter with a cartridge system which many on here have endorsed. If there is a true crack in my sand filter that is likely what I am going to do. I am going to investigate this so called crack tonight!
You have a decent size pool. If you don't get one of those huge 4 cartridge filters you will be cleaning it out more often than you want. I'm personally a big fan of sand filters for their ease of use. If I need a little extra filtration I can add a little DE to the filter and it will filter just as small particles as any cartridge and most DE filters. It's the best of both worlds.
Watch the gauge, whenit's up 25% backwash, rinse and put it back in filter. It's never more than 5 minutes. You can't even take those big cartridge filters apart in five minutes.
Watch the gauge, whenit's up 25% backwash, rinse and put it back in filter. It's never more than 5 minutes. You can't even take those big cartridge filters apart in five minutes.
That’s a good point, make sure not to skimp on the filter size, especially on a cartridge filter. A sand filter you can backwash to clean, but the cartridges have to come out to clean those.
My pool (which I no longer own) will soon be on it's third owner but retains the original sand from about 13-14 years ago. It has been deep cleaned about biannually and it will NEVER need replacing,
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,159
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
CedarChuck
Silver Supporter
- Jun 19, 2022
- 25
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
Really surprised not to see more recommendations for glass media in a sand filter. My personal experience in talking to people around me its a no brainer to go with the activate glass media in a large sand filter. Some friends owning large pools and a couple of them who build high end pools.
People think sticking a piece of wax on their forehead makes headaches go away. Placebo is a powerful thing and "I guess it works because my water is how I expect it to be" is a weak testimonial.
Most people know nothing about water chemistry. Not a slight, I was dumb as a rock about this stuff before TFP despite having had a pool for over 10 years. And I know for a fact I said some really dumb things like "all pools get algae" or "probably cloudy because of the high alkalinity". Anyone who listened to my testimonial was poorly advised.
So you'll excuse our quick dismissal of "someone I know said..." Filtration gimmicks are just a cover for poor water chemistry when they work, and a complete waste of money when they don't.
CedarChuck
Silver Supporter
- Jun 19, 2022
- 25
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
Sure if it one amateur to another but a couple of my friends are long time high end pool and home builders. I'm no expert but I'm pretty confident in their opinions.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,813
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
It's been proven time and again - here and elsewhere - that pool builders (high end or otherwise) know very little about the equipment they install.
If you think it works for you, use it. For the majority of sand filter users, a sand filter with actual pool sand in it works great and is trouble free.
And remember, glass actually contains sand in its composition.
If you think it works for you, use it. For the majority of sand filter users, a sand filter with actual pool sand in it works great and is trouble free.
And remember, glass actually contains sand in its composition.
If they don't stick around for the long term chemistry part, it doesn't matter.
If they do stick around but follow long outdated industry chemistry, it doesn't matter.
A properly functioning sand filter will remove any debris well below what the human eyes can see. The other filters or medias are nothing but bragging rights.
It's no different than this year's new IPhone display. Last year's was many times clearer than the brain/eyes can process, but they'll convince a bazillion folks to get the new one anyway.
But if your glass setup ain't broke........
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Plus you can add DE to a sand filter to effectively filter down to what a DE filter does, which is pretty tiny.
CedarChuck
Silver Supporter
- Jun 19, 2022
- 25
- Pool Size
- 18000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Turbo Cell (T-CELL-5)
Said friends also maintain their own pools with glass media. Appreciate the feedback and opinions!If they don't stick around for the long term chemistry part, it doesn't matter.
If they do stick around but follow long outdated industry chemistry, it doesn't matter.
A properly functioning sand filter will remove any debris well below what the human eyes can see. The other filters or medias are nothing but bragging rights.
It's no different than this year's new IPhone display. Last year's was many times clearer than the brain/eyes can process, but they'll convince a bazillion folks to get the new one anyway.
But if your glass setup ain't broke........
Flying Tivo
TFP Guide
- Jan 24, 2017
- 3,100
- Pool Size
- 7500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Probably im the only one with an alternate Sand Media. I have been using Zeo sand for the life of my pool(almost 4 yrs). While i will agree on all of the previous comments, i do have to say that Zeo in particular has better filtering capabilities. Dont want to debate if its 5,10,15 or 20 micron size capabilities, but i will say that zeo is not for everyone, much less new pool owners who are just getting the hang of it. Zeo has particular set of rules that need to be followed for best results. Not to brag but my pool appearance has been praised. Have a look.
It's the 15 gazillion tiles.
And I don't disagree, it's spectacular.
A sand filter won the TFP clarity pic contest a couple months back. They do just fine, and I'm a diehard Cartridge guy defending them. What's fair is fair.
Pic # 14 for anyone who missed it.
We have a Winner! - TFP Pool of the Month (June 2022); Theme - Water Clarity
TFP members, the TFP “Pool of the Month” contest for June 2022 begins now! it’s time to show-off your pool - water clarity that is! Rules are as follows: 1. On the first of each month, a contest "theme" will be announced (i.e. water clarity, family fun, decking, custom features, lighting...
www.troublefreepool.com
Flying Tivo
TFP Guide
- Jan 24, 2017
- 3,100
- Pool Size
- 7500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Nice try with the pool pic, Tivo, but you can't trick us old-timers. Put some water in the pool and take another pic! 