Replacing sand in filter questions?

[JaySav]

I’ve done some research on the forums on this topic and haven’t quite found exactly what I’m looking for. I have a Sta Rite T-240BP-1 that I’m about to open up, empty and refill. A few questions I have are:

1. HTH sand or Mystic White? I have a connect through Ace hardware so the HTH would be half the price the Mystic White would be but I’m not one to do the work and cut quality just to save a few dollars, if there’s that much of a difference between the 2 I will spend the extra.

2. A quick how to like what to watch for…some tricks like backwashing prior to disassembling, what to inspect and look for when inside…how much water to drain before I start scooping/shop vac’n it out…what to watch for so I don’t break the inside pieces of the filter that I can never remember their name…just some general info on this job because I’ve never done it.

3. Any other general information I may need to know before going in. My filter calls for 300lbs of sand…do I empty it out and just start adding sand back? Add some water then add sand….etc. feel free to direct me to trusted videos on methods or whatnot.

As always thanks again for the help!

 

[Bperry]

I’ve done some research on the forums on this topic and haven’t quite found exactly what I’m looking for. I have a Sta Rite T-240BP-1 that I’m about to open up, empty and refill. A few questions I have are:

1. HTH sand or Mystic White? I have a connect through Ace hardware so the HTH would be half the price the Mystic White would be but I’m not one to do the work and cut quality just to save a few dollars, if there’s that much of a difference between the 2 I will spend the extra.

2. A quick how to like what to watch for…some tricks like backwashing prior to disassembling, what to inspect and look for when inside…how much water to drain before I start scooping/shop vac’n it out…what to watch for so I don’t break the inside pieces of the filter that I can never remember their name…just some general info on this job because I’ve never done it.

3. Any other general information I may need to know before going in. My filter calls for 300lbs of sand…do I empty it out and just start adding sand back? Add some water then add sand….etc. feel free to direct me to trusted videos on methods or whatnot.

As always thanks again for the help!

What’s the reason you’re replacing the sand? Just wanted to check that some places try to fool people that sand gets “old” and doesn’t work as well. One good reason to replace it is if you added floc or other stuff that has caused the sand to cake or stick together.

Generally you need to add some water first and then gently add sand back until it’s to the fill line, sometimes the line isn’t visible though.

 

[JaySav]

What’s the reason you’re replacing the sand? Just wanted to check that some places try to fool people that sand gets “old” and doesn’t work as well. One good reason to replace it is if you added floc or other stuff that has caused the sand to cake or stick together.

Generally you need to add some water first and then gently add sand back until it’s to the fill line, sometimes the line isn’t visible though.

Just wanting to freshen the pool up this spring. We bought the house in 2019, I’ve never done it, and there’s no telling when it was done before that. I think the previous owner may have said 5 years before we bought the house it was done but I don’t remember now. I just want clean filtration.

 

[Newdude]

I just want clean filtration

Take it apart and inspect it. If it has been gummed up with flocculants and such, you'll know. If it's still sand like, even if it's filthy, it'll clean good as new.

Here's how to Deep Clean it.

 

[JaySav]

Take it apart and inspect it. If it has been gummed up with flocculants and such, you'll know. If it's still sand like, even if it's filthy, it'll clean good as new.

Here's how to Deep Clean it.

Great videos. I’ll try this first and see what it looks like. I’ve never used algeacide but I think the previous owner did. Doesn’t algeacide gum up the sand?

 

[Newdude]

Doesn’t algeacide gum up the sand?

Usually not. But the folks who rely on it tend to use all the other silver bullets too.

Algecide is an algae inhibitor the way wheel chocks secure a big truck. It can work great before the truck is rolling, but once that truck is moving, they are nothing but a bump. Because of the 'cide' terminology, many folks and the industry turn to it to clear swamps and it just can't do that. So then they turn to flocculants and clarifiers or 5 in 1 mystery potions.

 

[JamesW]

HTH sand or Mystic White?

Mystic White.

What size is the sand?

My findings on how not all sand is created equal

Ok well today I finally got all my parts from Intex to fix my problem I was having with my sand filter. Here is a link to that thread which I will update as well http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/101906-New-Pool-Intex-Customer-Service-Long-Post-lol So basically for the sake of this thread...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mdragger88]

I’ve done some research on the forums on this topic and haven’t quite found exactly what I’m looking for. I have a Sta Rite T-240BP-1 that I’m about to open up, empty and refill. A few questions I have are:

1. HTH sand or Mystic White? I have a connect through Ace hardware so the HTH would be half the price the Mystic White would be but I’m not one to do the work and cut quality just to save a few dollars, if there’s that much of a difference between the 2 I will spend the extra.

2. A quick how to like what to watch for…some tricks like backwashing prior to disassembling, what to inspect and look for when inside…how much water to drain before I start scooping/shop vac’n it out…what to watch for so I don’t break the inside pieces of the filter that I can never remember their name…just some general info on this job because I’ve never done it.

3. Any other general information I may need to know before going in. My filter calls for 300lbs of sand…do I empty it out and just start adding sand back? Add some water then add sand….etc. feel free to direct me to trusted videos on methods or whatnot.

As always thanks again for the help!

Here’s the manual

Dimensions/Specifications; Recommended Sand Grades; Filter Operational Data; Dimensional Data - STA-RITE CRISTAL-FLO T-150BP-1 Owner's Manual [Page 4]

STA-RITE CRISTAL-FLO T-150BP-1 Manual Online: dimensions/specifications, Recommended Sand Grades, Filter Operational Data, Dimensional Data. In Inches (Mm) Filter Model No. A B T-150Bp-1 27 (686) 33-13/16 (859) 15-3/4 (400) 24-11/16 (627) T-170Bp-1 29-9/16 (751) 36-3/8 (924) 17-3/4...

www.manualslib.com

 

[JaySav]

Here’s the manual

Dimensions/Specifications; Recommended Sand Grades; Filter Operational Data; Dimensional Data - STA-RITE CRISTAL-FLO T-150BP-1 Owner's Manual [Page 4]

STA-RITE CRISTAL-FLO T-150BP-1 Manual Online: dimensions/specifications, Recommended Sand Grades, Filter Operational Data, Dimensional Data. In Inches (Mm) Filter Model No. A B T-150Bp-1 27 (686) 33-13/16 (859) 15-3/4 (400) 24-11/16 (627) T-170Bp-1 29-9/16 (751) 36-3/8 (924) 17-3/4...

www.manualslib.com

Hernando, right across the street…kind of. I’m in Lakeland.

 

[Mdragger88]

Hernando, right across the street…kind of. I’m in Lakeland.

 

[Bill1974]

I would just do a deep clean of the filter before going through the hassle of replacing the sand. Attach a 3 - 4 ft pipe to a garden hose and plung it in to the sand and keep moving it around and left the debris in the sand get washed out. Keep doing till the water overflowing the tank is clean and clear. If you find that sand is not loosing up or clumps when it's under water then replace it.

The manual for your filter will tell you how to service and fill it with sand. But I am assuming it's like most other sand filters, fill a third to half way with water. Slowly pour in slowly so it gets around the laterals or whatever you call the center tube and the things that stick off the bottom of it. Plug the top of the center tube so you don't get sand in it. You just need to keep the pipe in the center, it stays on the bottom and the laterals get sand all the way around them. Once you get a bag or two of sand in you can continue filling pretty quickly. So just take care on the first bag of sand or so.