Like a sand filter, DE filters require regular backwashing to keep the filter clean. Unlike sand filters, however, the DE is actually removed with the trapped contaminants. This means that you have to add more DE to the filter each time that you backwash.
Overall a DE filter will result in a much cleaner pool when compared to a sand filter. Diatomaceous earth filters filter much small particles, approx. 1-6 microns, compared to a sand filter which filters particles that are 20-40 microns in size. A DE filter will however require a lot more maintenance and ongoing costs.
Small amounts of DE can be added to a sand filter after each backwash to improve the filtering. The first time you use DE, you need to figure out how much DE to add to your filter. After the first time, you can simply mix the full amount of DE with water in a bucket and pour that slowly into the skimmer.
Diatomite, or diatomaceous earth (DE), has a very small particle size, a high porosity, and crystalline structure, making it an excellent filtration medium. It is an effective, common choice for pool filters, and has been commercially sold as a filter media for over a century.
Although DE powder is used for filter grids, it can be added to sand filters. When the powder is added to the sand, the sharp edges of the DE powder enhance the filtering process of the sand by capturing tiny dirt particles during the filtering process.
Adding DE To Your Sand Filter
That is what makes DE filters top of the line when comparing the three different filter types. However, DE powder can also be used with sand filters to improve their filtering quality. You can add small amounts of DE powder to your filter after each backwash to improve your filterability.
ADD DE POWDER - Remove the cover to the skimmer closest to the pump and filter. Slowly add the required amount of DE Powder into the skimmer. If you simply dump the DE Powder into the skimmer, you may clog the pipes. CAUTION: WEAR A MASK WHEN ADDING DE POWDER.
A DE filter will work better on smaller particles while a cartridge filter will work more efficiently with larger types of debris.
If you are looking for a highly efficient solution with the least amount of bacteria and debris left swimming around in your pool, the cartridge filter is your best solution. The cartridge filter can catch finer debris than a sand filter, being 10-20 microns versus 20-40 microns.
Answer: No, this is not food grade DE. This is for filtration use. Food grade diatomaceous earth contains < 2% crystalline silica, whereas swimming pool diatomaceous earth is chemically altered to contain very high quantities of crystalline silica to improve its filtration properties.
You need chemicals with a sand filter because they require sanitization, phosphate removal, pH adjustments, and alkalinity alterations.
You can add DE powder to your sand filter to make it more effective. Just add 1-3 cups of DE powder when you backwash or replace your sand. Adding powder makes your sand filter 4x more effective, allowing it to filter contaminants down to 3 microns.
In the Owners manual of the Pentair Clean and Clear Cartridge filter it recomends using . 5 lbs of DE for every 100 sq ft of filter area in a new pool start up. I know the Cartridge filters clean better when they are a little dirty.
DE Filters remove the smallest particles of any filter, from 3-5 microns. Maintenance: Must be backwashed as with a sand filter when the pressure is 10 psi over the normal level. New DE powder must be added to the filter as well.
Diatomaceous Earth Pool Filter Price
The average cost of a diatomaceous earth pool filter is between $520 and $2,000, depending on its size and complexity. This is one of the most efficient options.
Diatomaceous earth (D.E) filter
Named after the sedimentary rock that is used to filter the water. Diatomaceous earth is composed of chemically inert, fossilized (or skeletal) remains of billions of microscopic algae-like organisms, called diatoms. The D.E filter contains grids inside that are coated with DE powder.
If you're on a budget, and you want to spend minimal time on maintenance, a sand filter is the best choice for you. It's also optimal for large pools because it won't clog as easily as other filters. Your pool pump sucks water in from the skimmers, then pushes it through a large filtration tank full of sand.
On average, sand should be replaced every 3-5 years. This may be longer if the pool stays clear, or shorter, if the filter runs all the time. The jagged edges of the sand wear down and become smooth as the sand ages.
Sand coming from the pool filter is the sign of a broken component in the filter. If your pool has a sand filter, it goes without saying that the sand should stay in the filter. If you see it blowing out into the pool, something is broken.
You shouldn't add DE to a cartridge filter. The diatomaceous earth can clog up a cartridge filter, making filtering ineffective and raising the pressure too high. It is also very hard to clean or remove DE from a cartridge filter.
After backwashing, new DE must be added to the filter. Add the entire amount of DE the filter recommends. If you see DE returning to the pool, vacuum it to waste, after it settles. The next time you backwash and recoat, decrease the amount by 1 pound.
A DE Scoop is specially designed to measure DE powder and 1 scoop is equal to 1/2 lb. of DE powder. To determine how many scoops or coffee cans of DE your filter requires take your filter square footage and divide by 5 (this would be after a full cleaning).
Adding too much DE to your pool may cause multiple negative results. These ramifications include a clogged skimmer, turning the pool cloudy, reducing the circulatory pressure in the pool and putting too much work on your pump that may result in eventually breaking the pump.
DE is added through the skimmer with the pump running. Each filter has a different requirement of DE. At initial start up or after a thorough cleaning, the filter will need to be pre-coated with DE. The filter label will state the amount of DE required.