Sand filters are least effective but also the least expensive to buy and use. Cartridge filters are more effective but are more expensive to buy and use. DE filters are the most effective but are the most expensive to buy and use.
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.
DE removes particles down to three microns, all the time. A micron is very small – a millionth of a meter. Cartridge filters work down to 40 microns only when they are working correctly. Sand filters work around 100 microns right after they are backwashed, and get down to about 75 microns when they are dirty.
Sand filters use 20-grade silica sand capable of trapping particles as small as 20-30 microns. Maintenance: Sand filters are considered to be the easiest to maintain. Sand filters are backwashed when the pressure reads 10 psi over the normal operating level.
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 Powder. Diatomaceous Earth, used in D.E. pool filters, can also be used in sand filters and cartridge filters to trap particles down to 3 microns in size. Use 1-3 cups depending on your filter size, by pouring it into the skimmer after backwashing, and it forms a layer on top of and down into your sand bed.
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.
Mix 1/4 cup of DE with water in a bucket and pour that slowly into the skimmer. Remove the Skimmer Sock, if any, before adding DE. Give the system about two minutes to stabilize. Note the pressure on the filter and repeat the second and third steps until the pressure has gone up by one PSI.
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.
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.
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).
However, if you can't find a suggestion from the manufacturer, you can use a simple rule of thumb: For a full clean or new filter, add one pound of DE powder for every 10 square feet of the filter. So, a 48-square-foot filter will need about five pounds of DE powder.
If you do not add enough DE to your filter, then the grids are not totally coated with DE and the dirt that goes into your filter will attach itself right to the fabric on the grids and will not backwash off. This will cause your filter to short cycle (go very short times between backwashing).
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.
DE Blow-Back: If DE powder is coming into the pool, you may have torn filter grid fabric. Or, you could have a cracked top manifold, or missing air bleeder. The standpipe o-ring could be missing, or the filter valve could be allowing some DE powder to bypass the filter as you add it new.
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.
HTH D.E. filter aid removes particles as small as 2-6 microns. Replacing this media as needed helps ensure optimum performance from your filter to keep your pool water clear.
To improve the performance of sand filters and avoid some of the common problems associated with them, make sure to use sand filter cleaner before backwashing the sand bed. A great tool in the toolbox of anyone with a sand filter is alum, also known as aluminum sulfate. Alum can be added to the pool water.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) filters are better at filtering than cartridge filters. A DE filter will result in clearer pool water than a cartridge filter.
You should backwash your DE pool filter about once a month during pool season. In addition to the regular schedule, you'll want to perform additional backwashing if: You've been running your pool filter for 48 hours straight. This can cause a pressure build-up, even if the filter grids look clean.
Commonly known as D.E., diatomaceous earth for pools is derived from tiny fossilized exoskeletons of algae-like water plants called diatoms. DE powder provides better filtration results for pools compared to sand filters and cartridge filter systems, which is why folks use them.
Leslie's teaches its employees that the blue DE scoop holds approximately . 7 lbs of DE (11.2 ounces). They say one scoop per 5 square feet of filter area and this makes sense for precoating.