I have a Hayward C1200 catridge filter and it's a hassle to clean the
filter.

I have been reading about sand filters and DE filters, so I decided to do
some research and they don't seem to be clear winners either.

The sand filter requires back washing, but I don't know how clean you really
can achieve by back washing alone. Seems to me one may have to replace all
the sand in there once in a while. Also it is not clear to me if the water
has to be travelling through sand to get to the bottom, will the filtration
be fast enough to circulate the water?

The DE filter requires the powder to be added, since the powder are so fine,
will it again cause the water movement to be inefficient?

Right now after a while my pump won't prime because the catridge gets a lot
of grease and dirt and I have to wash the filter thoroughly for the pump to
prime. I hate cleaning catridges, it is a very laborious task because you
have to reach into each fold to clean the interior surface area and this is
no small task. If you don't clean it enough the grease and dirt will again
impede the flow and water does not circulate as quick as possible.

There is no perfect filter?

MC