Now that I refurbished all my valves I figure I may as well change the
sand in the filter. It's been awhile; 4 or 5 years.

I know sand filters are inefficient and there are supposedly "better"
media but, it seems some have draw backs.

"Zeobrite" has mixed reviews, but with all the variables involved with
sand filters, I don't know if they are expecting miracles or the media
is over-hyped. Compared to common PFS it's pretty pricey.

TIA

On Jun 16, 1:49*pm, gonjah wrote:
Now that I refurbished all my valves I figure I may as well change the
sand in the filter. It's been awhile; 4 or 5 years.

I know sand filters are inefficient and there are supposedly "better"
media but, it seems some have draw backs.

"Zeobrite" has mixed reviews, but with all the variables involved with
sand filters, I don't know if they are expecting miracles or the media
is over-hyped. Compared to common PFS it's pretty pricey.

TIA

I can't tell you about sand filter alternative experience, but I had a
recent thread
about using alternatives with a DE filter. That one, Fiber Clear,
also works with
sand filters. So far, I'm not impressed. You can read that thread
about some of
the disadvantages I found.

Doing a bit of googling, I think a lot of this alternative stuff is
based on hype.
Like that the FC stuff will remove smaller particles than a DE. But
do you
really need that? This pool has been fine with DE. Another aspect
seems to
be scare tactics. The FC people talk about the "hazards" of DE. I
see people
posting online that DE causes cancer, etc. The average person hears
that
and thinks DE is gonna kill them when they go swimming and that they
should
use a safe alternative. There is also BS about DE somehow being
dangerous
for the environment? Or a problem to deal with? I backwash on the
lawn
and it just disappears.
So, people buy the more expensive stuff. AFAIK, the only possible
hazard with
DE is if you're dumb enough to breathe in the dust while pouring it in
the skimmer.
It's kind of like sand can kill you too, if you're dumb enough to do
sandblasting
with it and breathe it in.....

As far as the cost of the alternatives, you have to look at how they
get used.
I thought the FC was a lot more expensive than DE. But then I
realized it's
not a 1:1 replacement, less of the FC is used. I think with a sand
filter you just
add some FC to top it off and supplement the sand filter.

And again with some googling I found people who say FC was great. I
found some who said it made no difference. I found some that ran into
problems, like the pressure going way up and damaging their filters.
That
may be from misuse, but then again, it wouldn't have happened if they
stuck with DE.....

I'm sure if you google with the various alternatives plug "sand
filter"
you'll find some experiences.

In ,
gonjah belched:
Now that I refurbished all my valves I figure I may as well change the
sand in the filter. It's been awhile; 4 or 5 years.

I know sand filters are inefficient and there are supposedly "better"
media but, it seems some have draw backs.

"Zeobrite" has mixed reviews, but with all the variables involved with
sand filters, I don't know if they are expecting miracles or the media
is over-hyped. Compared to common PFS it's pretty pricey.

TIA

I've had regular sand in my filter for 22 years and changed it once when I
replaced the filter

On 6/16/2013 7:45 PM, ChairMan wrote:
In ,
gonjah belched:
Now that I refurbished all my valves I figure I may as well change the
sand in the filter. It's been awhile; 4 or 5 years.

I know sand filters are inefficient and there are supposedly "better"
media but, it seems some have draw backs.

"Zeobrite" has mixed reviews, but with all the variables involved with
sand filters, I don't know if they are expecting miracles or the media
is over-hyped. Compared to common PFS it's pretty pricey.

TIA

I've had regular sand in my filter for 22 years and changed it once when I
replaced the filter




I've heard stories of sand filters that have never had the sand changed.

Probably has a lot to do with how much the pool is used, area and
maintenance.

We get a lot of tree type garbage and rain in our pool. The chemicals
can be difficult to keep in balance, particularly now that I'm working
full-time. Damn job.

The sand that's in there is pretty new but I'm looking for alternatives.
If I had plenty to spend I'd go for a different filter system and
possibly convert to a salt water pool.

On Jun 16, 8:18*pm, gonjah wrote:
On 6/16/2013 7:45 PM, ChairMan wrote:





,
gonjah belched:
Now that I refurbished all my valves I figure I may as well change the
sand in the filter. It's been awhile; 4 or 5 years.

I know sand filters are inefficient and there are supposedly "better"
media but, it seems some have draw backs.

"Zeobrite" has mixed reviews, but with all the variables involved with
sand filters, I don't know if they are expecting miracles or the media
is over-hyped. Compared to common PFS it's pretty pricey.

TIA

I've had regular sand in my filter for 22 years and changed it once when I
replaced the filter

I've heard stories of sand filters that have never had the sand changed.

Probably has a lot to do with how much the pool is used, area and
maintenance.

We get a lot of tree type garbage and rain in our pool. The chemicals
can be difficult to keep in balance, particularly now that I'm working
full-time. Damn job.

The sand that's in there is pretty new but I'm looking for alternatives.
If I had plenty to spend I'd go for a different filter system and
possibly convert to a salt water pool.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Do you live by the ocean or gulf, or would you have to buy a lifetime
supply of Morton's salt?

gonjah wrote:
On 6/16/2013 7:45 PM, ChairMan wrote:
In ,
gonjah belched:
Now that I refurbished all my valves I figure I may as
well change
the sand in the filter. It's been awhile; 4 or 5 years.

I know sand filters are inefficient and there are
supposedly
"better" media but, it seems some have draw backs.

"Zeobrite" has mixed reviews, but with all the variables
involved
with sand filters, I don't know if they are expecting
miracles or
the media is over-hyped. Compared to common PFS it's
pretty pricey.

TIA

I've had regular sand in my filter for 22 years and
changed it once
when I replaced the filter




I've heard stories of sand filters that have never had the
sand
changed.
Probably has a lot to do with how much the pool is used,
area and
maintenance.

my grandkids use mine everyday from the end of May till
September



We get a lot of tree type garbage and rain in our pool.
The chemicals
can be difficult to keep in balance, particularly now that
I'm working
full-time. Damn job.

My experience has been, eliminate the phosphates and the job
is much easier


The sand that's in there is pretty new but I'm looking for
alternatives. If I had plenty to spend I'd go for a
different filter
system and possibly convert to a salt water pool.

Salt can be tough to maintain or at least thats what my SIL
tells me
I've never dealt with one, but I use to fight mine(sand) all
the time until I started using a phosphate remover.
I stop using chemicals in October and use just the remover
through the winter, then get things balanced again in the
spring.