How To Add De Powder To Pool

Barack has expertise in pool chemistry and pool maintenance. He writes in-depth articles nearly how to maintain pools for optimal enjoyment.

Learn how to boost the efficiency of your pool filter with diatomaceous earth.

KateGoodall, CC-By-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia

Getting Clear Pool H2o With the Proper Filter

There are three types of pool filters bachelor on the marketplace today: DE (diatomaceous earth), sand and cartridge filters; each comes with its pros and cons.

When rating in terms of operation, DE filter is the best, followed closely by sand and cartridge filters in that order.

Sand Filters

Sand filters are the nigh pop pool filters, however, due to their pocket-friendly price and high operation in larger and decorated commercial pools.

Sand filters utilize 20 silica filter sand that can filter down to xx microns, meaning any debris smaller than 20 microns will pass into your pool or spa h2o, making your water cloudy even though all your pool chemical levels are right, including costless chlorine levels.

DE Media and Filter Aids

DE filters employ filtering media that can filter downwards to ane–5 microns, and you tin can imagine how huge the deviation is.

If you have a sand filter, a good affair is that you lot tin can improve your water clarity by using a DE media + filter aid in the skimmer.

Note: You cannot mix whatsoever DE filter media with sand or apply them in the sand filter tank to replace filter sand—yous can only use it in the skimmer.

I adopt using the special DE media + filter aid because information technology can filter downwards to 1 micron, while the normal DE filter media tin filter down to 5 microns. This means that you can still use DE media + filter aid to ameliorate water clarity in your pool if y'all use the normal DE filter media that tin filter down to 5 micron.

Another added advantage of the DE media + filter assist is that, despite making your water sparkling articulate, it likewise prevents metal stains in pools by filtering out all heavy metals—including copper, iron, argent, and magnesium, which are mutual when using well or borehole water in your puddle or spa.

However, if y'all have or prefer the normal DE filter media, you tin can still utilise it in the skimmer to improve your water quality and clarity, since it will filter and trap smaller particles twenty silica sand cannot trap.

You Withal Need to Periodically Back-Wash and Replace Your Filters

Recall, all these should not be a shortcut to back-washing your sand filter, or a scapegoat to replacing your filter sand after every 3 to five years, just to only better the efficiency of your sand filter, being that it can only filter down to 20 microns.

Alternatively, most puddle owners use different filter sand alternatives that can filter downwards to smaller than 20 microns to completely replace filter sand, boosting water clarity, reducing backwash times, and increasing the lifespan of sand filters.

This commodity shows you how you can utilize a DE filtering amanuensis in the skimmer to boost the efficiency of your sand filter, compares other sand alternative filtering agents that can be used to completely supplant filter sand, and which is better to use between DE media and sand alternatives.

"All these should non be a shortcut to back-washing your sand filter, or a scapegoat to replacing your filter sand after every 3 to five years, but to just improve the efficiency of your sand filter, beingness that it can merely filter down to 20 microns."

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Which Is the Best Filter Sand Alternative to Utilise in My Sand Filter?

The most common types of filter sand alternatives with college efficiency compared to regular filter sand include filter glass and ZeoSand, which can exist used in identify of filter sand.

To utilise filter sand alternatives, y'all accept to completely remove sand from your filter tank.

I take tried near of these at one betoken in time, and none compares to DE filter media when information technology comes to boosting the efficiency of the sand filter when used in the skimmer.

Since well-nigh filter sand alternatives cannot filter down to i–5 microns, DE filter media comes in handy, unless you are going to use filter glass that tin filter down to 5 microns and is durable with long back-washing cycles.

Moreover, the other downside of these filter sand alternatives compared to DE filter media is the toll factor, every bit the latter is relatively affordable—though information technology can only be used in the skimmer to improve the efficiency of the sand filters.

Filter Glass

Filter glass is 1 of the most efficient filter sand alternatives used today due to its efficiency over filter sand. It can filter downwards to 5 microns, unlike filter sand, which tin can only filter downward to 30 microns.

Moreover, filter sand is relatively bulky, since the corporeality needed is much more than the amount needed for filter glass—which may translate to effectually 20% less media in weight compared to filter sand used in the aforementioned filter.

Finally, filter sand wears out very soon every bit compared to filter glass, which is more than durable and can final three times longer than filter sand.

Filter drinking glass also reduces the back-wash cycle, saving coin on your water beak, and lengthens the life span of the puddle filter.

ZeoSand

ZeoSand is some other filter sand alternative that can filter down much smaller debris than regular filter sand—only non better than filter glass.

ZeoSand has a decreased aftermath time as compared to the filter sand, and a smaller quantity is needed for the same effect equally filter sand.

Merely like filter sand, ZeoSand lasts up to five years, which means filter glass is more durable than both ZeoSand and 20 silica filter sand.

This content is authentic and true to the best of the writer'south cognition and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized communication from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Can I pour the DE powder instead of the Sand in my sand filter?

Reply: Using D.E. pulverisation in a sand filter is not quite advisable, however, yous tin utilize Clorox D.Eastward. + Filter Aid (https://thesummerpools.com/products/diatomaceous-due east... that is used in the skimmer to ameliorate water quality by filtering out smaller debris making the water cloudy and metal components causing metal stains in puddle or spa.

Question: When nosotros started putting the D.E. Media and Filter Aid in the skimmer our PSI was 19. The first pound dropped the PSI to 15. The directions say to expect v minutes if the pressure hasn't raised one psi to repeat until it does. We take done 6 lbs and the pressure level is remaining the same. The pool is REALLY milky now and I'k agape to put any more into the skimmer. The force per unit area never did raise, only dropped. What are we doing wrong to optimize the pressure output of our sand filter?

Answer: This could be a clogged pump basket, clogged impeller, clogged pipe or clogged skimmer that won't allow for your PSI to rise. You tin also check or troubleshoot your filter if it is a problem caused b filter default i.e allowing water into the pool without filtering it causes PSI to rise slowly, reduce or stop rise completely. If all is okay, some filters take likewise long like weeks before the PSI rises but will eventually rise, especially if you have a big filter.

Question: I ordered a large corporeality of Food Class DE for a unlike purpose. Can I use it and follow your instructions versus ownership pool filter DE?

Answer: No, food form D.East. cannot be used in a pond pool. D.Eastward filter media is preferred since it's fabricated with advanced water filters technology in mind.

Barack James (author) from Green Urban center in the Sun on Jan 02, 2018:

Hi, if the water is stagnant and clean means the zeolite is not used and can notwithstanding work to filter your pool water. You may have to replace information technology if the water puddle remains cloudy or clay.

RCriswell on December 28, 2017:

Looking for some info on a caring for a pool filter with zeolite.

I installed a sand filter last year on a converted above footing agriculture cement tank that's now a puddle. I chose Zeolite over sand,

Due to medical reasons I had to leave the camp for several months. Upon my return I discovered that the filter had been taken down and stored in a shed - total of water. My question is if this zeolite media is still adept to use after standing in water for approximately seven months.