Replacing the sand in your swimming pool filter should be an easy task. You will need to add as much sand as the manufacturer indicates on the lab el on the tank. Not all sand is created equal and if you are going to replace your old media with sand, silica sand is the way you need to go. The larger the filter, the more sand it requires. Ask the Pool Guy Official Hoodie by AskthePoolGuy Look at Ask T-Shirts online at Zazzle.com. Could too much sand in the filter cause this? Everything eventually wears away and that is especially true for sand filters which run sometimes 24×7 during the summer months cleaning your pool water. The amount depends on the size of the filter, but it's usually between 150 and 350 pounds, or three to seven 50-pound bags. I tried searching that model number and name and I came back with zero solid results. Water clarity issues can also arise from not running the pump long enough each day, or from low chlorine levels or imbalanced pool pH, alkalinity and calcium levels. I have a Clearwater 19” sand filter – how much Zeobrite filter media do I need to replace the sand (I was told 50#) – is this amount right? INYO understands how difficult it is locating information on an older or discontinued filter. It will still filter. There are three types of pool filters available on the market today: DE (diatomaceous earth), sand and cartridge filters; each comes with its pros and cons.. Are you sure Millenium is the manufacturer of the filter? until the tank is half -full. If possible, the very first thing you want to look for is an identifying part number. Sand Required (In Pounds) American Products: Eclipse 18: 150: American Products: Eclipse 20: 200: ... Get Your Pool Guy Hoodie. It also will save a few bucks as pool sand is less expensive the Zeolite. As we mention in the article, we list the Waterway Clearwater FS19 filter and it lists the amount to use is 50 lbs. May 30, 2012 Ask the Pool Guy. now do I add water on tank filter as all the sands is in? duraleigh: I am following the "process"....but I still think I have too much sand in our filter which, as above, was informed it will lessen the filter power...I have read every detail of "pool school"...many times...so I guess we will see. However, the step where most pool owners go wrong is determining how much sand has to go back into the filter tank. Pool sand can filter microns that are the size of 20 to 40 microns. If your filter is not that model, then I would need to know the model number. In order for your sand filter to run properly, it must be regularly cleaned and maintained. In this video, we take a look at what kind of sand you should use... How Much Sand Does My Swimming Pool Filter Need? I have never had a problem until today. Do you have a solution besides a new filter? You have to disassemble the filter before you can replace any internal parts that may be broken, and when you do that, you should replace the sand. The reason is simple: TFPC (Trouble Free Pool Care) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase. Top-mount pool sand filters contain an extra deep sand bed for improved filtration. What could be the problem? If not, you can use the make and model listed on the tank to search for the manual online. It is extremely important to use the correct amount of sand. One should always consult with their pool filters owner’s manual for exact sand requirements. Most visitors online was 3404 , on Jan 24 2020. For this reason check your filter manufacturer’s specs. Pool sand is usually changed every three to five years. Left unaddressed it will cause other problems as well, and those problems could have minor or major impact. I do have another intake but the valve opens one or the other or closes both. JavaScript is disabled. The filter is designed for a specific amount of sand in the tank (in order to get the proper flow rate, filtration, etc.) How Much Sand Does My Pool Filter Need? How much sand goes into my crystal flo t180wf. Don’t worry, it’s not uncommon! 5 96 oz jugs of 6% probably won't get your chlorine to shock level even once, depending on your CYA level, and you would probably go through 20 or so jugs of that size in a day to stay at shock level with a green pool. When rating in terms of performance, DE filter is the best, followed closely by sand and cartridge filters in that order. Over time, the sand wears down and becomes smoother, and the filter loses efficiency. As you can see from our chart above it will take care of most suspended solids in the pool water. Try a sand filter helper and check the chlorine, pH, alkalinity and calcium levels. This depends on the size of your sand filter in relation to the pool, but somewhere between 2-7 years. Generally speaking, the slower the water moves through the swimming pool filter the better the quality of filtration, particularly with sand or DE filters. In order to properly maintain your swimming pool filtration system and keep your pool clean, it is important to periodically change the sand in your pool filter. Typically filters hold sand in 50 lb. However, the step where most pool owners go wrong is determining how much sand has to go back into the filter tank. I have done nothing different from what I usually. In the example, you can see that the 26″ tank requires 350 lbs of sand. This means the filter will behave like a smaller filter, requiring more frequent backwashing and causing higher resistance to flow. With over 200,000 members, TFP is the largest and most influential pool & spa website on the Internet. The filter is only 1-3 years old. It is extremely important to use the correct amount of sand. thank you duraleigh.....but over the course of a month or so...I had used about 28 lbs of powder shock and in the past 2 days 5-96oz jugs of 6% bleach...it is just not killing it or filtering it out for some reason, I had used about 28 lbs of powder shock and in the past 2 days 5-96oz jugs of 6% bleach...it is just not killing it or filtering it out for some reason. This chart shows how much sand you'll need for your pool's sand filter model: MAKE MODEL PRODUCT # FILTER AREA SAND REQ. If for whatever reason you can’t locate your physical manual and the Internet gods aren’t being friendly, keep us in mind. Not to mention, replacing the sand in your pool filter is pretty straight-forward. Too little or too much sand can and will negatively affect the filter performance and potentially compromise your pool’s health. If nothing works, then change the sand in the filter. For all the pool knowledge you're looking for, check out Ask the Pool Guy HQ. It is being practiced by thousands of pool owners just like you. The key to longevity is the maintenance and … To help with the “how”, we recommend checking out our how-to video below on replacing the sand in a sand filter. So, now you might have an idea of how much sand goes in a pool filter. There are a few ways you can determine how much sand your filter requires. PEA GRAVEL PENTAIR TRITON II TR 40 140236 1.92 125 50 PENTAIR TRITON II TR 50 140249 2.46 175 50 PENTAIR TRITON II TR 60 140264 3.14 250 75 PENTAIR TRITON II TR 100 140210 4.91 450 150 PENTAIR TRI Looking for pool parts? Getting Clear Pool Water with a Sand Filter . Small sand filters of 16″, 18″ or 21″ diameter need to replace the sand more often, every 2-5 years, sooner if the pool is used heavily, or has sticky … How old is the unit? If you have too much sand, the sand bed will be above the point where the tank starts to taper. Many pool filters are undersized, which end up costing more money in the long run. Silica sand is the oldest of the filtering medias. If there is too little sand in, it will push back into the pool and you will have no filtration. You should put on a mask and gloves when handling it so that you will not inhale. Do you have any advice? RECOMMENDATION: There is a new better alternative sand replacement media for filter sand, it is called Z-Media and is a type of volcanic ash, sold under a brand names like Zeobest Zeobrite. You should be wary of adding it to your sand filter. If it’s been more than 3-4 years since you changed the pool filter sand – In most cases under normal use, I would highly recommend changing your sand out every 3-4 years. Pool filter sand is of the Silica variety, which is only second in hardness to diamond. Don't put too much or too little sand in. In my opinion, choosing a filter system is a big consideration when getting an above ground pool. Anyway, just curious if this would affect being able to filter out the green??? Replacing the sand in your swimming pool filter should be an easy task. In this video Andrew Donkin will be showing you just that. Over time, the sand will begin to break down and become saturated with debris, preventing it from filtering properly. I want to put in clean sand, but do not know how much to put into my 27300 XL series Millennium sand filter. If it was high enough, you could see sand making its way into the returns. Thanks JohnT....I do think the sand level is about at that point. Sand filters are compact, affordable, and effective mechanisms for keeping your swimming pool clean. Copyright © 2020 INYOpools All rights reserved. However, before beginning this journey, don’t forget to ask yourself the all-important question, “How much sand does my swimming pool filter need?” From our experience, this is one of the most overlooked steps in the process. Its blow-molded tank is corrosion- and UV-resistant with a bottom drain that’s ideal for winterizing and draining. I do know that we put in 250 lbs and I just saw in my "In the swim" mail/circular that a 18" sand filter is used for up to 16,800 gallon pool size...which leads me to believe mine is a 18" because it has 13,500 gallons.....Anyway, just curious if this would affect being able to filter out the green??? Too much sand would likely slow down the rate of water passing through the sand and increase the operating pressure on the filter, as well as cause sand to leave the filter when backwashing. Number 20 silica sand will filter down to 20 microns. The ‘how much sand does my filter need?’ question is always followed up with, a “How do I replace the sand?” question. Consequently, you'll need a supply of fresh pool sand. 7. If your filter is empty, I would fill the tank halfway with water before pouring in the sand. We just replaced the sand about a week ago and were told to put that much....we were not totally sure what size our filter was when at the pool store, purchasing the sand. Having too small of a pool filter pump motor will cause the pump to work harder and it won't be able to filter the dirt out of the swimming pool. TOO MUCH SAND IN TANK - If you have too much sand in your filter tank, your backwash and rinse cycles will not be as effective. Frankly, it’s a little difficult. You could potentially use up all 5 jugs of that bleach in an hour. It is the symptom of a problem – one that could be a minor or major fix. Wrong Size Pool Filter Pumps Having too big of a swimming pool sand filter may break up sand particles which may allow them to pass through the under drain or laterals. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Below is a screenshot of the manual for the Pentair Sand Dollar and Cristal-Flo II Sand Filters. This is Poolside Chat where every week we answer your questions on how to fix and maintain your swimming pool. It is usually sold in 50lb bags and can be found in any pool store. Where regular filter sand clean particles from your pool water down to 40 microns, this new media Cleans down to 4-8 microns . How much sand is needed in my sand filter? So, what happens if you can’t locate your manual? If the label is missing fill the tank to 150mm below the overdrain . If you need to add or replace sand in your pool filter, whether for the first time or as part of routine maintenance or pool start up, our helpful chart below will tell you exactly how much sand should be added. As a result, we wanted to create a single, more succinct list of sand requirements for the most popular sand filters. Sand filters typically come in different tank diameters, from 16” diameter to … To change the sand, first the filter and pump must be turned off and the water drained from the filter tank. Troubleshooting cloudy pool water requires several steps before determining that the sand filter sand is bad. I leave the pool off for a couple of hours until the filter settles. This is the type of sand your filter needs in order to properly clean your above ground pool. It will get into your pool if it is too much. You must log in or register to reply here. I backwashed and rinsed the filter. If it was high enough, you could see sand making its way into the returns. The pool store told me it was the bristles going bad on the vacuum head so I bought a new head but this one is getting stuck too. This means the filter will behave like a smaller filter, requiring more frequent backwashing and causing higher resistance to flow. If you have too much sand, the sand bed will be above the point where the tank starts to taper. High or Low Filter Pressure If you find yourself constantly dealing with tank pressure issues, it’s possible you’re dealing with a clog or improper sand levels. Adding water before the sand helps cushion the force hitting the laterals to help prevent cracks or breaking. Small amounts of sand in the pool could also be caused by a faulty backwash valve, which will need replaced, or by having too much sand in the tank, which can be removed. Which Filter Sand Should I Use? My Pool water Filter tank needs 30lb of sand Manufacturer Model. Send us a few pictures of your sand filter to UPLOAD@INYOPOOLS.COM and one of our technicians can take a look for you. If the pool water is hard, not used often, or your sand filter is not cleaning well, then this is the appropriate medium for you. After adding each bag of sand, reach in and level out the sand bed. I just vacuumed my pool really well and now the pool is full of SAND? The owner’s manual for your filter will contain all the information you need to replace your sand. Too little or too much sand can and will negatively affect the filter performance and potentially compromise your pool’s … This is the most common used medium pool owners use when owning a pool that has a sand filter. The roughness of filter sand makes it very efficient in filtering out dirt particles. Your email address will not be published. increments, so you can safely expect filters to range from 100, 150, 200, 250 lbs., etc. A quick, simple Google search has never hurt anyone, right? Too little sand and you will have cloudy water no matter how much your filter runs. Typically, you can find a part number on any part of the filter. A pool expert can help you remove oils and minerals once in a year to boost the performance of your sand filter. However, it isn’t impossible. Leave at least 6" of space between the top of the sand and the top of the filter tank. It will still filter. Every swimming pool needs a pool filter. Pool companies that unwittingly advice you that pool filter sand wears out and becomes rounded - is a half truth. The SFTM Top-Mount Pool Sand Filter directs water evenly across the entire surface of sand without sand migration or channeling. First, if you are one of the few pool owners who keep all of their manuals in one place and know exactly where to find them, lucky you. Step 3 If in the end you still can’t identify your filter, we can try and help. How can you determine how much sand you need if you can’t identify the make and model of your filter? Although sand pool filters last around five years, when there is too much water volume, you might need to replace it every couple of years. Do not invest in a big bag of DE. When you have a pool it's important to know how and when to change your pool filter sand. Click here to shop our store. Still, in many cases, you may need to open the filter and examine the internal parts. You might have too much sand in the filter. This will cushion sand and protect the laterals, when you put the new sand in. Without a functioning pool pump and filter, your water will inevitably turn green. One of the many benefits of owning a sand filter is that you only have to change the sand every five years or so. If there is too much sand in, the filter will not filter properly and it will seem as if there is a blockage in the system. If the swimming pool pump is too large for the swimming pool filter, it can make the pool filter work poorly or even worse and it can damage the swimming pool filter internals. Filter sand, or silica sand, is specially graded to trap very small particles. It can't. So how can it wear out. I use a diatomaceous earth. Excess air in your pool’s pump and filter is much more than just a nuisance. If the sand granules are too big, filtering efficiency is decreased; if the sand particles are too small, the filter will clog up quickly. Check the specifications provided by the filter manufacturer, then fill the tank with layers of coarse, medium, and fine gravel followed by the silica sand layer on top as directed. Hi John, sand in the pool can be either too much sand used, or not enough sand used, or the wrong kind of sand, or a bad batch of sand, or cracked laterals or standpipe. Using the charts below, you can find out how much sand you need for your specific make and model sand filter. Pool sand is also extremely safe, non-toxic and requires little work.