Glass Media for Pool Filter vs. Sand Filters
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What if we told you there is a way to never change the glass media in your sand filter again? Well, we know a way! Dive in with us as we take a closer look at pool filter media and compare regular sand filter media to glass and the pros and cons for each.
Sand Filter Media
We will get into the way glass media works further into our discussion, for now we&#;ll begin with sand. For starters, sand will filter particles down to approximately 30 microns. Another nice aspect of sand is the physical size and make up; filters require less sand than glass-based media because glass media is a more condensed, finer material. To build on that, you'll need less sand and end up spending less money up front to fill your pool filter's required needs. However, you will need to replace the sand every 2-5 years depending on use, pollutants, and overall quality of media.
Every sand filter will need a different amount of media so be sure to follow the Manufacturer's requirements listed in your owners manual for maximum efficiency. With that being said, both media work in different but similar ways. Sand causes pollutants and particles to collide and become waste to be expelled from your filter later with a maintenance backwash.
So, sand is the cheaper option to get the job done, right? Let us talk about glass media first and THEN you can decide!
Glass Filter Media
Initially, glass pool filter media was entirely made of recycled glass or unwanted bottles with more researched options evolving over time. Glass media is just that, a filter media made from silica or very fine particles of glass. So fine in fact, glass will filter as low as 10-15 microns with ease. Like we explained earlier, density and volume play a huge role in filtering soluble liquids. Because glass is not as dense as sand, it allows for smaller microns to be filtered, even performing as efficiently as a Diatomaceous Earth filter. The media also lasts eight years or more!! Some glass media users have reported never needing to replace the glass at all which is another huge advantage of having a glass-based media.
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The glass media that does need to be &#;replaced&#; is actually cleaned, and then additional glass is simply added to the existing glass. We mentioned previously that sand attracts dirt, pollutants, and undesirable particles by becoming stuck to them. Glass works the same way except it is negatively charged which causes the pollutants to become attracted and stuck before being released on backwash. Because of the efficiency of this filter style less water is expelled and wasted from the filter which actually leads to lower run time, less water wasted and less of a bill overall. Add in the fact you will not need to shovel out $200 or more dollars every 2-5 years for sand while having to literally shovel sand and we would say glass pays for itself!
How to Add Glass Media to a Pentair TR100 Sand Filter
Check out the video below to see how the glass is added to a filter:
With the information found in this guide, you'll be able to better understand your sand filter and make an educated decision to help extend the life of your filter for years to come! If you have any questions regarding the information found in this blog feel free to reach out to us directly. Our team of Pool Professionals is here to help you through every step of the process. Otherwise, just keep swimming!
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Is glass better than silica sand for pool filtration? Should you replace the sand in your filter with glass media? These are both great examples of questions that you could, and should, ask a local pool and spa professional. They can provide you with information that is specific to your pool which is invaluable given the host of variables involved with answering technical questions about swimming pools. I can only provide you with general information in this swimming pool blog because I don't know where you are, the conditions of your pool or even your desired outcome here with changing your filter sand over to glass media.
If you just want better filtered water than you can get with sand filters then my conventional approach would be to tell you to upgrade to a better filter. Sand filters are, and have always been, the most low cost approach to adequate swimming pool filtration. There are other, more premiere styles of pool filters which are undoubtedly an advantage when you are considering flow efficiency, particulate removal size, maximum design flow rate...even with glass media a sand filter will fail to meet any of these three considerations to the extent that a more expensive cartridge filter can. D.E. filters remove even finer particulate than cartridge filters, but that is a conversation for another day. For now let's stay on topic about sand filters with glass media versus sand media and their comparison to more expensive pool filters.
Sand filters versus cartridge filters - Before we can proceed to the direct sand versus glass conversation we need to put this comparison issue to bed between sand filters and cartridge filters. Cartridge filters cost a lot more money than sand filters and they work a lot better as well. If you put glass media in your sand filter is will still be less flow efficient than a cartridge filter, and it will have a maximum design flow rate much lower than a cartridge filter. So really, the only reason that a cartridge filter is not better is due to the cost difference between them. This, and certain environmental concerns like dust, sand and pollen which can all potentially make cartridge filters less viable because they would need weekly cleaning at certain times of year. In my area I can run a cartridge filter, suitably sized to the pool, for 6 months continuously between cleanings, so it is possible to have almost no maintenance for cartridge filter systems. However, if your area gets a lot of physical debris, pollen, dust or sand then it is possible that a sand filter is in fact a better option for you. This is the kind of insight that a local pool professional can provide because they know your area specifically. In cases where there are no external concerns for unusual debris loading in the pool, cartridge filters move water more efficiently than sand filters, remove filter particulate than sand filters, and have a higher maximum design flow rate (substantially) than similarly sized sand filter units regardless of which media is being used, sand, glass or filter balls.
Pool owners LOVE glass media - I have to mention right now that I am aware of how vocal advocates of glass media filters are. I am happy to concede with you that glass media is in fact superior to silica sand, commonly #20 graded silica sand in pool filters, and if you were to choose a sand filter for your swimming pool I would agree that it is a good idea to upgrade to glass media versus old, reliable filter sand. It does remove much finer particulate than sand does, as good or better even than a cartridge filter, which is amazing. The downside is that the glass is still being used in a sand filter, which is an inefficient design with the multiport valve on top providing a great deal of limitation in terms of resistance to flow, lower maximum designed flow rate, and also a point of failure with the spoke gasket in the multiport valve. These are all still features of a budget pool filter no matter how great glass media is. It can never be as good as a cartridge filter is because a cartridge filter is a superior design. But when you have a budget you need to stick to, and you do not mind the maintenance cycle of backwashing your sand filter every week or two, then it would absolutely be an advantage to upgrade to glass media instead of sand. Let's look at why:
Glass media lasts up to three times longer than sand media
Filters down to as small as 5 micron particulate (sand is 30 to 60 microns!)
Less biofilm formation on the filter media with glass versus sand
Requires less frequent backwashing and backwashing takes less time (less wasted water)
Usually less glass media is required than sand, by weight
So if you need a budget pool filter then a sand filter with glass media is probably your best option overall. Even if you have a larger budget for a cartridge filter you can still make an argument that a suitably large sand filter with glass media may still be a better option for some pools where optimal flow efficiency or maximum flow rates are not a top priority. There are situational advantages to sand filters and there is a reason they continue to be so popular after 50+ years of existing essentially as-is. Other than the fact that filter tanks used to be made from nearly indestructible stainless steel. Unless you are old like me you will not remember these and you will know sand filters to be resin tanks that last 10 years or so. Maybe 20.I hope that glass media filter owners and I can still be friends. I do actually like glass media, but I am just a huge proponent of large, high capacity multi-element cartridge filters. I think those are the best pool filters that money can buy. But so many pool owners just want a "good" filter and do not care there is a potentially better option out there for three times more money. For those pool owners I endorse sand filters with glass media.Here is a detailed pool filter review for sand filters and cartridge filters Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool and spa specialist from Ontario Canada . With over 10,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel , winner of the Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook Twitter and YouTube The following links and products are to affiliates of the Swimming Pool Steve website. These are brands, products and services hand selected by Steve for endorsement. Please note that these endorsements can include monetary compensation, affiliate links and referral fees to Swimming Pool Steve, however there is zero additional cost to you should you use one of these products or services. Income generated from these links helps to keep this pool and spa resource available for everyone. To have your product or service considered for listing here as an endorsed brand Disclosure Statement - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Clear Comfort's patented hydroxyl-based advanced oxidation systems (AOP) represent the pinnacle of water care technology available to pool and spa owners. To put a complex technology simply, if you are looking for the best possible water care system for your pool or spa then you are looking for a Clear Comfort AOP system.New Black + Decker variable speed pumps are available online from www.PoolPartsToGo.com and they are a drop in replacement for many popular pump models including Pentair Superflo and Hayward Super Pumps. With an adjustable platform base, union connections included and a very strong warranty these pumps offer an impressive value to pool owners.Pool Supply Warehouse has a large stock of swimming pool equipment, chemicals, maintenance items and consumables needed for caring for your swimming pool. They offer fast shipping and by shopping with this retailer you are helping to support Swimming Pool Steve directly.When it comes to ordering pool and spa supplies online in Canada www.PoolSuppliesCanada.ca is by far the best option. They carry everything from chemicals to replacement pumps to entire pool kits, with free shipping options and more "in stock" items than any other Canadian online retailer.
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