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Using Glass Media In "sand Filters"


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I was interested in upgrading my pool package from a Sand Filter to Cartridge, and my pool contractor suggested another option to be adding glass media to a Sand filter. While I would still need to backwash the filter, it would be effective down to 2-3 microns.

I haven't been able to find too much information on this type of setup, anyone have any experience with this, or suggestions ?

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Glass is manufactured silica (usually made from recycled glass, in other words, glass that has been thrown away). Sand is natural silica. . Either way you are basically using sand and neither will filter down to 3 microns. Water takes the path of least resistance and therefore will flow around the grains and there is no way they can be packed so close to only allow a 3 micron space between the grains without creating very high backpressure. Sand grains have irregular surfaces and facets so they can trap small particles and as they wear and erode over time from the water flowing around the grains their filtering ability acutally decreases. Manufactured sand (glass) is smoother and more rounded from the outset so it is not possible for it to filter better than sand. It would filter more like very old sand.

The company that is one of the main suppliers of glass filter medium is ECOsmarte who sell snake oil water 'sanitation' systems with bogus claims and high price tags and now they are doing the same with their glass filter medium (which was originally a part of their copper/silver "choroine free" ionization system) to reach a wider market.

My suggestion is to RUN and not walk away from this!

As far as carts go, they will filter better than sand but not as well as DE. However, they maintenance is very different. If you are primarily sanitizing with trichlor I would not recommend a cart or a bump type DE filter since the backwashing is one of the things helping to keep your stabilizer levels in check. If you are using liquid chlorine or a SWCG then a cart will help simplify your water maintenance since chemical levels will stay more stable since there is no dilution from backwashing. One caveat with a cart is you want to make sure it is oversized or you will be cleaning it weekly.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Yes, glass has been used for water filtration for some time. However, all the unbiased research I have seen doe not show any advantages over sand. Zeolite is another medium used in sand filters that, in pool applications, does not improve over sand and does not live up the the claims made for it.

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  • 11 months later...

I like how people can post anything these days with no knowledge of what they are talking about and misdirecting people.

my name is Joe Cantin and i have worked in the pool and spa industry for twenty years with The Company ECOsmarte

First of all ECOsmarte is the largest manufacture of chlorine free pool systems in the world we have over three hundred dealers world wide and are a global company.

Filtration Facts: There are three types of filters for swimming pools

DE>diatomaceous earth filters: the DE filter is the best filtration at 2 -5 micron they can have large pads in a canister and you add the DE powder that sticks to the pads and the water is filtered throught that. the downfall is the DE can clog and you may have to break them down and clean them from time to time

Cartridge Filter: the Cartridge filter is around 40 micron and is fine for the chlorine pool and is the favorite for a lot of pool guys. again you have to clean them when needed and guess what you get to buy more filters from the pool store every couple years \

The Sand Filter: The sand filter is around 50 to 100 micron and is the easiest to take care of and is the choose of most commercial pools the water filter throught the sand and you just backwash when needed. to improve the filtration on the sand filter we have provided altenatives to sand ,.

Sand Filter Alternatives: Zeosand Zeosand and other Zeo products are ok ECOsmarte was one of the first companies to bring the

Zeo products to market and we used them for many years but it had problems. first of all the Zeo products are very dirty they have a silica dust and when you load them they are dangerous (make sure you wear a mask) 2. they are a porous media allowing algae and other things to grow and finally after time it will break down and that is when we started looking for alternatives.

Glass Media: ECOsmarte has brought this to the swimming pool market and had great success you can read up on Glass Pack Media

at <advertising link removed per board rules> or call us at <advertising phone number removed per board rules> never take advise from anyone that will not give out their name and what company they work for

I am sorry for a short reply but it is close to 7pm and i am heading home i hope this post helped you :rolleyes:

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  • 2 months later...

Hopefully as a follow up...similar question, my pool guy wants to use "glass pak" sand for my Waterco ExoTuf T-600 24" sand filter. Is this "glass pak" stuff the same stuff you told the OP to RUN FROM ? Even though above EcoSmarte seems to be saying it is the holy grail ? Don't want to start a war, just trying to understand.

Should I insist on just regular old pool sand ?

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  • 3 weeks later...

Waterbear, I was searching for information for a client and came across this string. I have to admit that your post illustrates everything that is wrong in our industry. It is clear that you have a negative perspective on EcoSmarte and their products. The pool/spa industry is full of installers that lack the objectivity to realize that every product has its place with reference to application, price point, and owner's perception. Clients rely on we, pool/spa professionals to give the options of what is available based on the customer's price point and the product's capabilities. Your explanation of the micron differentials was correct, yet using the phrase "snake oil" in your further description was quite unprofessional. It is an injustice to the posters of this forum not to retain your objectivity when providing them with the most accurate information you have available to allow them to make the most educated decision possible.

I apologize if my assessment of your post seems crass. My business uses EcoSmarte products though not exclusively, and I believe that their products have a place in our industry. Every product has its place. We have to be professional enough to know when/where those products are best applied.

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A company that uses pseudoscience to sell it's products is what is wrong with our industry. Facts stand on their own. Ecosmarte has tried in the past to post their pseudoscience and their 'salt is bad' mantra in a different forum a few years back but did not stand up to the scrutiny they received. The person back then was named Wendy from Ecosmarte.I Hope there is no repeat of that here. I am sure the dealers love them because of the profit margins but it is the end user that is hurt in the long run.

How amazing that two brand new posters want to call me on the carpet when they have no knowledge of what I know and have probably not read anything in the forum except for the key words they are searching for. I also find it very interesting that they are resurrecting a threat that has not had any action since march of 2012.

Sad, isn't it?

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Well Old-Timer, I can see you didn't quite get the message I was trying to convey. You can have your big fish/small pond forum; I can see there is no objectivity left in ur ole'bones. You get the inkling to reread my post and understand where I was coming from, I'm sure we would have a lot in common and much to share.

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I get the message and I stand by what I said. There is much wrong with this industry and it is the end user that suffers because of it. Present me with facts and science and I will be very objective. Present pseudoscience that just does not stand up under scrutiny, well, you get the picture.Copper is NOT an EPA approved sanitizer (and it totally ineffective against many fecal bacteria) and last time I checked Ecosmarte was still a copper ionizer unit.

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This post I wrote contains comparative kill times for chlorine vs. copper and silver with extensive references and explanations as to why copper does not kill fecal bacteria at the concentrations used in swimming pools.

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  • 2 months later...

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