Filter Mediums
The filter medium is the part of the system that actually removes foreign bodies from the pool water. The better the performance of the filter, the less chemicals will be needed to maintain the water quality. In traditional filters, this filter medium is sand. The sand is washed and graded, when the water passes through the filter, the particles of dirt etc are caught in the spaces between the grains of sand.
There are alternatives to sand
Sand works very well, but there are some alternatives to it, such as Zeolite and Crushed glass.
Zeolite - The advantage of this filter medium is that it filters out particles down to 2 or 3 microns, where as sand can only go as low as 15 microns. The more debris that can be filtered out the better, this will in turn reduce the amount of chemicals that are needed, making the pool a more pleasant place to be.
Zeolite based mediums are also far longer lasting than sand, reducing maintenance costs, not only through less sand changes, but because the equipment is not subjected to as much punishment from the corrosive chemicals in the water.There are certain draw backs with Zeolite based mediums - Zeolite is made from volcanic rock and it is not completly inert and may react with hard water.
Crushed Glass - Crushed glass has been used as a filter medium since the 1800´s, but only started to be used in swimming pools in the mid 1990´s. The glass is crushed down to a the appearance of sugar. Its almost totally inert and will filter down to 2 microns, being inert means it will not react in any way with swimming pool chemicals. The other advantage of the crushed glass filtration is that the whole of the filter is operational, rather than just the top few inches, as in a traditional filter. This means less backwashing of the swimming pool filter, less wastage of chemicals and lower water consumption.
The problem with these alternative filter medias, is the high initial cost of replacing the cheap sand, however, in the longer term maintenace costs are greatly reduced and the swimmers have a far higher standard of water quality.
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Fibre glass inground pools are prefabricated and then installed as a whole unit. They have several advantages over the more traditional construction methods.
- Fibreglass pool instalations are normally a little cheaper
- Fibreglass pools are installed very quickly, typically 3 days from start to finish
- They are easier to clean than concrete tiled pools
- Fibre glass inground pools maintain heat better than concrete
- Some are guaranteed for up to 25 years
- Fibre glass pools are fabricated off site, which means that in some territories, such as Spain, it is possible to install one with a reformation license, rather than having to appy for planning permission.
- There smooth nature means that less chemicals and maintenance are needed.
- More interesting designs and colours available.
It used to be thought that fibre glass inground pools looked cheap, and were a poor cousin to the traditional pool. This attitude appears to be changing and the manufacturers are responding by bringing out better and more interesting finishes, rather than the traditional plain blue.
Fibreglass inground pools have been critised for their durablity, often the colour fades on plain blue pools, leaving them almost white. This is easily rectified, but needs the skill of a fibre glass specialist. Other finishes are not as easily effected by this.
Never ever paint a fibre glass pool. The paint will not stick.