Thank you for this easy to follow video. I inherited an Intex when we bought our house, so videos like yours have really helped me keep up with maintenance.
Thank you for putting this up. I was able to do this myself except for when the hubby had to lift the sand bag to pour 😁 I didn't use the sand you used. I just replaced it and you made it a lot easier for me. thank you!
Thank you for sharing. This is helpful a lot ,since outdoor intex swimming pool under the big trees around make the water turn to green so easily and also murky from the daily particles in the air .
Buy or borrow a shop vac if you don’t have one already, buy the new sand or Zeolite, filter and rinse well before you go into filter mode with the new media, you’ve got this..
To clean lodged in sand on this spider looking thing.i removed ( them) from sand filter.then used a garden hose ( mine has good pressure)to get the lodged in sand particles out( good enough).but they are lodged in these 12 filter ( pods) so I recommend taking out and do a quick cleaning
Depends on how much you run your filter, the sand will become smooth over time and less effective at trapping particles in the water. If you feel like you are running the pump and filter enough and the water is not getting crystal clear you may need to replace the sand media. If it’s been more than 3 years, you are likely in the window of needing new sand media.
You still have the silica sand in the fingers which may give you a Problem with this finer zeolite. I took my fingers off cleaned each one and the pressure of the water sending out was like night and day but the gauge was still was still at about 8psi running smoothly. Quite a Difference.
I was annoyed to see all the sand in the fingers and didn't realize they could be removed until reading your comment. Took a while but was also very gratifying removing all the sand granules. Haha. Thanks.
Chris, Intex uses 40mm fittings that are non-standard. I have additional detail on how I adapt the Intex 40mm to standard PVC on my website here: www.abovegroundpooladvisor.com/pvc-plumbing-intex-pool-sand-filter/ Hope this helps.
Chris, I forgot, I also have this video that demostrates how I adapt the 40mm fitting on an Intex fountain to 1.5" PVC. This is essentially the same way I DIY'd the other unions between the 40mm Intex nut and standard PVC. ua-cam.com/video/nxiihYPpE9w/v-deo.html
Matt,great video, just wanted to get your opinion on my sand filter, it is an intex 16 inch 2800 GPH, it is 4 years old,i filled it with sand and it has been working perfect now for 4 years it has never been open to change sand or to be cleaned,after 4 years i am noticing a little sand in the pool,what do you think,have you ever experienced this before ??,other that that it is still working great,pressure gauge is normal and great flow back to the pool
Rick, you should not be getting sand in the pool. You are near that window when you might consider replacing the sand, and it would give you an opportunity to inspect the return pipe inside the filter and the “laterals” at the bottom of the pipe for any cracks. Good luck.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thanks Matt,you are absolutely correct it is time to change the sand,i have also herd that the laterals could be cracked,from looking at your video the laterals seem to have holes in them somewhat like a strainer so how would a crack affect its performance ? or the crack is in the return pipe ? that would make more sense ,can you shed some more light on this fore me ? Thanks Matt
@@05rickie The laterals should prevent the filter media (sand) from entering the return tube, while letting water through. I suppose it is possible too that the sand is worn and the grains are smaller and some are getting past.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thanks Matt,i will change the sand today and inspect the laterals and return pipe for damage and give it a good cleaning,i really appreciate your feedback,have a great day
OK Matt all done, changed sand gave it a good cleaning,inspected laterals and return pipe ,all seem to be OK ,all back together gave it a good backwash and rinse back on filter,only time will tell,Thanks for the help Matt.
Melissa, just be sure to rinse/backwash the new media for a good couple minutes (whether you go zeosand, or traditional filter sand) and then treat your water and get everything balanced. New media in the sand filter should make a noticeable difference if the old sand is old. good luck!
Terry, it's 1.5" PVC pipe and fittings adapted to the non-standard 40mm Intex fittings on the Sand Filter. i have a couple other videos that show connectors to bridge this, and some detail on my website: www.abovegroundpooladvisor.com/pvc-plumbing-intex-pool-sand-filter/ ua-cam.com/video/9SXXrldagsg/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/nxiihYPpE9w/v-deo.html Hope this helps.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thank you! I will do that I will say the sand in it is to the max level Will adding this water now after the fact make it be over that max level I may remove a bit then add it but wanted to ask you first? Thank you again for the response
@@mpzeppelin43 adding water may help the new sand settle in. Good luck, and don’t forget to rinse and backwash thoroughly before you begin to filter. Backwashing the new media helps purge smaller bits from the filter and prevent it from going straight into the pool.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY thanks again for all the help! I got it and it works great! I did have one more question: Whenever your not running the pump should the water valves also be turned off or should that always stay open with water going into the pump even when it’s off?
John, I wouldn’t as it’s heavy, but more importantly the lateral fingers at the bottom of the filter are fragile and if you are dumping heavy wet sand tipping it over, I fear they’d break off. it goes pretty quick with a shop vac!
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY thank you. I just did mine didnt have alot of sand in there.. unscrewed the laterals and cleaned them out... did the backwash pressure was LOW... low and behold 3 days later realized my hoses were hooked up wrong.. vacuumed ALOT of sand from the bottom. 😂😂live and learn
The cool part of tackling these things yourself (even though sometimes frustrating) is you learn and get a better understanding of how the system actually works! Cheers.
Just replaced the sand in my 100lb Intex filter...did not put water in before the sand (I realized after the first bag and then added water). Is that going to cause any problems?
Should be fine, just check the level of sand, water helps it settle. Be sure to run it on rinse or backwash for a bit before you go into filter mode. You want to flush out any small particles and not pump them into the pool.
Hi Matt! I'm doing my final course thesis about zeolites and I would like to know something: the flow rate of the filtration is the same no matter the material (sand or zeolites)? Did you have any efficiency loss during this process? Thank you for your video!
Fabiola, I wish I could be this scenntific! perhaps I could have measured watts used/hour before and after but I didn’t. I wanted to try something new to present an alternative to silica sand, and filtration has been very effective. Good luck on your thesis!
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thank you!! Have you noticed any evident change in the time required to filter your swimming pool or it seems to be almost the same (just your perception, don't worry about numbers)?
@@fabioladerossi8418 I am definitely running the filter less and getting good results, so I feel like there has been some noticeable efficiency gained. The zeolite is more porous (as you will certainly know) so there is much more surface area to catch particles in the water.
@@fabioladerossi8418 50 lb. bag, I do not know about size of the minerals... Can you address a question another person had about whether zeolite contains Erionite? Thanks!
David, it worked out well, I would recommend a good thorough rinse and backwash before you go into filter mode with the Zeosand. Some report finer dust getting through and being pumped into the pool. A thorough rinse and backwash solves this. This is season 2 of using it in my filter, I honestly don’t know if it will last as long as sand, but it is very effective and my water is clear.
I only have a 14 foot pool. Half of my water will be dumped out at 2+ minutes. I have well water and have to have the fire department come fill mine. Sand pumps sound like a bad option for such a small pool. Out in the country that is. Hopefully the cottonballs saves my pool and my water
Do you still fill the tank to the max level line with this type of sand? I keep reading that it take less. Is this just compared to the other sand or do you actually use less when filling tank? Does that make sense 🤔
This product is lighter and fluffier if that makes sense, so at half the weight it fills to about the same volume. Imagine a bag of cheese puffs and a bag the same size of sand. one is much lighter and more porous. Hope that helps. One tip if you do switch is to thoroughly rinse and backwash before going into regular filter mode.
Yes, you still need to chlorinate either with standard chemicals or you could explore a saltwater system to sanitize the water. The sand filter is just more effective and is typically paired with a pump capable of flowing more gallons of water.
I'm getting sand on the bottom of my pool. I checked the laterals and they are not broken. I used the Clorox filter sand and I only put in the filter the amount that is required. Any suggestions?
I have the same problem. It's a brand new intex sand pump. The same one in the video. I've only had it since July 3rd. And it has pumped so much sand in my pool. The first sand was the regular sand. I read it took only 20 silica. So I switched to zeosand and the same thing. It pumps it all into the pool every time I turn it off and back on it pumps sand in my pool. It'll do it a few seconds then stop. But it only runs 6 hrs then shuts off. So then more sand. I literally just dumped all the second round of sand out again. I've ordered the cotton balls. Hopefully that will work. Nothing looks or seems broken. I just can't figure it out. My sister had the same problem and dumped all the water and sold the pool and pump last year. I guess I should have listened to her before my $300+ purchase on this pump.
Cover it while putting new sand media into the filter tank (you do not want filter media getting into this), but uncover it before reattaching the valve assembly to the filter tank. Hope that helps, I'm not sure if I got your question right...
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY I've only used zerosand and it's time to replace, my dilemma is replace with zerosand or normal pool sand. In your personal opinion which do you like/prefer better? And Why?
@@pamelas3119 both are effective if your filter is in good condition, and the new media is rinsed/back flushed before operation. Maybe you look at the cost to replace?
Does anyone have any idea how much Erionite is in Zeolite? Reason I ask is that, as far as I know Erionite is naturally apart of Zeonite and is a class 1 Carcinogen as per IARC.
Heide, from what I understand Erionite belongs to a group of minerals that are classified as zeolite, but not all zeolite is or contains Erionite. Maybe @Fabiola Derossi can help us out here?
If you decide to use the Zeolite (Zeosand) just rinse and backwash it thoroughly before you go into filter mode. Same should be done for new sand media too.
Without seeing it, I’d first wonder Is the pump running? Is there air in the pump and filter, if so you need to purge all the air. Did you successfully backwash and rinse the new media? You’ll want to do this before sending water to the pool. Good luck.
This is one of those jobs that you only have to do every several years, and the laterals are fragile and wet sand is heavy. I’m glad you had success, but I’m happy to take a little more time removing the old filter sand.
What do you mean use cotton? Like inside the laterals? We are having the issue with the sand ending up in our pool. The laterals aren't broken and we are using the correct sand.
@@stephaniemullins1537 Yes, there are a lot of UA-cam videos on it, I found I get better filtration from cotton, and since I live in a cold climate and take my filter inside when I'm done with the pool, it's much lighter to move. ua-cam.com/video/M5WmGNpRoEg/v-deo.html
Bobby, obviously all the sand or in my case the new Zeolite media needs to be in, as I recall I moved the filter tank back into position at this point to reduce how much I’d need to move it when full of water due to the weight. Then I filled it mostly full so than once I had everything hooked up there would be a relatively minimal amount of air in the tank that the pump would have to push out. Hope that helps.
Thank you for this easy to follow video. I inherited an Intex when we bought our house, so videos like yours have really helped me keep up with maintenance.
Thank you for putting this up. I was able to do this myself except for when the hubby had to lift the sand bag to pour 😁 I didn't use the sand you used. I just replaced it and you made it a lot easier for me. thank you!
glad it helped!
Thank you for sharing. This is helpful a lot ,since outdoor intex swimming pool under the big trees around make the water turn to green so easily and also murky from the daily particles in the air .
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for all the information, honestly has being really helpful
Thanks for that. Was going to pay someone to do it. Seems pretty straightforward 👍
Buy or borrow a shop vac if you don’t have one already, buy the new sand or Zeolite, filter and rinse well before you go into filter mode with the new media, you’ve got this..
6:20 weird power tool noise. :) Thanks for information, opening a pool is a nightmare.. every year for me.
Haha!!
Clockwise to loosen the bolt that holds the clamp, CCW to tighten? What gives? Do you have a reverse thread nut and bolt?
To clean lodged in sand on this spider looking thing.i removed ( them) from sand filter.then used a garden hose ( mine has good pressure)to get the lodged in sand particles out( good enough).but they are lodged in these 12 filter ( pods) so I recommend taking out and do a quick cleaning
Great video!!! Thank you for posting. Any other pool tips, please share!!! :-)
there are a few more above ground pool related videos on my channel, glad this was helpful!
Great video, very easy to follow: thanks! It was a huge help!
Glad it helped!
thanks for this video. How do you know when the sand needs to be replaced?
Depends on how much you run your filter, the sand will become smooth over time and less effective at trapping particles in the water. If you feel like you are running the pump and filter enough and the water is not getting crystal clear you may need to replace the sand media. If it’s been more than 3 years, you are likely in the window of needing new sand media.
You still have the silica sand in the fingers which may give you a Problem with this finer zeolite. I took my fingers off cleaned each one and the pressure of the water sending out was like night and day but the gauge was still was still at about 8psi running smoothly. Quite a Difference.
I was annoyed to see all the sand in the fingers and didn't realize they could be removed until reading your comment. Took a while but was also very gratifying removing all the sand granules. Haha. Thanks.
Good work
Do you have a video of how you did the plumbing for this type of pool? I have researched that intex uses different type fittings
Chris,
Intex uses 40mm fittings that are non-standard. I have additional detail on how I adapt the Intex 40mm to standard PVC on my website here: www.abovegroundpooladvisor.com/pvc-plumbing-intex-pool-sand-filter/
Hope this helps.
Chris,
I forgot, I also have this video that demostrates how I adapt the 40mm fitting on an Intex fountain to 1.5" PVC. This is essentially the same way I DIY'd the other unions between the 40mm Intex nut and standard PVC. ua-cam.com/video/nxiihYPpE9w/v-deo.html
Where did you get the stuff to wrap around it
Matt,great video, just wanted to get your opinion on my sand filter, it is an intex 16 inch 2800 GPH, it is 4 years old,i filled it with sand and it has been working perfect now for 4 years it has never been open to change sand or to be cleaned,after 4 years i am noticing a little sand in the pool,what do you think,have you ever experienced this before ??,other that that it is still working great,pressure gauge is normal and great flow back to the pool
Rick, you should not be getting sand in the pool. You are near that window when you might consider replacing the sand, and it would give you an opportunity to inspect the return pipe inside the filter and the “laterals” at the bottom of the pipe for any cracks. Good luck.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thanks Matt,you are absolutely correct it is time to change the sand,i have also herd that the laterals could be cracked,from looking at your video the laterals seem to have holes in them somewhat like a strainer so how would a crack affect its performance ? or the crack is in the return pipe ? that would make more sense ,can you shed some more light on this fore me ? Thanks Matt
@@05rickie The laterals should prevent the filter media (sand) from entering the return tube, while letting water through. I suppose it is possible too that the sand is worn and the grains are smaller and some are getting past.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thanks Matt,i will change the sand today and inspect the laterals and return pipe for damage and give it a good cleaning,i really appreciate your feedback,have a great day
OK Matt all done, changed sand gave it a good cleaning,inspected laterals and return pipe ,all seem to be OK ,all back together gave it a good backwash and rinse back on filter,only time will tell,Thanks for the help Matt.
I am going to attempt this prior to opening my pool this season. Once I am done do I then proceed with usual opening?
Melissa, just be sure to rinse/backwash the new media for a good couple minutes (whether you go zeosand, or traditional filter sand) and then treat your water and get everything balanced. New media in the sand filter should make a noticeable difference if the old sand is old. good luck!
Would I be asking to much to ask for the for material sizes you used to hard pipe your setup
Terry, it's 1.5" PVC pipe and fittings adapted to the non-standard 40mm Intex fittings on the Sand Filter. i have a couple other videos that show connectors to bridge this, and some detail on my website:
www.abovegroundpooladvisor.com/pvc-plumbing-intex-pool-sand-filter/
ua-cam.com/video/9SXXrldagsg/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/nxiihYPpE9w/v-deo.html
Hope this helps.
Matt's Garage & Misc. DIY Thanks
I added the sand in and didn’t know to add water, should I dump that out and add water first or can I just add water now? Thank you I’m advance
Add some water now and see that your level (of sand is good) before you seal it up and connect to plumbing.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY
Thank you!
I will do that
I will say the sand in it is to the max level
Will adding this water now after the fact make it be over that max level
I may remove a bit then add it but wanted to ask you first?
Thank you again for the response
@@mpzeppelin43 adding water may help the new sand settle in. Good luck, and don’t forget to rinse and backwash thoroughly before you begin to filter. Backwashing the new media helps purge smaller bits from the filter and prevent it from going straight into the pool.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY yes I read that
I’ll be watching plenty of videos
This is all new to me
We just got a intex 22x52
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY thanks again for all the help!
I got it and it works great!
I did have one more question:
Whenever your not running the pump should the water valves also be turned off or should that always stay open with water going into the pump even when it’s off?
Can you flip the filter over to dump the sand out then rinse it off with a hose?
John, I wouldn’t as it’s heavy, but more importantly the lateral fingers at the bottom of the filter are fragile and if you are dumping heavy wet sand tipping it over, I fear they’d break off. it goes pretty quick with a shop vac!
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY thank you. I just did mine didnt have alot of sand in there.. unscrewed the laterals and cleaned them out... did the backwash pressure was LOW... low and behold 3 days later realized my hoses were hooked up wrong.. vacuumed ALOT of sand from the bottom. 😂😂live and learn
The cool part of tackling these things yourself (even though sometimes frustrating) is you learn and get a better understanding of how the system actually works! Cheers.
Just replaced the sand in my 100lb Intex filter...did not put water in before the sand (I realized after the first bag and then added water). Is that going to cause any problems?
Should be fine, just check the level of sand, water helps it settle. Be sure to run it on rinse or backwash for a bit before you go into filter mode. You want to flush out any small particles and not pump them into the pool.
Thank you so much! That was 100% on point ✌
Hi Matt! I'm doing my final course thesis about zeolites and I would like to know something: the flow rate of the filtration is the same no matter the material (sand or zeolites)? Did you have any efficiency loss during this process? Thank you for your video!
Fabiola, I wish I could be this scenntific! perhaps I could have measured watts used/hour before and after but I didn’t. I wanted to try something new to present an alternative to silica sand, and filtration has been very effective. Good luck on your thesis!
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thank you!! Have you noticed any evident change in the time required to filter your swimming pool or it seems to be almost the same (just your perception, don't worry about numbers)?
@@fabioladerossi8418 I am definitely running the filter less and getting good results, so I feel like there has been some noticeable efficiency gained. The zeolite is more porous (as you will certainly know) so there is much more surface area to catch particles in the water.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY , could you tell me what was the zeolite size used?
@@fabioladerossi8418 50 lb. bag, I do not know about size of the minerals... Can you address a question another person had about whether zeolite contains Erionite? Thanks!
Do you have to release some air in the sand filter tank before unscrewing the bottom screw to drain the water?
I didn’t, but it will drain better once the input and output plumbing is disconnected up top.
Thinking about switching over to this. How well did it work for you?
David, it worked out well, I would recommend a good thorough rinse and backwash before you go into filter mode with the Zeosand. Some report finer dust getting through and being pumped into the pool. A thorough rinse and backwash solves this. This is season 2 of using it in my filter, I honestly don’t know if it will last as long as sand, but it is very effective and my water is clear.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY Thanks, ordering mine now..
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY How long you back wash for?
@@alienkawala8287 I didn't time it, but probably around 2+ minutes.
I only have a 14 foot pool. Half of my water will be dumped out at 2+ minutes. I have well water and have to have the fire department come fill mine. Sand pumps sound like a bad option for such a small pool. Out in the country that is. Hopefully the cottonballs saves my pool and my water
What is the size of the drainage hole?
I keep seeing that it is recommended to use Pea gravel first to fill the fingers then the zeosand. Is anyone else doing that? thanks
Do you still fill the tank to the max level line with this type of sand? I keep reading that it take less. Is this just compared to the other sand or do you actually use less when filling tank? Does that make sense 🤔
This product is lighter and fluffier if that makes sense, so at half the weight it fills to about the same volume. Imagine a bag of cheese puffs and a bag the same size of sand. one is much lighter and more porous. Hope that helps.
One tip if you do switch is to thoroughly rinse and backwash before going into regular filter mode.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY s
This is my question also, my filter takes 50 lbs, I have 2 25 lb bags just in case, but it does not fill up to “minimum” line. Should I add more?
Meaning 1/2 the sand, 25 lbs does not fill to minimum
Do you still need chlorine after changing to a sand filter?
Yes, you still need to chlorinate either with standard chemicals or you could explore a saltwater system to sanitize the water. The sand filter is just more effective and is typically paired with a pump capable of flowing more gallons of water.
Geez! Mine only comes with a pressure gauge on the filter itself and another on off handle. No back wash handle like yours
Is this considered a wet vac or dry vac?
Both. In this case the sand can be pretty wet, so a typical vacuum does not do the job.
I'm getting sand on the bottom of my pool. I checked the laterals and they are not broken. I used the Clorox filter sand and I only put in the filter the amount that is required. Any suggestions?
Try running the filter on Rinse, then Backwash more thoroughly, this will hopefully clear out any smaller particles that are getting through.
I have the same problem. It's a brand new intex sand pump. The same one in the video. I've only had it since July 3rd. And it has pumped so much sand in my pool. The first sand was the regular sand. I read it took only 20 silica. So I switched to zeosand and the same thing. It pumps it all into the pool every time I turn it off and back on it pumps sand in my pool. It'll do it a few seconds then stop. But it only runs 6 hrs then shuts off. So then more sand. I literally just dumped all the second round of sand out again. I've ordered the cotton balls. Hopefully that will work. Nothing looks or seems broken. I just can't figure it out. My sister had the same problem and dumped all the water and sold the pool and pump last year. I guess I should have listened to her before my $300+ purchase on this pump.
What do you do of the white pipe is connected to the top?
Cover it while putting new sand media into the filter tank (you do not want filter media getting into this), but uncover it before reattaching the valve assembly to the filter tank. Hope that helps, I'm not sure if I got your question right...
How do you like that zeosand these months of use?
All good, had it since late in the pool season last year. Seems to filter very well.
@@MattsGarageMiscDIY I've only used zerosand and it's time to replace, my dilemma is replace with zerosand or normal pool sand. In your personal opinion which do you like/prefer better? And Why?
@@pamelas3119 both are effective if your filter is in good condition, and the new media is rinsed/back flushed before operation. Maybe you look at the cost to replace?
Does anyone have any idea how much Erionite is in Zeolite? Reason I ask is that, as far as I know Erionite is naturally apart of Zeonite and is a class 1 Carcinogen as per IARC.
Heide, from what I understand Erionite belongs to a group of minerals that are classified as zeolite, but not all zeolite is or contains Erionite. Maybe @Fabiola Derossi can help us out here?
I did it without a vac took me 20 mins to change everything
Hi
Your pool never got green ive read so many reviews in that??
If you decide to use the Zeolite (Zeosand) just rinse and backwash it thoroughly before you go into filter mode. Same should be done for new sand media too.
I haven't seen a single video in which filter blades are changed.
As long as they are not cracked they do not need to be replaced.
After I changed the sand and reconnected the hoses, there was no water going back into the pool. What did I do wrong??
Without seeing it, I’d first wonder Is the pump running? Is there air in the pump and filter, if so you need to purge all the air. Did you successfully backwash and rinse the new media? You’ll want to do this before sending water to the pool. Good luck.
Matt's Garage & Misc. DIY I did not backwash I will try that. Thank you for your response
With everything disconnected I just tip mine over, rake most sand out by hand and then use water hose. Takes 10 min bro.
This is one of those jobs that you only have to do every several years, and the laterals are fragile and wet sand is heavy. I’m glad you had success, but I’m happy to take a little more time removing the old filter sand.
Don't waste your money on sand, use cotton balls, much better filtration and cheaper.
What do you mean use cotton? Like inside the laterals? We are having the issue with the sand ending up in our pool. The laterals aren't broken and we are using the correct sand.
@@stephaniemullins1537 www.walmart.com/search/?query=cotton%20balls%20for%20pool%20filters
@@aberd1144 so do you put the cotton balls where the sand goes?
@@stephaniemullins1537 Yes, there are a lot of UA-cam videos on it, I found I get better filtration from cotton, and since I live in a cold climate and take my filter inside when I'm done with the pool, it's much lighter to move.
ua-cam.com/video/M5WmGNpRoEg/v-deo.html
How full do you fill the tank before you put it back together
Bobby, obviously all the sand or in my case the new Zeolite media needs to be in, as I recall I moved the filter tank back into position at this point to reduce how much I’d need to move it when full of water due to the weight. Then I filled it mostly full so than once I had everything hooked up there would be a relatively minimal amount of air in the tank that the pump would have to push out. Hope that helps.
I haven't seen a single video in which filter blades are changed.