Glass filter media

Any service professionals have experience with Vitro glass filter media for sand filters? I have run into this at Myrtle Beach, SC and was wondering how effective the product was. I was told by a service company that the price-point is higher but is very effective in filtration. Also, no need to change the media as often as sand which justifies the higher price. The company states that it is manufactured of recycled, crushed glass. "Vitro provides an amazing improvement in water clarity over sand. Use of Vitro lowers your consumption of chlorine and other sanitizers because it cleans the water so well. Begin using Vitro in your sand filter and realize these amazing benefits."  Any input?

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  • How accurate are the claims on increased filtering ability over traditional sand? 

     

    That I don't know.  In theory, the small pores in zeolite should trap finer particles, but the gaps between particles of zeolite sand are still large so behave more like regular sand in that regard.  So the effectiveness depends on how well fine particles get into the pore openings and trapped vs. get around them.  It also depends on how quickly such pores get filled up and how easily they are cleaned from a backwashing.  I've heard mixed results on forums, but generally the filtration ability producing good water clarity is something most people say they see.  The main problems seem to be with sand getting into the pool with some systems.

     

    As far as NSF standards are concerned, zeolite is tested like sand.  They do not run them through the more stringent DE tests.  It would be good to try out the zeolite with a more difficult turbidity/particle test than that for sand, but something not quite as challenging as that used for DE.  Such a test might also be reasonable for cartridge filters and for enhancers such as fiber clear.

  • Thanks for the great clarification on this this Richard.

    Richard A. Falk said:

    James D. Roberts said:

    Also, in the case of Zeolite, for about 2 years,  there is the ammonia reduction properties for an added bonus.

     

    The ammonia reduction touted by zeolite filter media manufacturers is irrelevant unless you let the chlorine level in the pool go to zero.  The reason is that if there is any chlorine in the pool at all, it will very quickly combine with ammonia to form monochloramine in seconds long before any ammonia ever gets to the filter.  The filter will not remove monochloramine and the equilibrium between monochloramine and a very tiny amount of ammonia is too slow.  I figured this out from the chemistry, but this was also proven to be true in tests at NSF where there was no monochloramine reduction seen with zeolite.

     

    I asked almost all of the zeolite manufacturers to stop making the "no ammonia, no chloramines" claims years ago since they are misleading (technically true, but irrelevant due to what I wrote above), but most still make such claims.  I'll wait until NSF gets further along with their chloramine reduction test standards before going after this again (such standards will be useful for technology such as UV or ozone that actually reduces chloramines).

  • Richard,

     

    Thank you for the ammonia information.  How accurate are the claims on increased filtering ability over traditional sand? 

     

  • James D. Roberts said:

    Also, in the case of Zeolite, for about 2 years,  there is the ammonia reduction properties for an added bonus.

     

    The ammonia reduction touted by zeolite filter media manufacturers is irrelevant unless you let the chlorine level in the pool go to zero.  The reason is that if there is any chlorine in the pool at all, it will very quickly combine with ammonia to form monochloramine in seconds long before any ammonia ever gets to the filter.  The filter will not remove monochloramine and the equilibrium between monochloramine and a very tiny amount of ammonia is too slow.  I figured this out from the chemistry, but this was also proven to be true in tests at NSF where there was no monochloramine reduction seen with zeolite.

     

    I asked almost all of the zeolite manufacturers to stop making the "no ammonia, no chloramines" claims years ago since they are misleading (technically true, but irrelevant due to what I wrote above), but most still make such claims.  I'll wait until NSF gets further along with their chloramine reduction test standards before going after this again (such standards will be useful for technology such as UV or ozone that actually reduces chloramines).

  • Don,

    I couldn't give a hard and fast rule.  But I have guys with glass over 7 years old and no issues on some pretty nasty loads. One retail location puts in about 50 a year. He likes to up-sell people when they come in with two massive crushed cartridges. "For a little more, we can get you a whole new filter that much easier to maintain and less headaches and no more crushed cartridges every time you forget to clean it - Cha Ching.  Of course, as others have said, maintenance and service of filters is a money revenue for many on route work.


    Don Parish said:

    What is the replacement time frame on the Glass media?  Are you all seeing alot of sand filters still being installed? 
  • There are some other manufacurers out there.  Most distributors can locate it.  Also, they do make a larger grade of glass that covers the bottom layer of laterals for 100% glass usage.  I have no personal use of the product, but most of the dealers I am in contact with that are big sand filter users are all using alternative media such as Zeolite or Glass.  Also, in the case of Zeolite, for about 2 years,  there is the ammonia reduction properties for an added bonus.
    Scott Tarr said:
    Not sure on the replacement time frame for glass media.  Apparently you do use a small layer of sand at the bottom of the filter that just covers the laterals and then use the glass media.  Not sure about this for residential pools but there are several commercial pools in Myrtle Beach that are using it.

    Don Parish said:
    What is the replacement time frame on the Glass media?  Are you all seeing alot of sand filters still being installed? 
  • Anyone know of any other manufacturers than Vitro...looks like something that needs to be seriously looked at.
  • Thanks for the input, James.  I have heard the same thing about replacement which seems to be an issue for some service people in the Myrtle Beach area.  Many service professionals make a lot of money in early spring with sand changes and of course this would have a huge impact on that work.  Flip side, I'm sure there is more money in the initial sale of glass media and if it filters better then that leads to a more satisfied customer.
  • Many of the service companies I am in contact with (some new guys and old-timers) swear by glass media. Almost no experience of channels as can occur sometimes with sand.  Many also say that it has a better backwash.  Many companies clean the glass annually or bi-annually with a soak and then back-wash.  One old-timer of spoke of using multiple glass filled filters on an Olympic sized pool without any need for replacement for 7 years now.  His experience at this location was as he said like night and day compared to sand. Most guys I speak to seem to prefer it after using it.  Of course, this is just feedback I have gotten and I have done no empirical research myself.
  • Not sure on the replacement time frame for glass media.  Apparently you do use a small layer of sand at the bottom of the filter that just covers the laterals and then use the glass media.  Not sure about this for residential pools but there are several commercial pools in Myrtle Beach that are using it.

    Don Parish said:
    What is the replacement time frame on the Glass media?  Are you all seeing alot of sand filters still being installed? 
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