Cartridge size for 13,000 gallon pool?

[tomfrh]

I have a sand filter at present which gives me no end of trouble. The problem is due to the native vegetation (gum trees and similar) which regularly drop fine hairlike flowers. These get into the filter and form a mat across the media. Backwashing does not remove this mat of hairs, and I end up having to open the filter every few months to clean it out. Filter socks successfully catch the hairs but I have clean the skimmer and sock once a day which is too much hassle.

I want to try a cartridge as an alternative solution as I think it might end up being the least work.

Our pool is around 13000 gallons. Im
tossing up between a 150 and 200 sq cartridge, both of which seem fairly commonly available around here, but am open to any suggestions.

 

[mknauss]

If you have those issues, get the biggest you can. I would suggest greater than 400 SF.

 

[setsailsoon]

I have about the same size pool as you but with a screen enclosure. 200 sq ft works fine for me but If I had your situation I'd go BIG as Marty recommends.

Chris

 

[tomfrh]

What’s the biggest you can get with single Cartridge? I would prefer single big element.

There are zodiac/jandy CV available but they seem to take 4 cartridges?

https://www.jandy.com/-/media/zodiac/global/downloads/h/h0291800.pdf?force=1

 

[mknauss]

I have four cartridges, 240SF. Why are you concerned with the number of cartridges?

 

[tomfrh]

I just assumed it would be less hassle with a single large cartridge.

 

[mknauss]

I would think it would be more hassle. The 4 cartridge units the cartridges are a bit smaller and easier to handle. Cleaning them is no big deal and just takes a bit of time and you get wet.
The replacement of them, here in the US, is not very expensive and they should last at least 5 years and more likely close to 10. I just changed mine out after 7 years as they were getting too plugged with sunscreen and other oils. TSP treatment helped but not as long as before.

 

[tomfrh]

I purchased an almost new two-cartridge 225ft unit someone was getting rid of. Its not as big as you guys recommend but it was almost free somI’m going to try it out as a test.

Any problem installing it in series with the sand filter (which I’ll leave on recirculate) to test the concept?
It will plumb in fairly easily between the pump and sandfilter.

 

[BowserB]

Go big. And multiple cartridges will take up less space to get 400 square feet. Also, consider adding skimmer socks to your baskets. You can catch a LOT of stuff before it ever makes it to the filter. I've tried both actual skimmer socks and cheap hair nets. For me, I prefer the superior filtration of the socks over the hair nets, plus the socks last a good two weeks (daily or every other day rinsing), where the hair nets were needing to be replaced every couple days. Before I adopted socks, I cleaned lots of debris off the filter cartridges. Now I clean small dirt (can tell by the brown water coming off the bottoms) but virtually no visible debris at all. I clean the cartridges twice a year. Pentair Clean & Clear Plus 420.

 

[mknauss]

It will plumb in fairly easily between the pump and sandfilter.

Go for it.

 

[tomfrh]

I added the 225 sqft filter several weeks ago. I inspected it today and the cartridge is relatively clean, without much debris compared to what was happening with the sand filter. No increase in pressure yet.