I am installing a Hayward sand filter which holds 700 lbs of sand. Should I add a layer of pea gravel?
Should I use pea gravel in my sand filter?
- Thread starter Jxnchef
- Start date
Sorry to bump an old thread but it was never really answered. I'm putting in a 27" hayward that doesn't say anything about pea gravel but I've seen several posts that either recommend it or say it certainly wouldn't hurt.
I bought a couple bags of: Shop Rock City 0.5-cu ft Pea Gravel at Lowes.com
It's regular landscaping pea gravel. For those that used pea gravel, is this the kind of product you used or should I be looking for something more specialized?
Thanks!
I bought a couple bags of: Shop Rock City 0.5-cu ft Pea Gravel at Lowes.com
It's regular landscaping pea gravel. For those that used pea gravel, is this the kind of product you used or should I be looking for something more specialized?
Thanks!
- May 3, 2014
- 59,366
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Be aware that it will make it impossible to deep clean your sand filter if you put varying sizes of sand in your filter. Use only #20 silica sand.
I’m not sure about the gravel, but I’m curious.....
If the manufacturer is not recommending it, why are you pursuing this? What’s the motivation?
If the manufacturer is not recommending it, why are you pursuing this? What’s the motivation?
I put 4000 lbs 2 sizes of gravel & 4000 pounds of #20 silica in a filter last week...
That must be one big filter. I'll bet you don't need to backwash often.
It should be BW daily actually.. municipal pool, regulated by health & a million other codes.
Poolguy, if you didn't put any gravel into the municipal filter, how much sand would you then install? Basically looking for the ratio of pea-gravel to sand. however, since the muni one is much bigger than what the OP, does the ratio go up or down for the size of the sand filter re how much gravel you would install?
One person asked why install small stones? I assuming it displaces the volume of sand the filter would otherwise require, which is probably over time a cost savings. However, does the less finer material impede the ability to filter better? It would seem like the resistance to the pump would be somewhat less that would reduce the pressure gauge of the filtering system, yes?
There are a ton of posts on the (supposed) benefits of using pea gravel up to the laterals, google "pea gravel sand filter" and if you're ocd like me you'll spend hour(s) down the rabbit hole trying to determine if that juice is worth the squeeze. I've decided it is, but I'm not sure if regular old pea gravel as you'd find in $3, 50lb bags at Lowes is sufficient.
No cost savings were involved.
The ratio would not carry over.
The gravel bed is to prevent obstruction & help distribution through the sand band.. this is system has 8” piping & there is a ladder built inside the filter, so it’s a different animal.
I presume you are doing a basic backyard pool, if so 100% sand will satisfy your needs.
The general consensus is <24", no real benefit, >30" definitely benefit. At 27" and 350lbs of media it makes laymen sense to make the system a bit more efficient distributing flow during backwashing.
Out of curiosity PoolguyinCT what kind of gravel is in your monster filters? Regular bulk pea gravel?
Out of curiosity PoolguyinCT what kind of gravel is in your monster filters? Regular bulk pea gravel?
No bulk can have weak composition or problem elements & minerals.
Washed 1/4 X 1/8 gravel for support bed.
Quartz is best, since it free of problem minerals.
Washed 1/4 X 1/8 gravel for support bed.
Quartz is best, since it free of problem minerals.
