Activated Carbon in Pool Pump Sand Filter?

Sand Filter???

If you are refering to diatomaceous earth do keep it instead of the activated carbon due it is a superior filter medium.

They do have sand filters, bwire, my best friend had one for many years.

As you pointed out, my DE filter has kept our pool sparkling. Our chlorination routine has kept it safe.

milo

The sand filter removes suspended solids that may harbor pathogens, while the activated carbon filter removes gases and organics that may give foul smells to the water. Each serves its own particular purpose, so do not change the media.

One of the gases to be removed by activated charcoal is chlorine, the very thing that keeps the poool antiseptic

You need to realize that activated carbon functions much like a sponge to organic materials,i.e. decaying matter, odor generating, and color bodies. Consequently, just like a sponge, it can and will become totally ineffective in a short period of time. Also, as it becomes fouled, it loses it's efficiency exponentially and not linerally over time, i.e., it functions less and less effectively as it ages.

As most others rightly explained sand filter removes only fine particles. When you regularly backwash the filter those retained get washed down the drain and filter bed becomes as good as new.

Activated carbon filter removes organic matter, a wide variety of chemicals by adsorption and also removes hypochlorous (HOCl) ions (commonly referred to as chlorine) by catalytic reaction. The latter is not desirable in case of swimming pool water since that is what keep water sterile.

So Activated carbon Filter in the swimming pool water recirculation is undesirable., but you may decide to install an AC filter in the make up water to reduce the organic load which will reduce the Chlorine consumption as well. ( Otherwise what happens is when you add chlorine to water part of it goes into reaction with organic matter and the rest of chlorine will remain as free chlorine making water sterile)

The swimming pool filters are high flow filters. There are chances that the activated carbon gets "crushed". This may reduce it's size and escape from the unit.

Other solution is to have good plastic filters on both side to avoid this escape.

But this activated carbon will absorb residual chlorine ( In case you are using chlorine treatment ) and the very purpose of chlorine dosing gets defeated.

If you are not using chlorine, Why do you need Activated carbon??

regards;

devendra / india

Dear Devendra,

AC will not get crushed in a swimming pool filter. In gold mines granular AC is put together in a mineral slurry containing Gold Cyanide and agitated over more than 24 hours with very low breakdown. May be you have had the bad experience of a very bad quality AC or wood AC which is generally used in decolourising applications.

In my previous comment I have explained (I thought very clearly) why and where you should use an AC filter in a swimming pool water system. Did you read it before your comment?

Dear User of Water Pool Water Filter, please check up following points.

1) The water Pool Water if coming with a high Turbidity in Raw water & if you notice any turbity with colour in the Raw water before filteration of Sand Filter & after Filteration also.

2) Is is advisible to have Mixed Sand Filter + Activated Carbon Bed OR

3) If the Capcity of the Sand Filter is more than 2000 Lts/Hr then it is better you should have Raw Water ---> Sand Filter + A.Carbon Filter ----> Filtrer Pool Water

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Alum or Chemical Dosing .

4) Above system will be most usful & if you have steam you may regenrate/ wash the Carbon Fliter with Water Or Steam to achieve good Result.

Thanks.

SOFT DION WATER & Shesha Scienti Chem Pvt Ltd,

W 89, MIDC, Chemical Zone, Chikhloli, Ambernath 421501, Mumbai, India.

Tel +912512683201/2603901

Manufacturer & Exporter.

SHASHI PHAL DESAI M.D.

Dear Mr Sashi Phal,

What you state is true for make up water?

For make up water you can have separate sand & carbon filters or a mixed bed filter depending on volume. Unless the pool is huge amount of make up water is considerably low and it is good sense to put in a dual media (sand+carbon) filter.

Typically you find a sand filter in recirculation system and as in most cases water is chlorinated it is a mistake if you put an AC filter in Recirculation loop.

Another myth. Activated carbon cannot be regenerated with steam unless it is superheated to about 600Centigrade! Occasional steam introduction will help to sterilize the carbon bed. But there again super-chlorination will achieve better results in sterilization. Back washing will only remove any particles trapped by carbon granules.

By the way what do you manufacture at " SOFT DION WATER & Shesha Scienti Chem Pvt Ltd" Just out of curiosity I ask.

Most pools do not use activated carbon filter due to its high cost. If your pool has problems with the influent water due to high dissolved organics, then you can consider to put an activated carbon filter just after the sand filter, but at the influent point, not in the loop, because the recycling water contains chlorine!!. Check if it is economically feasible to do this, otherwise, inspect your filtration system to determine the real problem, may be other sand filter unit installed in serie could solve your problem?.

I have watched this thread and posted an answer myself as an interested pool owner. As a CR4 Participant, what is interesting to me is that because there was no problem statement, many possible warnings and or solutions have been suggested.

Dear ALASKIWI, if you could share with us the problem that you are trying to solve by converting your HAyward filter over to activated Carbon, perhaps we can get you a satisfactory answer. Heck, maybe you just have a free source of activated carbon, abnd sand is expensive?

A problem statement will help us all understand the "why" that is behind your question.

Thanks.

milo

Wow! Great answers and advice!

My two cents? Boy oh boy does this light up my caution lights considering all of the recent city/munincipality pool scares and reality issues in the media lately in my area (Phoenix, Mesa, Apache Junction)!

In a past life as a certified water treatment operator I remember vividly having to replace activated carbon filter medium on a very regular schedule (monthly) due to high quantities of "trapped" organic matter especially dangerous life threatning, choloform bacteria and flu virus.

The carbon filters work great on the upstream side (makeup) for removing sulfur and other odors but do not fare well when chlorine is introduced into them intentionally or otherwise.

The carbon medium requires regular, short term replacement with the time interval between filter re-generation depending on the type of contaminants, the level of contaminants, and the quantity of filter throughput (gallons of water treated). (higher throughput - shorter filter life)

If you are doing this because the pool water is offensive to the olfactory sensors (nose) then you most likely have other issues such as the chlorine level not being maintained constantly at a high enough level. If you are chlorinating the pool as recommended/required, and you still have "stinky" water, you would be better served by contacting the nearest qualified and highly recommended pool service technician to have them visit your site and analyze your pool. Or, contact your local health department and ask them to sample your water.

You may have to drain your pool, let it sit empty for a period of time, and/or use recommended chemicals to sterilize the pool and associated equipment in order to get some of the "new" bacteria and virus out of your system.

FYI: There are some new strains of virus and bacteria that are immune to chlorine and other commonly used chemicals. These can only be identified by a competent (expensive) laboratory taking the required samples and analyzing them properly.

Unfortunately some of these threats are deadly to human beings so be wise and do not hesitate to get help if needed.

Good luck,

Jim