The purpose of the pool’s filter is to keep the water clean and clear by removing dirt, algae, particles, and other stuff that makes the water cloudy. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) takes out much smaller particles much more quickly than any other filter. Take a look at a bottle of filter sand and a bottle of diatomaceous earth. The difference is very apparent. Today the vast majority of our pools use DE filters of some type.

DE removes particles down to three microns, all the time. A micron is very small – a millionth of a meter. Cartridge filters work down to 40 microns only when they are working correctly. Sand filters work around 100 microns right after they are backwashed, and get down to about 75 microns when they are dirty. Shocking, which is a chemical oxidation done to pools weekly to monthly, burns off organics (which is mostly what is that small in a pool) up to two microns.

Over time, pool water will build up anything above two microns, and below 3, 40, or 75 microns, depending on your filter. Then what happens? If you have a sand or cartridge filter, some day, perhaps in a few years, there’s enough of this material in the water to give it a light haze or cloud. Then you drain the pool, borrow a DE filter for a few days, or start using a clarifier or filter aid on a regular basis. So why doesn’t everyone just use a DE filter? The answer is “Because they are more expensive at the initial purchase”. We strongly recommend the use of a high quality DE filter system for anyone that wants a clean and safe pool.