Poolside Chat Episode #32: Which Filter Sand Should I Use?

“What kind of sand should I use in my sand filter?”

Matthew Simmons

October 23, 2024

< 1 Minute Read

This is Poolside Chat where every week we answer your questions on how to fix and maintain your swimming pool. Poolside Chat is presented by INYOPools.com, helping pool owners find the right parts since 2001. In today’s episode of Poolside Chat, Rob and Matt tackle another common swimming pool question:

What kind of sand should I use in my sand filter?

Now here’s your hosts – Matt and Rob.

“What kind of sand should I use in my sand filter?”

Arnel in New Jersey

Well Arnel, you want to check with your manufacturer’s owner’s manual, but most manufacturers are going to recommend a number 20 Silica sand, which is a .45 to .55mm size. You also do not want to go outside of that range, because if you go too fine, then it’s going to kick up. It may get through the laterals and go back into your pool, which is never fun. Or, if it’s too big, then it might not be able to filter whatever dirt gets in there.

Troubleshooting Topics

Controls / Automation

Chlorinators

Skimmers / Drains

Need Replacement Parts?

Swimming Pool Products

2 responses to “Poolside Chat Episode #32: Which Filter Sand Should I Use?”

Mike Stone

June 8, 2016

How often should you change thr sand?
I have what the pool people say alge in my above pool. When I vacuum to waste & backwash, In about in a hour it is back, not as much, still there in a grayish color.
Yesterday I vacuumed again, but I vacuumed with the sand filter in the filter mode.I then moved to rinse and I saw gray globs going out. This morning there was no sign of it.I did not backwash fearing that would come back in the pool. What would you do to solve this problem?
Thanks
Mike in Texas

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  June 10, 2016
  
  Mike, The gray globs you are seeing in the filter may be dead algae. After cleaning dead algae you need to Backwash your filter to expel the dirt and grime from your sand; then, you would use Rinse to clean the filter pipes before returning to regular filtering.
  
  Reply