Alternative to sand
Several differences set Zeosorb apart from regular sand and make it an excellent filter medium. Most sand particles have relatively smooth surfaces and no porosity. They trap particles by straining and bridging them. As the dirt layer increases, sand will typically remove particles down to approximately 30- to 40 microns.
Zeosorb, by comparison, has large, rough, angular surfaces with chambers and cavities running throughout each particle. This structure allows it to remove suspended particles by straining and bridging between the granules, but aim to capture particles on the rough surface and in the internal pore spaces. This gives Zeosorb the ability to remove particles as small as 3- to 5 microns, according to measurements taken with a scanning electron microscope. With its increased surface area, Zeosorb's dirt-loading capacity is significantly greater than silica sand.
Changing over to ZeoSorb
In most cases, filters installed with Zeosorb will have run cycles that are four to six times longer than sand before backwashing is required. Because of its ability to filter smaller particles, one would think more backwashing would be necessary. But Zeosorb has the capacity to load more particulate than sand before the filter pressure rises.
Because Zeosorb has a weight density of approximately 25kg per cubic foot vs. approximately 100 pounds per cubic foot for sand, it is easy to calculate the amount needed in any filter. Simply determine the number of pounds of sand required.
Several differences set Zeosorb apart from regular sand and make it an excellent filter medium. Most sand particles have relatively smooth surfaces and no porosity. They trap particles by straining and bridging them. As the dirt layer increases, sand will typically remove particles down to approximately 30- to 40 microns.
Zeosorb, by comparison, has large, rough, angular surfaces with chambers and cavities running throughout each particle. This structure allows it to remove suspended particles by straining and bridging between the granules, but aim to capture particles on the rough surface and in the internal pore spaces. This gives Zeosorb the ability to remove particles as small as 3- to 5 microns, according to measurements taken with a scanning electron microscope. With its increased surface area, Zeosorb's dirt-loading capacity is significantly greater than silica sand.
Changing over to ZeoSorb
In most cases, filters installed with Zeosorb will have run cycles that are four to six times longer than sand before backwashing is required. Because of its ability to filter smaller particles, one would think more backwashing would be necessary. But Zeosorb has the capacity to load more particulate than sand before the filter pressure rises.
Because Zeosorb has a weight density of approximately 25kg per cubic foot vs. approximately 100 pounds per cubic foot for sand, it is easy to calculate the amount needed in any filter. Simply determine the number of pounds of sand required.
