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VIRON ACTIVE GLASS MEDIA FINE 15KG

Regular Price $39.99

Everyone wants a pool that’s dive-ready all year round. But it can be challenging when you get more than your share of leaves, heavy rain or swimmers. In fact, you probably spend more time cleaning, testing and balancing your pool than swimming in it (if you don’t have the right equipment to do the heavy lifting!).

But there’s a trick to minimising maintenance without cutting corners –switching to glass filter media. Not only can it improve your pool water’s clarity, but it can also reduce maintenance times, lower chemical costs and slash your energy bills.

 

SKU: 57011 Categories: ,
WHAT IS GLASS MEDIA?

Made from grains of recycled glass, glass filter media is used in media filters to keep debris and bacteria out of your pool. As water is pumped to the filter, it passes through the glass media, which captures particles using a static charge. The clean water is then syphoned back into the pool through the return jets.

In the past, media filters were considered less effective than cartridge filters or diatomaceous earth (DE) filters. This is because sand media wasn’t always a great performer. While it was affordable and readily available, it only filtered about 20–40 microns. This was less than DE filters, which could filter particles as small as 5 microns. In addition, sand could erode, clump or create channels of unfiltered water, reducing its effectiveness over time.

When glass media came on the scene in the 1990s, it matched DE’s filtration powers (without being as costly or high-maintenance) and pushed media filters back into the limelight. Since then, glass filtration has grown in popularity, not just because it works well, but also because it provides a range of benefits, not just for your pool, but also for your finances and the environment.

Benefits:

1. Low maintenance 

Unlike cartridge filters, which require monthly rinsing (or overnight soaking if they’re really dirty), glass media only requires backwashing every few months. This can take as little as five minutes, depending on the size of your pool. What’s more, glass media only needs to be replaced every 8–10 years, while cartridge filters need to be replaced every 2–3 years and sand media every 3–5 years. This means less monthly maintenance and more swimming!

2. Long-lasting

Most media filters come with a 10-year warranty, which is longer than the lifespan of a standard cartridge filter (about 2 years). Glass media itself can last for 8–10 years because it’s made from recycled glass bottles. These are harder than standard glass and less prone to erosion. On the other hand, sand media breaks down after about 5 years. This means that media filters can last 5 times as long as cartridge filters, and glass media twice as long as sand!

3. Improves water clarity

Glass filter media can remove particles as small as 5 microns in size, which keeps your pool water healthier and clearer. By comparison, sand only filters about 20–40 microns and cartridge filters filter about 10 microns. (FYI: A speck of dust can be about 40 microns and unicellular green algae can be 5–10 microns.)

There are a couple of reasons why glass media can filter more effectively. First, glass doesn’t pack as densely as sand. In other words, it uses the entire depth of the filtration media, while sand only uses the top layer. This means that it traps more particles as water passes through.

Second, glass media has a negative charge that attracts particles more readily. This means it can trap 30 per cent more debris than conventional glass, keeping your pool cleaner.

4. Sustainable

Most glass media is made from durable recycled glass. Not only does this put less pressure on our natural resources, but it also reduces landfill. And because glass media lasts longer than sand or cartridges, you don’t have to replace it as frequently, making it an eco-friendly choice for your pool.

5. Reduces backwashing

Compared to sand filters, which require backwashing every 1–2 weeks, or cartridge filters, which need to be cleaned monthly, glass media only needs to be backwashed every 2–3 months. The duration of the backwash is also shorter because glass is smooth and allows the easy passage of water. What’s more, if you have Viron Active Glass Media, which uses up to 50 per cent less water than sand during backwashing, you could save even more water.

6. Prevents bacterial growth

Glass media is less permeable than sand, which means that debris like suntan lotion or bacteria can’t get ingrained. Instead, glass holds onto the debris with a static charge. This allows it to come off easily during backwashing. No residue left behind! Sand grains, on the other hand, are porous, making them a breeding ground for bacteria – particularly if you don’t backwash them often enough.

7. Economical

While there’s a higher upfront cost with glass media, you don’t have to replace glass or backwash it as often as sand. The backwash also happens at a lower speed, which reduces energy consumption. And because glass media keeps your pool cleaner, you won’t need as many chemicals to keep your water balanced, nor will you have to run your automatic pool cleaner as often. This can save you hundreds of dollars in water, energy and chemical costs every year!

8. Easy to convert to a mineral pool

Mineral pools perform best with glass media filtration, so if you’re already using glass media and planning to convert to a mineral pool, you can do this with minimal effort or expense. All you need is a chlorinator (if you don’t already have one) and minerals!