Cartridge filter systems
Cartridge filters are used for the daily filtering and cleaning of the pool water and are able to remove even the smallest dirt. The filter performance of the cartridges is extremely effective and fine, they are mainly suitable for smaller pools, above ground pools and whirlpools.
Frequently asked questions for Cartridge filter systems:
Fill the unit with water and open the air release valve attached to the lid until water runs out. This is how you vent the system. Check all connections and hoses for leaks or holes. Retighten connections or hose clamps, seal them with Teflon tape and replace the defective parts if necessary.
Check the cartridge filter for the degree of contamination and clean it with a garden hose or replace it with a new filter. Check the water level and the height of the suspension skimmer; if the water level is too low, too little water flows into the pump. Vent the system. Open the air release valve on the cover until water runs out.
Check your socket for power, test another socket if necessary. Never run the pump without water, the pump can run dry and burn out. Check the mains plug or the connection cable for damage.
Check the cartridge daily and clean it with a garden hose as needed. If cleaning no longer achieves the desired success, replace it.
Flocculants must not be used with the cartridge filter system, as this could cause the cartridge lamellae to stick together. This means that cleaning is no longer guaranteed. This also applies to Quattrotabs, a component of these tablets are flocculants.
All Steinbach and INTEX filter systems (sand filter systems, cartridge filter systems & filter pumps) are suitable for salt water as long as the salt content in the water is below 0.5 % (salt electrolysis). Before winterising, clean the filter system thoroughly with standard bathroom cleaner, clear tap water and a lint-free cloth.
All filter systems and filter pumps have a sound pressure level* of < 70 dB(A).
*The emission volume is comparable to a large household appliance.
If the pressure is too low, the pre-filter is dirty and the pump is not getting enough water. Clean the pre-filter and check the suction line and the water level.
If the sand is newly filled in, or the sand is already very fine due to the use of several seasons, small sand particles may still be present. The solution is to backwash several times until the water comes out clear, or to fill in new sand.
The filter system should always be the first part in the water treatment system. The rest of the pool accessoires should only be connected after the filter system. A heat pump should ideally always be the last part in the water treatment system, so that the filtered, treated water flows through the heat pump and the path of the heated water into the pool is as short as possible.
Advantage of the cartridge filter system
The advantage of a cartridge filter system is that you do not lose water through a backwashing process as with a sand filter system, as the cartridge is cleaned manually and not via the filter system.
A cartridge filter system is often used for pools with a smaller basin, whirlpools and aboveground pools, as the circulation capacity ranges from about 1130 litres to a maximum of about 4460 litres per hour.
Cartridge filters and chemical pool care
Professional filter systems are required for the daily cleaning of the bathing water. By regularly checking chemical pool care products and using a filter pump, an optimal water condition can be achieved or maintained.
The functioning of the cartridge filter can be compared to that of the sand filter system: A filter pump forces the water to be cleaned through a filter medium, in cartridge systems through a filter cartridge. The substances to be filtered in the pool water are trapped in the filter and can thus be removed.
Cartridge filters generally clean more finely than sand filter systems, but require more maintenance. It should be noted that the cartridge must be regularly cleaned of dirt and replaced, as the dirt becomes trapped in the filter cartridge and the filter performance increasingly diminishes. Depending on the degree of pollution of the pool water, which in turn depends on the frequency of use of the pool as well as on the outside temperature and weather conditions, it is recommended to replace the filter cartridge twice a month.
Tip: Since an additional demand for cartridges is possible during the bathing season, it is recommended to always have a spare cartridge in stock.
Select the right catridge filter system:
A cartridge filter removes the finest impurities from the pool water. Due to the high filtration capacity of cartridge filters, the use of, for example, agents against metal deposits or flocculants, which bind and remove the turbidity of the water from small dirt particles, is not compatible here, but also not necessary.
Please always note that the capacity of the filter system must correspond to the water content of the swimming pool. As a rule, however, it is advisable to use a somewhat stronger filter system. If the pool water is cleaned by means of a high filtration efficiency, the effort for cleaning the pool as well as the use of chemical water care is reduced.
The water content of the pool should be circulated and filtered at least 2 times within 24 hours, depending on the load and size of the system. On hot days and with heavier loads, the water should be circulated more often (3 to 5 times) and the running time of the filter system increased. You can easily calculate the filter running time required for your pool: Multiply the water volume of your pool by 2 and divide this result by the capacity of your filter system.
This gives you the hours required for optimum filtering efficiency. Example: For an above-ground pool with a water capacity of approximately 16,800 litres, a total of 33,600 litres must be circulated per day (16,800 litres x 2-fold circulation). Divide the 33,600 litres by the capacity of the filter system, for example by the circulation capacity of the OPTIMO cartridge filter system with 4466 litres per hour. Rounded up, this results in a value of 8 hours, which also corresponds to the optimum daily filter running time.
However, a minimum running time of 12 hours per day is usually recommended, especially for heavy use and on hot days. For above ground pools with a handrail width of up to 30 mm, a suspended cartridge filter system with integrated surface suction (skimmer) and inlet nozzle is suitable. The filter system is simply attached to the edge of the pool. The skimmer is a surface suction device that sucks in dirty water by means of a pump, cleans it through a filter sieve and releases the filtered bathing water back into the pool through the inlet nozzles.
The circulation capacity of the Steinbach cartridge filter is 1700 litres per hour and it works with electricity. With a cable length of 4.8 metres, a sufficient distance from the power connection to the pool is guaranteed. The cartridge filter system is height-adjustable for optimal adaptation to the water level. INTEX ECO and OPTIMO cartridge filter systems have integrated water revitalisation technology that helps improve circulation, filtration, pool water clarity and air quality. The water revitalisation technology binds fine particles in the water, which subsequently sink to the bottom, making them easy to filter.
The number of negative ions on the surface of the water is increased with water revitalisation, which ensures improved air quality around the pool. The cartridge filter models ECO from INTEX have a circulation capacity of 1136 to 2839 litres per hour with hose connections of 32 mm in diameter and are therefore suitable for all INTEX above ground pools.
The cartridge filter systems of the type OPTIMO by INTEX can circulate approximately 4160 to 4460 litres of water per hour. All INTEX pools with a hose connection in diameter 38 mm / 2" AG can be connected.
Attention!
Filter systems may only be used when the water is full. Cartridge filter systems can be used at a maximum water temperature of 35 degrees.
Note
When the pool is filled for the first time at the beginning of the bathing season, the required amount of chemical pool care products for water treatment is higher and the replacement of the filter cartridges is necessary more often than during the season.
Note on cleaning and winterising the cartridge filter
Regularly check the degree of filter contamination. The right accessories for your filter system increase the service life and reduce the use of other cleaning agents.
You can use commercially available care products for cleaning or a filter cartridge cleaner that specifically removes dirt from the cartridge. The cleaner is simply connected to the garden hose. Regular cleaning allows the cartridge to be used longer and requires less frequent replacement.
Please note that cleaning agents containing solvents and abrasive cleaning agents as well as hard sponges, brushes and the like are not suitable. For winter storage outside the bathing season, the filter system must dry out sufficiently. Then store it in a dry and frost-free place. The temperature should not be below 0 degrees and not above 40 degrees.