People have debated whether to use normal river sand or crushed glass as filter media. There are clear advantages to using river sand as a filter, even if both materials have their uses. The surface roughness of these materials is the most important aspect to consider when examining them under a microscope. Cost is another factor that needs consideration when deciding between the two filter media.
Microscopic View: River Sand vs. Crushed Glass
Under a microscope, the difference between crushed glass and normal river sand becomes apparent.
- Normal River Sand:
A surface that is porous and uneven with jagged edges characterizes it. Because of this, the sand grains can form tiny pockets and passageways by interlocking with one another. Its rough texture significantly improves its capacity to catch and hold pollutants and debris.
- Crushed Glass:
The surface of crushed glass remains generally smooth and non-porous even after being broken into tiny grains. Because of this, there are fewer crevices in which trash can become trapped than there would be with sand.
Catch and Hold: The Fundamental Filtration Principle
Consider this analogy:
In the event that you were to spill a liquid onto 2 distinct materials, namely a smooth tile with a flat surface and a sponge, which of the two would be successful in absorbing and retaining the liquid? The sponge would. The main reason for this is its texture, which is porous.
Similarly, the most effective filtering medium is the one that can “catch and hold” debris the best. Sand, with its porous and uneven surface, has greater filtration abilities than crushed glass. This is evident when considering the minute textural differences between crushed glass and river sand.
Cost Implications: River Sand vs. Crushed Glass
Crushed glass media may be more expensive to acquire than river sand. However, its inefficiency can cause ongoing operational costs to skyrocket.
- Increased Chemical Use:
Due to shattered glass’s inefficiency, pools may need to add chemicals to keep the water clean. This might lead to a larger chemical footprint for the pool and higher operating expenses.
- Extended Runtime of the Filtration System:
It may take more time for filtration systems to achieve the same level of cleanliness when using crushed glass. This is because it is less effective at trapping debris. Wear on the machinery and higher power bills are the results of this.
Other Benefits of River Sand:
Durability:
This is an excellent filter medium because of its long erosion and natural tumbling history. In contrast, broken glass may occasionally disintegrate more quickly in filtering systems than other types of glass.
Sustainability:
More and more people are worried about the effects of mining sand on the environment. For this reason, companies are working on more eco-friendly ways to gather sand. Responsibly obtained river sand may be less harmful to the environment than the energy needed to recycle glass.
Natural Occurrence:
The material, known as river sand, occurs naturally. This indicates that it is easily accessible and does not necessitate the energy-intensive operations required for glass production.
Why is river sand better?
A longer filtering period is inevitable due to the mild breakdown rate of river sands. Its backwashing capabilities are second to none, and they shine when combined with filter coal in a double-media filtering setup.
Conclusion
Normal river sand is far superior to crushed glass in terms of pure filtration efficiency and cost-effectiveness, although crushed glass does have its uses. Its tiny properties are a definite advantage when collecting and retaining debris. It is often the more cost-effective alternative to crushed glass in filtering systems. This is due to the lower associated costs.
Which medium provides better performance without breaking the bank? That should be your question the next time you’re trying to decide between crushed glass and river sand as a filter. Sand is the correct answer.