Will A Sand Filter Remove Iron from Pool Water? (Explained)

When there is too much iron in a swimming pool, you will need to figure out how to bring things back into balance.

There are a few ways of doing this.

One question you might have is, will a sand filter remove iron from pool water?

No, a sand filter will not remove iron from pool water. It’s recommended to use a DE or iron filter as it has finer media to help remove iron from the pool water. It’s also wise to use a chemical treatment to help manage the pH level in the water.

Most people will think the sand filter is enough to remove iron from the pool water and this is untrue. It is not going to work particularly well.

Yes, it will remove some of the iron from the water but that is just a start. You will need more to get the pH level back to what it needs to be.

The sand filter is not going to work well in the pool and it is not right for this type of situation.

This guide is going to share a few tips on how to remove iron from pool water and what to think about as you are setting up the filtration system or using a chemical treatment.

Tips On How To Remove Iron From Pool Water

1. Use A Cartridge DE Filter

Getting iron out of pool water is all about having the right filter.

You need a robust filter that is going to work well with finer elements including iron. If this is not the case, the filter is not going to do a good job with the particulate.

While a sand filter is going to work well in getting rid of some of the iron in the pool, it is not enough to go all the way.

You will need more.

This is where the DE filter is going to be a good starting point for removing iron from pool water.

The DE filter is going to be finer in how it removes particulates from the pool. Take the time to set this up and watch as the iron is removed from the pool as soon as you want it to.

2. Set Up An Iron Filter

Another option is to go straight to a specialized option.

This is going to come in the form of what is called an iron filter.

The iron filter is designed for this just element and it is going to work well on removing iron from the water without looking at anything else in the water.

Yes, this is good and it is a nice option when there is excess iron in the pool water.

This will look at setting up manganese dioxide as the filter.

It will take care of the iron in the water and you are not going to have to think about the pH level for too long. It will work out.

3. Consider Chemical Treatment

Have you taken the time to think about a chemical treatment for too much iron in the swimming pool?

This is an option where you are going to look to remove iron with the help of chemicals.

You will want to use solutions that are going to be designed to treat the water in the pool with too much iron in it.

The chemical treatment is going to help work on the iron and make sure it is removed.

4. Take Continuous pH Readings

This is one thing people don’t do enough as pool owners.

You will want to make sure to take continuous pH readings.

This is going to ensure you are aware of whether or not the pH level is too high in the swimming pool. You do not want a situation where the readings are aggressive and things are getting out of control.

You can then begin to set up the filter and take continuous readings to see if it is working or not.

If you are not tracking how much iron is in the pool, you will not know which solution is working. Do this and then begin working on the setup in the pool.

Final Thoughts

Will a sand filter remove iron from pool water?

A sand filter will not remove iron from the pool water. It will get rid of some of it. The better solutions include setting up a DE or iron filter. It’s also recommended to consider using a chemical treatment to break down the iron and get rid of it from the pool water.

It is important to look at what will work for you when setting up the pool.

You do not want the pH level to go too high and it will if you are not careful.

Protect the pool by thinking about how you are going to get rid of the iron in the pool.