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Buying guide · Equipment
Sand, cartridge or DE: choosing a pool filter
Your filter keeps the water clear by trapping the dirt your pump circulates. The three common types — sand, cartridge and DE — trade off filtration fineness against maintenance. Here's how they compare.
What you'll need
Filtration
What to consider
- 1
Sand filters
The most popular and lowest-maintenance choice. You clean them by backwashing (no parts to scrub). They filter to around 20–40 microns — perfectly clear for most pools.
- 2
Cartridge filters
Filter finer (around 10–20 microns) and use no water to clean — you just remove and hose the cartridge. Great where water is precious, with a little more hands-on cleaning.
- 3
DE (diatomaceous earth) filters
Filter the finest (down to a few microns) for glass-clear water, but need more upkeep and DE powder top-ups. Best for owners who want the ultimate clarity.
- 4
Match it to your pump
Whatever you choose, size the filter's rated flow to your pump so it isn't the bottleneck.
Tip: For most UAE pools, a correctly sized sand filter is the easy, reliable default — pair it with a variable-speed pump.
Need exact chemical amounts or help choosing? Use our dosing calculator, or ask Aqua — our AI advisor, bottom-right.
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