Dr. Dryden's Activate filter media is a wonderful product I like to use when installing a new sand filter as an alternative to silica sand. Dr. Dryden, a marine biologist, invented the glass media to improve the lives and life span of marine animals held in captivity. He proved that these marine animals were experiencing lung infections and dying sooner in captivity than the animals living in the wild. This was due to the animals breathing the chloramine gas above the surface of the water.  Chloramines come from the combination of the chlorine disinfectant (chlorine produced by a salt system, or chlorine tabs, or chlorine shock) and the perspiration, body oils and urine from swimmers. Chloramines then off gas into the air just above the water. I use products like Zeo sand that also traps ammonia particles that produce chloramines, but this product is even more effective. 

Activated glass media, or AGM, is 300x more effective than silica sand for pool filters. This media requires less backwashes and less water to clean the filter. It traps particles as small as DE filters, but does not need to be recharged with DE powder, a known carcinogen ​that is expelled into the yard when a backwash is done and turns to loose white dust once dry. 

The media comes in two sizes, coarse and fine. The course media is put in first, which is larger and provides better water flow around the laterals of the filter (the arms inside the filter that allow clean water to flow back to the pool) and the fine, which goes on top. The glass is not sharp, and is treated to have a negative charge; it's actually electromagnetic. This keeps any dirt from sticking to the glass itself and reduces the amount of water required for doing a backwash. AGM prevents biofilm from forming inside the filter (a thin, slimy film of bacteria that adheres to a surface) thus reducing the chlorine demand and algae growth.

​Because of the electromagnetic charge,  dirt does not stick to the glass and clump up like silica sand, creating wormhole channels inside the filter that reduces the filters ability to function (and reduces water circulation). These benefits continue, because it never has to be replaced. Once added when the filter is installed, it will last as long as the filter and never needs to be replaced (ever). It is not an inexpensive media and one I dont use on old filters when changing sand. However when added  during a new filter installation, this media will save you money over the life of the filter. Savings in water, using less to backwash and having to backwash less frequently, and it eliminates the need for sand changes. Normal silica sand is effective up to 5 years. Never having to replace the media saves you money in labor costs and the cost of replacing sand. 

The Polaris 280 pressure side cleaner and booster pump is what I like to install on old pools without dedicated cleaner ports, or an in ground cleaning system. There are products available ​that will allow you to run a cleaner using the skimmer at a low cost, but this often makes the pool more labor intensive. What do I mean by labor intensive? Products like the Zodiac Flow Keeper render the skimmer useless as the basket has to be removed to plug it into the suction hole.

With out a skimmer, nothing skims debris from the surface of the water leaving a less attractive pool and more netting for you. There is very little control over the cleaner with this kind of device. The Vac Mate is another product that allows you to run a cleaner. Its a step up from the flow keeper, because it has a basket and a tiny weir gate that retains the function of the skimmer. There is even a valve providing control between the cleaner suction and the amount it skims. However, these are press fit hose connections that wear out and come loose. The water level has to be kept higher to keep these press fit connections under water so they dont leak. The gasket stretches out frequently and needs to be replaced. Over time, the pressure cracks the body of the vac mate too. Any of the above stops the cleaner from working. It is a nice product and one I've sold many times, however both the flow keeper and Vac Mate restrict water flow, forcing the water to run thru the 3/4" hole at the cleaner and 30' of cleaner hose and can make the pool more difficult to care for.   

A better way is running a cleaner off the return side of the system with a booster pump. This increases water flow dramatically by using the pools drain and skimmer instead of the restricting water through a hose and a cleaner. The Polaris cleaner shoots water out of its tail, stirring up dirt so the pool drain and skimmer can take it out. The cleaner is very fast and it only takes 4 hours to do its job. Depending on the model, there are 2-3 jets of water shooting up inside the body of the cleaner. This creates a vortex that sucks up large debris into the collection bag. The Polaris cleaner does an incredible job of keeping the pool clean while allowing the system to draw from the skimmer and the drain, increasing water flow instead of restricting it. 

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The Booster pump runs off a 3/4" flex line that is fed from the return side plumbing after the pool filter. It can be tied into an existing 1.5" return line to the pool or the 3/4" aerator line. I prefer to use the aerator line because it is the easiest way to retrofit an old pool with out taking away a return jet. This pump is very small and very efficient. It only needs to run 4 hours a day and draws very little power. 

There are less expensive pressure side cleaners available, but they do not have a booster pump. The return eyes on the pool are important for water circulation in the pool and directing debris toward the skimmer. The cleaners that use a return eye are fine in some cases as long as there is still enough water movement left once a port is sacrificed. If the pool has 4 return eyes and after one is taken away there is still 3 remaining that's okay. Many old pools only have 2-3 return eyes and using a pressure cleaner that runs off one of those affects the water circulation in the pool enough I don't use them. The booster pump ensures the cleaner has enough water pressure to run at optimal performance with out effecting water flow in the pool on the suction side, or return side when the 3/4" aerator line is used. 

The Polaris has a back up valve in between the wall and the cleaner. Every so often, the water will stop running to the cleaner and instead, shoot out from this valve. The cleaner is picked up, and pulled backward for about 10 seconds. This ensures the cleaner will never get stuck. 

This cleaning system is not inexpensive, but it is one of the best options for old pools with out automated cleaning systems. 

My favorite brand of baskets is the Val Pak brand. Available for a variety of skimmers and pumps, these baskets are more than 3x the thickness of a standard basket. Not only are they really tuff and hold up for years, the built in molded handles won't break, or pop out like the handles of cheap baskets. 

Another great benefit of the Val Pak skimmer baskets like the one Im showing in this post, is the weight on the bottom. Cheap baskets have little, to no weight to hold them down, so they float up when ever the pump isn't running. It's not uncommon for people, or pool professionals to add small rocks to weigh the baskets down, or even twist tie fishing sinkers [small lead weights] to the bottom of a basket to keep it from floating up. When baskets float, it allows leaves and other debris to get under the basket, or the basket can get turned upside down, making the skimmer useless. Val Pak stays put whether the pump is running or not. It's an awesome product and well worth the money.

In every pool I have put them in, there has been a noticeable improvement week to week. Just look at this 35 year old pool below, with a Vac Mate. It used to require weekly vacuuming and was dirty through out the week. The surface of the pool is free of debris and the floor is spotless. 

The most common is mustard algae, seen in the picture on the left. Its name comes from the yellowish color, it often grows on walls and easily brushes away. Simply adding shock will not kill the algae, since in my case, the water is spot on. Its immune to the chlorine. There are many products available to get rid of algae and it may take more than one attempt, or even a different kind of algaecide altogether before its gone. For example, if copper doesn't work, you will have to try something else, depending on what type of algae is growing in the pool. Did you know that adding too much copper based algaecide can stain your pool plaster? Copper metal stains are purple in color and require special stain removers and an acid wash to remove them. Too many times I see people adding more than the recommended amount and the stains are bad. 

​The specially treated alloy cylinder is packed with a mineral formulation. The purifiers minerals immediately dissolve out of the cylinder and form a stable, residual amount of minerals in the pool water, effectively killing algae. The active minerals free up available chlorine, meaning less chlorine is required to burn out contaminants. That's is a good thing. Using less chemicals makes the water more enjoyable to swim in. Less chemicals means your water is less irritating to the skin, eyes and nose. Its hard to find a reason not to like this product. Give PoolRx a try, it will definitely make a difference for you this summer. 

I have recently started using a product to control algae called PoolRx. Instead of adding harsh chemicals and metals to the water, PoolRx is a mineral purifier. It has been doing a very good job for me in the pools I've tried them in, eliminating all types of algae for up to 6 months. In Arizona, that means the whole swim season, which is why I love it when I run into recurring algae problems. Available in three different sizes, PoolRx can treat small pools between 7,000 gallons and 20,000 gallons and larger pools up to 35,000 gallons with the PoolRx Extreme mineral purifier. Pools larger than 35,000 gallons can be treated with an extreme PoolRx and the addition of a booster pack. A tiny purifier is also available, which can be used to treat in ground spas and water features. Simply placing a PoolRx purifier into the strainer basket of the pump and it will work up to 6 months. 

 Adjusting turbine blades sets this cleaner in its own class as it is efficient and less likely to get stuck from a large piece of debris. The turbine shown on the left, is made up of two pieces that are connected together, rather than one solid piece. This pivoting connecting point allows the turbine to collapse and self adjust making it more efficient as a result. It moves easier with less water suction and lower pressure. This is especially important with the new variable speed pumps being set to run at lower speeds to save energy. The Pool-cleaners folding turbine vanes also allow easy passage of larger debris through the cleaner.

These large wheels on the Poolvergnuegen cleaners help it to crawl over drain covers effortlessly, which has started to become an issue with other popular cleaners, New drain covers must be used to comply with the Pool and Spa Safety Act and these are typically taller than the old style of drain covers. The Pool Cleaners large diameter tires and the tire treads provide incredible climbing ability and maneuverability.

Other than replacing tires, I do very little, if any maintenance on the Poolvergnuegen cleaners through out the year. In my professional opinion, there is no other cleaner in its price range that cleans as well, and runs as long with with such a low cost to maintaining it.