Quick answer: for most pools in Tucson, we recommend a DE filter.
A DE filter gives the best filtration, produces the clearest water, and makes the pool easier to maintain.
Sand, cartridge, and DE filters are usually about the same cost when comparing filters of the same size. So if they cost about the same, it makes sense to choose the filter that performs the best.
Why the Filter Matters
Pool chemicals and pool filters do two different jobs.
Chemicals kill algae and sanitize the water. The filter removes the dead algae, dirt, dust, and fine particles from the pool.
That second part is where DE filters are the clear winner. DE filters remove finer particles than sand or cartridge filters, which means cleaner water, better clarity, and faster recovery if the pool gets cloudy or green.
Here’s a simple visual showing why DE filters produce cleaner water:
Sand filters allow more fine particles through, cartridge filters catch more, and DE filters provide the cleanest filtration.
Sand Filters
Sand filters are simple and easy to backwash. They are the easiest filter type to understand and they require very little routine effort.
The downside is filtration quality. Sand filters allow more fine particles to pass through. That means the pool is more likely to look cloudy, need extra chemicals, or take longer to recover after dust, storms, algae, or heavy debris.
A sand filter can work, but it does not polish the water as well as a DE filter.
Cartridge Filters
Cartridge filters usually filter better than sand filters, but they are more work to clean.
To clean a cartridge filter, you have to take the filter apart, remove the cartridges, spray them down thoroughly, put everything back together, and make sure the filter seals properly.
That process takes time, tools, and effort. In our opinion, cartridge cleaning is one of the most annoying parts of pool maintenance.
One reason a cartridge filter may be a good fit is if there is not a good place near the equipment for dirty backwash water to discharge. Since cartridge filters do not backwash, they can make sense in some setups.
Cartridge filters can be a good option in certain situations, but they are not our first choice for most Tucson pools.
DE Filters
DE filters give the best water clarity because they filter the finest particles.
Routine cleaning is simple. You backwash the filter just like you would with a sand filter. When the backwash is finished, you add fresh DE powder through the skimmer while the pump is running.
The DE powder coats the inside of the filter and does the fine filtering. As water passes through, the powder catches fine dirt, dust, dead algae, and other small particles.
When you backwash the filter, the dirty DE powder and trapped particles are flushed out. Then fresh DE powder is added back in so the filter is ready to keep the water clean and clear.
That powder is important. If you do not add it after backwashing, the filter will not work the way it is supposed to.
Our Honest Ranking
- DE Filter
Best filtration, clearest water, fast recovery, and easy routine backwashing. - Cartridge Filter
Better filtration than sand, but more labor-intensive to clean. - Sand Filter
Simple and easy, but lowest filtration quality.
Final Recommendation
For most pools in Tucson, Splash Pool Service recommends a DE filter.
It filters the finest particles, keeps the water cleaner and clearer, helps the pool recover faster if it gets cloudy or green, and routine maintenance is simple.