Zeolite is a mineral. It is formed by volcanic ash precipitating out of the atmosphere and landing in salt water pools. It combines with up to 40 additional materials to form a new mineral called zeolite. It is surface mined and processed to a consistency and size of sand pool filter media.

Zeolites have a surface area of 1,000's of times that of sand and consequently filters down to three microns. Silica sand filters to 30 to 20 microns. Therefore, zeolites filter similar to D.E. filters with the ease of sand filtration.

Zeolites have an additional advantage of having a cation exchange capacity and therefore will 'filter' out chloramines. If a pool is properly maintained, this is not a big deal but if chloramines are formed, they have the capacity to remove them. Eventually, the zeolite media is saturated and the media needs to be recharged. This is a simple process of soaking the media with a very strong solution of salt overnight and the media is 'good for another cycle'.

There are several brands of zeolites. The downside of zeolites are the cost. Although the density of zeolites are half of sand (50 pounds of sand equals 25 pounds of zeolite) the cost is about double of sand. For example, if a sand filter needs 150 pounds of sand, it will be replaced with only 75 pounds of zeolite media. Again, the cost will be about double to upgrade to a zeolite.

It should be noted that the filter cycle is two to three time as long as sand. however, because the zeolites are surface mined, they are 'dirtier' than normal sand and need to be backwashed to waste about 15 minute when initially put into the filter. The 'fines' need to be purged from the media on the initial application.