Dead algae, debris, insects, and body substances can all build up to cause discomfort or infection to the swimmer, so it is important to keep the water clean and hygienic using a filter pump in conjunction with chemicals. Filtration removes small particles and fine debris that are suspended in your pool water, helping to maintain the water clarity. A swimming pool maintenence kit (vacuum) may also be used to skim larger debris off your pool. The filter is also important to keep your water in regular circulation to ensure that chemicals are balanced throughout the water.

Cartridge Filters:

Most small pools come with a cartridge filter - this is the case with every pool on Active Toys (apart from the Play Pools). The cartridges in these usually need to be replaced at least once a year (click here to see our replacement filter cartridges).

Some customers put the filter cartridges in the dishwasher to clean them. This should keep them going for a while, but they do usually start to disintegrate after they have been cleaned two or three times. Often, if you experience a bad problem with algae and have a paper cartridge filter, the best thing to do is to empty the pool, scrub the sides with a tiny amount of washing-up liquid and start again. Otherwise, the filter will become blocked very quickly.

Sand filters:

Sand filters are generally used with larger pools. They use finely graded silica sand. With proper maintenance, the sand will remain in good condition and may not need to be changed for many years. You will not usually need a sand filter for a small above ground pool, but they can be a good investment. Different chemicals can be used with sand filters than paper cartridge filters (for example, chemicals that make algae clump together so that you can get rid of it more easily). Over time, grease, scale and other contaminants will build up in the filter. This will impair its efficiency and can substantially reduce the water flow and circulation through the system. To prevent this, the cartridge element should be cleaned, every two to six weeks, using Filter Cleaner. The sand filter should also be backwashed regularly as per the manufacturer's instructions, as this wil discharge the collected matter to waste. Once backwashed, the addition of Granular Floc or Water Clarifier will give you sparkling water.

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