Sand Filtration is Dead

• Sand Filtration is Dead but your Sand Filter may not be.

• Sand and cartridge filters leave many undesirables and UNHEALTHY

particles in your pool and require more chemicals to maintain a
healthy pool. The particles accumulate as TDS or Total Dissolved
Solids. There has only been one way in the past to over come this
problem and that was to use D.E. filtration [diatomaceous earth]
High Performance
Pool Filter Media
Keeps pools
SPARKLING CLEAR
Where is Zelbrite made?
This remarkable material is manufactured to
exacting standards by Zeolite Australia Ltd.
At our Werris Creek plant in NSW. QUEENSLAND

Werris Creek Deposit & Plant

• Australia’s leading commercial premium
grade zeolite deposit.
WERRIS CREEK
• A unique deposit which is outperforming
other products in this area. NSW
• Other deposits in Emerald, Queensland.
What is Zelbrite?

Zelbrite is manufactured from a ‘clinoptilolite’, a premium natural zeolite

mineral. Environmentally safe. Zelbrite is non toxic and does not involve the
use of chemicals.
Zelbrite is a natural blotting paper due to its cage-like lattice structure,
Zelbrite captures pollutants such as ammonium
in an ion-exchange natural process.

Compare the complex

natural structure of
Zelbrite with that of
smooth silica sand.

Sand Smooth Zelbrite Porous

How is Zelbrite made?
• Zelbrite is processed and graded to a uniform standard to
achieve optimum filtration performance

• Rigorous QA/QC procedures ensure consistent

product quality.

• Zelbrite is packed in convenient 15kg bags for

domestic use (equivalent in volume
to 20kg sand) 67 bags per
“shrink wrapped” pallet.
Larger packs up to 1 tonne
bulker bags are available
for commercial use.
 Zelbrite Filters
out the Nasties
Tests conducted by the Australian Water Quality Centre prove
that Zelbrite Filter Media out filters both sand and D.E.

ZELBRITE°

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (DE)*

FILTER MEDIA

SAND*

Giardia

Cryptosporidium

20 15 10 5 3 1
MICRONS
 Why Zelbrite filtration is
better than sand
Sand filters only by:
• Mechanical straining
• Sedimentation
• Flocculation

• Sand Particle size 0.45 – 0.55 mm Zelbrite Particle size 0.5 - 2.2 mm
• Sand Surface area < 0.2 m² / gram Zelbrite Surface area > 450 m² / gram
Why Zelbrite
filtration is better
than sand
• Zelbrite’s unique filtration
combines many actions
• Mechanical straining
• Sedimentation
• Flocculation
• Physical adsorption
• Electrostatic Adsorption
• Van der Walt’s Bonds &
Ion Exchange
Capability with
Chemicals
Proper Chemical treatment
• pH Ideal Range = 7.2 - 7.6
 Increase pH with Soda Ash/Sodium carbonate (ph up)
 Decrease pH with Hydrochloric Acid / Sodium Bisulphate
• Total Alkalinity ideal range = 80 – 120 ppm
 Increase alkalinity with Sodium Bicarbonate
 Decrease alkalinity with Hydrochloric Acid / Sodium Bisulphate
• Calcium Hardness ideal range with Zelbrite is 100 – 250 ppm
 Increase Calcium Hardness with Calcium Chloride
 Decrease Calcium Hardness by dilution
 In hard water areas use a sequestering agent to aid clarity
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) ideal range < 1,000 ppm
 Sodium Chloride - Most common component
 Calcium compounds – Can cause problems at low levels
Cost Savings &
Return on Investment
Benefits of using Zelbrite

 Provides Superior Water Clarity

 Lowers Operating Costs
 Cuts Backwashing up to 50%
 Reduces Chloramines,
 Reduces Odour and Eye Burning
 Filters Particles Down to 3 Microns
 Environmentally Safe
 All Natural
 Return on Investment
• Provides a higher dollar profit return to the seller
• 25% more than sand
• Lowers pool operating problems for the user
• Creates happy customers and swimmers
• Satisfied customers become repeat customers and
your best source of advertising
Why choose to use Zelbrite?
• For the best quality water
• the better the filtration the less chemicals you use
• the removal of ammonia which is caused by urine
• dead skin
• sweat and other organic materials
• form what is called Chloramines which
 cause itchy skin and
 stingy eyes and
 if it is an indoor pool THAT SMELL.
Zelbrite filter media will save on chemicals

• The better the filtration the less chlorine you need to sanitize you pool water
because tests carried out by the Australian Water Quality Centre in Adelaide
show that as a filter media it will remove dirt particles down to 2 microns. (none
of our competitors have gone to the trouble and the expense to prove how
good their product is)

• Be warned not all zeolites are as efficient as Zelbrite.

Zelbrite filter media will save on water
• Using Zelbrite can save you up to 50% of your water

• Because of the much larger surface area it takes longer to get dirty

• Tests show that using Zelbrite you will only need to backwash only half
as often as you would if using sand

• This not only saves water you will save on heating and chemicals
because you are not having to add as much water to top up your pool.
Natural Zelbrite Benefits
• Finer Filtration
• Removes ammonia from pool
• Reduces odour
• Enhances chlorine performance
• No more burning eyes
• Extends plate life of salt water chlorinators
Zelbrite
really
works!
Better Filtration
Saves Water
Saves Chemicals
Saves Heating
Testimonials
CAIRNS ESPLANADE LAGOON
CAIRNS CITY COUNCIL
CAIRNS ESPLANADE LAGOON - CAIRNS CITY COUNCIL
LANE COVE AQUATIC LEISURE CENTRE
INTERNATIONAL RECREATION &
AQUATIC CENTRE – CANBERRA
INTERNATIONAL RECREATION &
AQUATIC CENTRE – CANBERRA
INTERNATIONAL RECREATION &
AQUATIC CENTRE – CANBERRA
BRAIDWOOD SWIMMING POOL
KANGAROO VALLEY SWIMMING POOL
KANGAROO VALLEY SWIMMING POOL
NOVOTEL HOTEL - BRIGHTON LE SANDS
NOVOTEL HOTEL - BRIGHTON LE SANDS
NOARLUNGA AQUATIC CENTRE
 NOARLUNGA AQUATIC CENTRE

50 Metre Pool at 12pm after 7 hours use

NOARLUNGA AQUATIC CENTRE
TEEN RANCH – COBBITTY
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
FOR THE POOL PROFESSIONAL

What is Zelbrite?

Zelbrite is an advanced filtration material that outperforms the

traditional pool filtration mediums of sand and Diatomaceous Earth.

It is manufactured from zeolitic material which is formed as a result of

volcanic activity. There are a range of different zeolite materials
produced with varying properties. The key active ingredient in
Zelbrite is the mineral clinoptilolite. Clinoptilolite has a proven
scientific track record in water treatment and Zelbrite now brings
these advanced filtration features which produce superior water
quality and economic benefits, to the pool and spa industries.
The Active Ingredient Clinoptilolite

Clinoptilolite is a mineral with very special properties.

One of its properties is that it has an infinitely extending “cage” like

structure resulting in large internal pore spaces.

It also has a very high surface area, in the range of 20 to 30 m2 per

gram. This is best appreciated as a teaspoon of Zelbrite having
enough surface area to cover a football field. Imagine the effective
surface area in a Zelbrite filter!

A further amazing property of clinoptilolite is that it is chemically

active. Within its structure it has calcium, magnesium and sodium
ions which it can exchange
Continued…
Continued…

for pollutants such as ammonium which will be present in the pool

water. This process is called “ion-exchange” and is an important
mechanism in Zelbrite providing a chemical treatment action in
tandem with physically trapping pollutants in water.

In addition to Zelbrite’s ion-exchange capacity, it also has the ability to

adsorb a range of pollutant organic-molecules present in swimming
pool water. This ability results from its unique surface structure and
an electrical charge on the surface of the crystalline structure and
from a secondary pore structure existing between individual crystals
which can trap larger organic molecules.
Why Zelbrite Works as a Superior Filter

With all the unique properties of clinoptilolite working in Zelbrite, the

pool water not only gets a superior “physical” treatment but an
additional “chemical” treatment, resulting in cleaner pool water. No
other filtration medium on the market (such as sand and DE) can
produce this “double whammy” treatment of pool water!

The difference in “physical” performance can be explained by the fact

that the surface of sand is quite smooth and non-porous.
Contaminants can only be trapped between the sand grains. Zelbrite
not only traps contaminants between grains, but additionally traps
contaminants onto its vast pitted surface area and within its porous
structure.
Continued…

Thus, its ability to attract, capture and hold dirt and other contaminants
is far greater than conventional filtration materials. It also traps finer
particles such as colloids and can filter to diatomaceous earth
standards or better. This translates to exceptional pool-water clarity
and sparkle.

From the “chemical” perspective, it is important to understand that most

contaminants in pool water are of organic origin produced by bathers
(human detritus from skin cells to urea). These complex organic
substances containing nitrogen eventually breakdown to
ammonia/ammonium. Chlorine, used for disinfection, combines both
with the ammonia and with these organic pollutants, to form both
irritating and dangerous compounds.

Continued…
Continued…

For example, when ammonium ions mix with chlorine, chloramines

are formed (these register as combined chlorine in testing).
Chloramines are the compounds generally responsible for the acrid
odours and burning eyes in pools.

By removing ammonium by ion-exchange, Zelbrite significantly

reduces the propensity to form these compounds. Additionally, the
chemical adsorption qualities of Zelbrite, remove harmful organic
pollutants and again lessen their interaction with chlorine.

Continued…
Continued…

Besides the superior water quality produced for bathers, chlorine

usage is markedly reduced as ammonium and organic contaminants
are removed, and the chlorine is utilised in disinfection (free chlorine)
rather than combining (combined chlorine) with contaminants.

As a consequence the ancillary chemical requirements are reduced

and total dissolved solid (TDS) build-up is also reduced.
How Long Does Zelbrite Last?

The active component clinoptilolite is encased in a very solid and

stable mineral complex which results in a very robust Zelbrite filtration
particle.

In fact most zeolite material around the world is quite soft and would
be totally unsuitable to withstand the rigours of filtration, backwashing
and constant contact between particles.

As a result Zelbrite has a prolonged life, due to its exceptional

hardness and resistance to attrition.

Continued…
Continued…

The physical properties of a Zelbrite filter media keep working year

after year with normal filter maintenance such as backwashing.

On the chemical side, the Zelbrite can be considered as a “chemical

sponge”. Once the sponge is fully saturated, it needs to be
regenerated if all the chemical benefits are to be retained.
Regeneration of Zelbrite

• In order to restore the “chemical” capacity of Zelbrite, the

ion-exchange process is effectively reversed. This is achieved by
making sodium ions displace the captured ions such as ammonium.

• Refer back to “Procedure for Regeneration” for Zelbrite Pool

Filter Media.

• For detail on regeneration for large commercial installations, please

contact Zeolite Aust for additional information.
 A SUMMARY OF THE BENEFITS OF
THIS AMAZING FILTRATION MATERIAL

The benefits can be grouped into the following general areas:

Water quality

Health benefits

Environmental and Economic benefits

SAVES WATER
Water quality benefits:

• Higher dirt holding capacity and removal of finer particles (down to

diatomaceous earth standards or better) provides cleaner pool water
which can be measured as lower suspended solids (SS).

• Chemical ion-exchange and also adsorption lead to a marked

reduction of ammonia/ammonium and a reduction in a range of
organic contaminants. This can be measured by taking ammonia
readings and combined chlorine readings which will be lower.

• As a result of lower chemical usage, pool water total dissolved solids

(TDS) will be significantly lower. This can be confirmed by
measurement of TDS.
Health benefits:

• The unpleasant effects of stinging eyes, irritating or dry skin, acrid

chemical smells are mostly eliminated. These are generally cause by
mono- and dye-chloramines formed by the reaction of
ammonia/ammonium (present from the breakdown of human organic
detritus) and the chlorine used for disinfection. Zelbrite by removing
ammonia/ammonium from the water prevents the formation of these
irritating and dangerous compounds.

• Water quality and health specialists believe that some of the

compounds formed between the interaction of ammonia/ammonium,
organic contaminants and chlorine are potentially carcinogenic.

Continued…
Continued…

• By removing ammonia/ammonium and organic contaminates with

Zelbrite filtration media before they interact with chlorine, the risk of
forming these dangerous compounds is dramatically reduced.

• Bacteria causing infections and disease seek protection wherever

they can and will inhabit the dirt particles in a pool to some extent be
protected from chlorination. By providing a cleaner pool, Zelbrite
enhances the effectiveness of chlorination to eradicate these bugs
and provide a safer and healthier swimming pool.
Environmental factors:

• The greater dirt-holding capacity of Zelbrite means that there is less

frequency of backwashing and hence less discharge of wastewater to
the environment.

• The chemical action of Zelbrite and its “buffering” capacity results in a

more efficient use of chlorine and a reduction in other chemicals used
for pH control As a result the total dissolved solids (TDS) discharged
to the environment is lower.
Economic factors:

• Although Zelbrite will initially cost more than filter sand,

a consideration of economic benefits shows that ‘life-cycle’ costs are
in fact much lower. Key economic benefits include:

 As the frequency of backwashing is less, this can give

considerable savings in water costs plus the backwash water
contains heat and chemicals which also have to be replaced.

 These are immediate savings as less frequent backwashing

saves water heating and chemicals

Continued…
Continued…

 The more efficient use of chlorine (resulting from the removal of

ammonia/ammonium and organic contaminants) leads to very
significant reduction in chlorine usage. Typically chlorine usage
reductions of 30% or greater are achieved.

 The natural ‘buffering’ characteristics of Zelbrite and lower use of

disinfectants results in lower use of chemicals (such as carbon
dioxide) for pH control.

Continued…
Continued…

 The less dense nature of the Zelbrite filtration particle and its specific
structure results in the filter medium being less restrictive to water
flow than sand. This manifests ultimately as a saving in
power/electricity.

 With specific equipment such as salt chlorinators (installed

downstream of the Zelbrite filter) the electricity consumption is less.
This results in the extension of the plate life of the chlorinator.
THESE REMARKABLE ECONOMIC SAVINGS IN THE USE OF
THE ZELBRITE FILTRATION MEDIUM ARE NOT ACHIEVED
WITH ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS SAND AND D.E.

THERE ARE COMPELLING REASONS FROM THE POOL

AESTHETIC, WATER QUALITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW TO
NOW USE THIS ADVANCED FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY IN
SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS.
Properties:

• Zelbrite is a natural alumino silicate material that has been processed

to provide superior water filtration performance.

• In addition to being an active media that can capture contaminants

such as ammonium, Zelbrite has large external and internal surface
areas to provide superlative filtration
Properties:

Particle Size 0.5 2mm

Solid Density 2.2 2.3 g/cc (2200 2300 kg/m3)
Filtration media bulk density 1.15 g/cc (1150 kg/m3)
Hardness 7 Mohs
Wet Attrition Test (Mercer & 0.98
Ames)
External surface area 20-25 m2/g
Cation Exchange Capacity 119 meq/100g
Ammonium Exchange 104 meq/110g
Molecular Channel Size 7.9 x 3.5 angstroms
4.4 x 3 angstroms
Question:
Why should I use Zelbrite instead of sand in my filter?

Answer:
Zelbrite is the filter media of the future and has much more to offer:

• The performance of D.E. with the ease of sand

• Better filtration (2 microns) means a saving in chemicals usage and better
looking water.
• Removal of ammonia, better swimming comfort, no smell, no more irritation
to skin and eyes
• Because of its greater surface area you will not have to backwash as often.
On average twice as long between backwashing therefore saving
water – up to 50%
Continued…
Continued:

• Leading Australian swimming pool filter manufacturers recognise

these benefits and have chosen to promote this ultimate filter media.

• Not only has Zelbrite been chosen as the first form of filter media in
domestic pools it is being used in many aquatic centres – swim
schools and council pools through Australia and overseas.

• Zelbrite comes from a naturally formed volcanic rock which is mined

at Werris Creek in Northern N.S.W. Australia
Question:

Why do you have to backwash and rinse 3 times when you first fill a
filter with Zelbrite and before you start filtering?

Answer:
• Like sand there is dust in Zelbrite so by backwashing it will remove the
dust and flush it down the drain and not back to the pool.

• The second and third backwash and rinse separates all the different
grades so that you have all .5mm on the top with all the other grades
below ending up with the 2mm covering laterals.

Continued…
Continued…

• This will give you the maximum filtration of 2 microns as shown by the
results of the tests conducted by the Adelaide University and The
Australian Water Quality Centre

• No other zeolite filter media has achieved these impressive results.

PROCEDURE FOR REGENERATING ZELBRITE FILTER MEDIA

• Stop pump

• Close gate valves if fitted (usually when filter is

below water level)

• Disconnect the plumbing from the backwash valve. (most filters have
barrel which can be undone by hand)

• Remove the backwash valve from the top of the filter (or in the case
of a side mounted valve) remove the cover plate. There is no need to
remove the water

Continued…
Continued:

• Add pool salt directly into the top of the filter tank.
 18” – 24” approx size of filter tank – ½ a bag of salt
 32” – 34” approx size of filter tank – 1 bag of salt

• Replace the backwash valve (or cover plate) and reconnect

the plumbing.

• Open the gate valves, if fitted.

• Allow the stand overnight before backwashing and rinsing

(about 3 times) ensuring the pump is turned off before
turning the backwash handle.
 Manufactured in Australia by
ZEOLITE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Escott Rd, Werris Creek, NSW 2341
Phone 02 6768 7080
www.zelbrite.com

For further information on this new

advanced pool filtration medium please contact:

Peter Rabbidge
Sales Manager, Zelbrite Division
Email: rabbs9@bigpond.com.au
Phone: 02 4651 2377
Mobile: 0407 078 075