Torn filter grids - Need to replace

[pineapple1]

First summer in our new home - time to open the pool. We purchased the house from my parents last fall and are trying our best to get the pool up and running. Upon inspecting the filter, I found that all of grids had been left outside underneath the deck. :( Long story short, the sunlight has completely destroyed them. Some of the girds on the bottom of the stack are "ok", but most are so brittle they tear if you touch them.

I've checked around online and found a few places that sell new grids. However, I'm pretty new at this, so I want to be sure A) I'm ordering from a reputatble place B) I'm ordering the right grids C) I'm getting the best price :)

I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on where I could order these from. I have a Nautilus filter. I beleive it's the 36, but the numbers are all worn off. I'm going off the measurements of the panels. (approx 11" wide, 18" tall).

THANKS!

[PoolDoc]

You've got two competing priorities: best product AND best price. You need to decide which is more important. I'd strongly recommend focusing on best product, which means OEM grids from a reliable seller. You *might* also get the best price, but that's not (IMO) what you need to focus on.

In particular, stay away from any aftermarket filter internals. In my experience, the quality of these is NEVER as good as the OEM parts. The OEM parts might not be great, but they're usually better than the copies.

You probably want to use the filter make and model # to make your order.

I've used this company myself:
http://www.a1poolparts.com/-strse-2812/Pentair-Nautilus-Plus-Filters/Detail.bok
They've done OK by me, but I don't have enough experience with them to "recommend" them.

Ben

[pineapple1]

Thanks Ben! That makes sense. I have no problem paying for quality, just so long as I know it actually IS quality. Besides, A1's prices are actually better than some of the other places I've seen. Is there any way to know for sure if these are OEM parts? I checked the FAQ but didn't see anything listed.

Also, is the model number listed anywhere else on the filter? The metal plaque on the side of the filter is so worn that I can't read any of the filled in information. All it says is Nautilus Diatomaceous Earth filter.

[PoolDoc]

If the plate's gone, it will be harder.

They may be able to work from dimensions. What I'd recommend is this:

#1 - measure and record the height and diameter of the filter.
#2 - photo the filter and the plate and email them to poolforum AT gmail DOT com, and I'll post them in this thread.
#3 - copy the link to this thread, open another browser window with your email client, and copy the link URL for this thread into that blank email. Add the dimensions.
#4 - call A1, ask for the reps email address and send them the email. Ask them to take a look.
#5 - Proceed from there.

Ben

[pineapple1]

Ben,

1) Height: approx. 37-1/2 inches. Appears to match the "FNS 36" according to the manual I found here -> Nautilus FNS Manual (http://www.pentairpool.com/pdfs/FNSOM.pdf) (Page 9/10). Diameter: approx. 19 inches (60in circumference).

2) See email to follow

Thanks again!

-Dan

[pineapple1]

I've just placed an order with A1 for the correct grids. I ordered a complete set and hope to have them early next week. (don't think they'll make it to NJ before the weekend). In the meanwhile, is there anything I should be doing to help my pool along? I don't suppose running the filter with torn panels will do much eh? I'd like to think they must be stopping something, but maybe I'm just being optimistic. Pointless to add chemicals right now?

It took me a bit to catch the torn filters at first. When initially opening the pool, I installed the grids, added the recommended amounts of D.E. to the skimmer, and watched as the DE blew back into the pool. Opened the filter back up and quickly noticed that the grids were shot. So now I've got all this DE floating around in my pool right? When I get the new grids, should I still do the pre coating procedure? Will the DE that's in the pool eventually cake itself on the filter? Again, I'm pretty new at this :)

[PoolDoc]

If your pool is a swamp, you can go ahead and do the physical cleaning -- skimming and leaf raking needed. You can even (if it's an AG pool) vacuum sludge off the bottom, by setting up a siphon with a long vac hose.

You can also begin treating the water, once you've removed the bulk sludge and leaves, and it's much better to be adding bleach / acid / borax with the water circulating, than not.

Up to you, however.

Ben

[pineapple1]

It's pretty swampy. When I first opened it, I added four 1-lb bags of "TurboShock" (stuff the pool place sold me) along with a bottle of Algaecide (which I've since read mixed things about). As soon as I added them, blankets of what appeared to be fabric - but was in fact algae - started floating to the surface. I skimmed all of those out, but have a feeling there's still more sitting on the bottom. It's not an above ground, but I do have a valve on my plumbing to bypass the filter and go directly to waste (I think that's what it does). I guess I could hook up the vacuum and do it this way - sans filter.

Is there any harm in running the pump and filter with the torn grids? If so, I could run it just for circulations sake and add the recommended bleach / acid / borax.

[madwil]

nope, no harm in running the filter- the grids are already torn; if you have a bypass mode, I might use that initially; but the pool water eventually needs to cycle inside the filter to kill anything in there also!

[Watermom]

The white floating stuff is most likely from the algaecide you added. Many of those cause the water to get foamy.

[waste]

Hi pineapple - welcome to the Forum!

Where about in NJ are you, I grew up in Tenafly. :)

Does your multiport allow you to 'recirc'? If it does, that will bypass the filter and let you circulate the water and you won't be passing algae-filled water through the gridless filter.