What is DE filter powder for? What does DE powder it do?

[ybortony]

Hello,
What does the DE do and what will happen to my filter if i do not use DE. Thanks.

[mas985]

The DE protects the grids of a DE filter. If you do not use DE in a DE filter, dirt in the pool water will clog the grids and you may ruin them.

[cleancloths]

Well not really. While it might be partly true, that is not the reason for DE. Let's say you had a regular chain link fence and wanted to use it to stop marbles from getting out of your yard. It might stop a couple of them, but most would go right through the holes. If you could somehow support a couple of layers of tennis balls infront of the fence then all the marbles would be stopped form going through. That is what the DE does, it lets you filter much smaller particles than you could with just a mesh of polypropylene.

[waste]

GREAT analogy!!

ybortony, welcome to the Forum!

Take a look at this thread (http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?9189-cleaning-a-DE-filter) for some info on playing with a DE filter.

[mas985]

I assumed the OP already new that the primary purpose of DE was for filtering. I was focusing on the question about running without DE.