Water not circulating -- DE filter stops up.

[Hookem]

I have a 60 cu ft de filter with a challenger 2hp pump. I have replaced the grids in my filter, replaced the mechanical seal, orings and gaskets in the pump, and have rebuilt the Multi port valve.

I backwash and recharge the filter, pressure is at 10 psi and water is circulating well. After about 1 hr the pressure is up to 20 psi and the water is not circulating and seems to be churning inside the pump basket.

I appreciate any words of advise or recommendations of any possible fixes.

[Watermom]

Is your pool full of algae by any chance? Live algae will clog up a DE filter in a heartbeat.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[Hookem]

It is because I can't keep the water circulating. The issue I am trying to figure out is why at 20 psi the pump stops circulating.
It just churns in the pump basket. It is like it is "dead heading" with the filter.

[PoolDoc]

If you have live algae in your pool -- your DE filter will stop up completely, regardless of pressure. I've seen DE filters go from full flow to no flow in 15 minutes.

You have to kill the algae FIRST.

. . . membership upgraded.

[Hookem]

How do I kill the algae if I can't keep the water circulating longer than 1 hr?

[JimK]

Are you able to bypass the filter, ie set it to recirculate or something like that?

[Hookem]

I will give this a try. Thanks

[PoolDoc]

Just pour bleach in! If you have a bucket, and can pre-mix it with some pool water that's best, but it will be OK even if you can't.

You don't have to circulate it to use bleach. But if you DO have a filter valve with a recirculate position, that's even better.