Please help me pick a new DE Filter

I have struggled to maintain clarity in my pool for several years now. The details are in this thread: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...ening-Problems.

I didn't know at the time that my 325# sand filter was sized too small for my 1-HP pump. The only other thing I can do at this time is do a complete sand change (4th time) and only run the pump on low speed. I really don't want to do this again. I am convinced that because my pool gets clobbered by leaves etc. that a sand filter just does not do a good job on my pool and I want to go back to DE.

My previous filter was an old Sta-Rite DE Grid filter. When I upgraded my pump and filter 6 years ago I decided to go to Sand because I thought it would be less maintenance but that has not been the case for me. I realize that the DE may be a little more work but I'm willing to trade that for better water quality.

I noticed that most Mods and contributors on this board are reluctant to recommend a brand but I am really clueless here. I like the Pentair brand so that's what I'll probably go back with but I noticed that there are several flavors of models for each brand. The other one I'm looking at is the Hayward.

If nothing else is there any particular model I should stay away from? I really like the Top valve configuration, is there any that would have a similar set-up to my Tagelus 60D that I currently have?

Thanks for your help. If you don't want to state your opinion in the open then PM's are welcome.

Any opinions?

Blue White flowmeter in hand. I'll know for sure what my flow is in the next few days.

I'm sorry you are not getting any replies. I don't know specifics about DE models since I use a sand filter. Maybe somebody else will chime in here with an opinion?

Hey, Goose :)

I'm not sure you need to buy a new filter. We can discuss that later.

When you install the flowmeter, PLEASE be sure to follow the instructions for placement!!! (a flowmeter that is installed without following the "10/5 rule is just a waste of $ !)

Can you give me some quick tips? The directions that came with it were quite spartan. I assume you mean about the space before and after with no bends etc.? I should be able to do that.

Also the way it looks I just drill a hole in the pipe big enough for the pilot and then clamp it on with the gasket? Again, the directions were not very detailed.

Yep, that's how you install it. If you got the model for horizontal flow then make sure it's pretty close to vertical when installed. Install the meter where there is at least 10 x the pipe inside diameter before the meter and 5 x the pipe id after. Be careful when you drill to cut only the hole you need, there's not alot of extra for the gasket to seal on the sides. The instructions should specify the hole size.

I'm stunned that a 325# sand filter is too small for a 1hp pump and 18k pool!

I suspect you are going at it all wrong because that filter should EASILY be more than adequate, even oversized. I run a 1hp (full-rated) pump with a 200# sand filter and 19,000-20,000 gallons with no problems at all. I have a two speed and full speed isn't a problem.

So...it could be a damaged or defective filter, multivalve, or pump. Or the whole thing isn't plumbed correctly. But there's no way a 325# filter should be too small for any 1hp pump. So I'm thinking you are looking in the wrong place for your solution.

OK, here's what I have done since yesterday. I was gone until late last night. I stopped by Wal-Mart (at 4 am!) and bought 13 174 oz jugs of Great Value bleach.

When I got home I added 10. I wanted to super-chlorinate the pool, and I did. According to my calculations, this would put me at ~50 ppm FC from my level of 5.

Today, the water looks much, much better. Apparently, even though I *thought* I had shocked it enough, maybe I didn't. I'm not gonna yet say that it's clear, but it's better. More importantly, there was a lot of "junk" on the bottom that I vac'd to waste. I assume that the shock levels precipitated something out.

Also, I checked the spider gasket. Everything appears to be normal there.

On a side note, I went by the pool store to pick up filter sand (what a rip!- $15/bag). I picked up 3 bags of sand to top off the filter. Pentair spec's say that the level should be 10" from the top so that's what I'm gonna do. For giggles, I let them test my pool water. I looked at their tester, but I forgot the name. Basically it takes a single cell of pool water for each chemical. Most of their results were somewhat close to mine, with the exception of CYA. They showed 10, I measured 40 yesterday. I told her about my persistent cloudy water and her answer was basically that I may have to live with it because there were a lot of people with cloudy water this year! She did try to sell me this and that but I always have my Std. answer: I already have it. And I let them think I bought it from them.

Oh, and BTW, I tried to test for FC and CC but stopped at 30+ ppm. I really wanted to know what my CC was, but I'm almost out of reagent, as you can imagine after 60 drops.

Is there a way to test the FC using 1 drop = 1 ppm? Maybe have 5 ml of water instead of 10?