sand filter maintenance?

[CarlD]

Ah, there you are stuck--you must use filter sand or you can ruin your filter's laterals--and it won't work well--but find a discount pool store to buy it from. But if you don't use weird, unnecessary chemicals that gum up your sand, it should last forever.

As it gets older it does filter better. You can accelerate/simulate that by adding DE to your filter--enough to make the pressure increase about 4-5 pounds--no more. Poconos and I have been experimenting with it and REALLY like our results. You only need about half a measure of DE each time you backwash--about a cup or so--$8 worth easily lasted me ALL season.

But, I believe if you convert from bacquacil to chlorine, you'll need to change the sand when you are done--I could be wrong.

[lukester]

Cool. Thanks for the info. So you just pour the DE in the skimmer?

[CarlD]

Cool. Thanks for the info. So you just pour the DE in the skimmer?

Yup. Slowly, of course. Start with a cup, wait a while till the pressure rises and then stabilizes, and, if necessary add a little more. If you put in too much, and the pressure goes too high, just do a standard backwash and it will be washed out.