Torn filter grids - Need to replace

[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.