Originally Posted by
PoolDoc
Lawrosa;
If I understand correctly, this is your situation:
#1 - You have a sand filter with fresh genuine filter sand, and a pressure gauge.
Yes last yr when I picked it up from the list site. New sand and laterals. New spider gasket.
#2 - After the sand filter, you have a cartridge filter (ie., in series with the sand filter)
This filter ALSO has a pressure gauge.
They both have gauges. Its the cart, then the sand, The cart has a direct union pump to cart. Cant get inbetween it with out major repipe.
#3 - You've been adding DE to the skimmer, so it ends up on the sand filter.
I have been adding de with cart out. Then reinstall cart.
#4 - The pressure gauge on the on the CARTRIDGE filter has been dropping after a 12 hour run.
Ran Only cart last night. Starts at 14 psi. Ran on low speed. starts 4 psi. Woke up this morning and put on high. Figure it should be above 14 psi. Was like 12 1/2. Dont know why. Hooked sand back inline and am doing as above.
#5 - You didn't mention the pressure before / after on the sand filter, EXCEPT that you add enough DE to cause it to increase by 1#
Sand starts at 12psi. add de goes to 13-14 psi. Gets good pressure after 12 hours. 18 psi or so, but then just stops and will not rise anymore. I figure its channeling so I backwash and repeat.
Here's what I think is happening.
Once you add the DE, the pressure on the sand filter goes up at once. Because your sand filter IS working, the DE stops there, and does not reach the cartridge filter. However, you notice the pressure on cartridge filter DECREASES overnight. What you probably did not notice was that the pressure on the SAND filter increased over that same interval. This reduced flow to the cartridge filter, which would -- absent other effects -- reduce pressure.
Yes this is what is happening. But this way. As the sand filter builds up pressure the cart does also because its trying to push through clogged up sand. The cart alone by itself was the one thatdropped pressure which is odd. Because when I first install yesterday I noted 14 psi start pressure hi, 4 psi lo. The next day when I went from lo to high the pressure was lower. I have no clue whats happening there.
What this indicates is that the sand filter PLUS the DE is filtering everything there is to filter. IF you add the DE to the sand filter, there's no need for the cartridge filter. But a DE coated sand filter is a *TINY*, very low dirt capacity DE filter. You might be better off to EITHER remove the cartridge OR not add DE. Without DE, the sand filter will get the big stuff, and the cartridge will get smaller stuff.
I dont think they are getting anything. Although it would seem the sand with DE is doing something. Without de in the sand filter it will sit at 12 psi all day........
All that said, I'm not sure why your pool is not cleaning up. But, I've seen this problem before, locally, didn't understand it then, either and have noted that it has been associated with use of goop, like clarifiers. But let me be 'perfectly' clear: I do NOT know that the clarifier is the problem; I don't know WHAT the problem is.
Have never added anything to my pool from day one but BBB. When I bought the pool I found your site back in 2005. They gave me a box with the pool of something that does it all. It was a powder. They said its adjusts everything automatically. Threw it in the garbage.
What I can tell you is that I have ALWAYS been able to clean up pools quickly, once the algae was dead, with either sand filters or DE filters as long as they were in good condition. However, I don't use (or haven't for the last 20 years) use goop. Quickly, in this situation, equals 2 - 5 days.
Its been two weeks and one day today.
One of the problems with polymers, algaecides and so on is that you end up with an electrical mishmash. It's possible to combine anionic and cationic and non-ionic polymers in such a way that you can't filter anything. But, because the chem companies don't want to talk about risks OR about the details of their "proprietary" products, this can happen without warning. Also, there are several ways to precipitate colloidal (= very fine, non-filterable) particles. The HEDP metal & stain products are particularly risky this way.
Have you done this, in your pool? Dunno.
I used clarifier, the blue stuff not a floc, one yr when I had a cloudy pool. Cleared overnight. So I thought it would work here. I added this in oz on 4 different days. 2oz-2oz-4oz-4oz. I am not adding anymore. The bottle says 4 oz trats 10,000 gal. I am 12x18 oval 4.5' deep.
If you just keep filtering, how long will it take to clear? Dunno.
Im' a filterin'
Is there anything you can do to speed it up? Short of setting up an inground pump with an inground DE filter on a separate loop, probably not.
Should you drain? Dunno.
My pump on high with cart stats 80 gpm. 6200 gals should turn around in less the 2 hrs. The stuff seems too fine for filtering.
I can tell you what I'd probably do, if I was taking care of the pool, but I'm uncertain enough that I'm ONLY offering this as an example, not a recommendation. Anyhow:
#1 - Backwash the sand filter and do NOT add DE.
#2 - Clean the cartridge.
#3 - Put both in service.
#4 - Run the pump on high for 48 hours, while maintaining chlorine levels.
#5 - Add NOTHING else, except chlorine.
#6 - If there's no visible improvement after 2 days, drain (as much as you can safely) and refill.
If there is no improvment I am going to visit you so we can swim in your pool. Me, the wife and 3 kids. Now my youngest is still in diapers. I will put the swimmies on him but I hope he dont have an accident in your pool...LOL. My 10 yr old might add some yellow water to your pool though...LOL.
Sorry I couldn't help more
Thats OK. I have alot of patience. Its the kids. They want to know why everyone else is swimming in thier pools and we are not. My 10 yr old is even questioning what I am putting in the pool. He sees the other kids father using floats with pucks, and he wants to know why I am using bleach. He says its my fault. Uggg!!! My kids think Im a failure.....LOL
Ben
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