Getting serious about water testing finally

[Vtattebury]

Thanks Janet. I'll check the tabs and their ingredients.

I use tabs mostly because I'm not home for several days at a time, and my wife REALLY doesn't want to get into chemicals and maintenance other than the occasional skimming.

Last year I used tabs (usually three at a time), and supplemented or "shocked" with bleach when I needed to. This was all before getting deep into the forum and only testing with strips, so this year will be a big learning curve. Funny you mentioned late-season algae blooms, because that's EXACTLY what happened. I assumed it was due to the fact that the pool got more late season sun (it was shaded by trees for overhead mid-summer sun, but got the slanted late-summer stuff).

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A different question on more of an equipment line:

I have a Hayward 1.5 hp Power-flo matrix pump mated to a Hayward vari-flo XL valve (valve says 75 gpm max), on a swim pro sand filter (3.22 ft sq. effective filtration, filt. rate 25 gpm, 250lbs sand). Pump is basically new since the old one locked up and I just replaced it with the same specs. I remember finding out somewhere that my setup was most likely part of a kit. Pool is about an 18x30 oval 4' deep (give or take).

I'm wondering how they're matched up since I keep reading about oversized pumps and undersized filters being a problem, and I'm wary that I'm suffering from one of the effects of the dirt being pushed through the filter. I remember vacuuming thoroughly last year and the next day finding all the dirt back on the bottom of the pool.

Could this also be "bad" sand? Since I bought the pool with the house, I really don't have the history of it. Thanks all.

[aylad]

Usually there's no such thing as "bad" sand, unless you've been through a Baq conversion or used some sort of additive that gummed it up--there are many folks on the forum that have used their sand for several years--I think Watermom is on her 7 or 8th season with hers, and the other two mods are over 10 years with theirs, if memory serves. However, if you're having sand blowing back into the pool and if that's been happening for some time, you might need to replace the sand that has blown out.

I'll let Pooldoc or one of the other equipment experts answer your filter question, but I'm thinking that 1.5 hp pump is too strong for your filter. I have a 1 hp pump on a 325# sand filter.....

One reason for sand blowback is too big a pump for the filter, but another might be broken laterals in the filter. Just something to think about...

Janet

[Watermom]

I think Watermom is on her 7 or 8th season with hers

I'm actually on my 12th season with my same sand. I did top off my sand filter this year, but that is the first time I have done so since I bought this filter 12 seasons ago.

[Vtattebury]

Yes, I've heard sand lasts a long time. Just wondering (before I take off my valve!) how do I top it off? Is there something like a fill line I bring it up to? I've also been reading the threads about adding a little DE, and that seems like a great idea as well.

K2006 is finally on a UPS truck heading my way.

[Watermom]

Your manual should tell you how high to fill it.

[aylad]

Just make sure that after you fill it with new sand, you start the pump back up with the filter handle in "backwash" mode, let it backwash for a minute or two, then turn pump off, turn to rinse, let it rinse for a minute or so, THEN back to filter. If you don't, then all the dust from the sand will blow back into your pool, and create another week's worth of work to clean up--been there, done that!!

Janet