Running out of POP!

[PoolDoc]

Ben do you think turning off the filter will let the particles settle?

I don't know. I'm going to be recommending a 3-stage trial:

1. Try to settle with nothing. Vacuum to waste if it works.
2. Add floc, and try to settle. Again, vacuum to waste if it works.
3. Add clarifier, and try again.

During the recirculation steps (2 & 3) it will be important to bypass the filter. I do know that sand filters can 'break' floc agglomerations.

[sosspenc]

Thanks!! The pump is a Hayward SuperPump if that helps any. I just checked and adjusted the cl- to 20; it was between 15 and 20. I'm going to let it circulate for another half-hour and shut off the pump. I agree that the dead algae is going right through the filter. The first few days I was needing to backwash every few hours; now the pressure rises maybe 1-2 psi over the course of the day..even with the DE added. I will report back with results on your recommendations. Once again, thank you so much.
Stella

[PoolDoc]

Yeah. A 3/4HP Super Pump is almost certainly over-driving a Tagelus 50D, which shouldn't be run at more than 35 GPM max. If you have an up-rate Super, you're probably running 40 - 50 GPM.

Tell me what your clean filter pressure is, and I can estimate it more accurately.

[sosspenc]

Clean pressure hovers between 11 psi & 12 psi. When I restart pump, I can check that against another gauge. Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

That would suggest you are running between 40 and 50 GPM if the pump is an SP2605x7, or between 50 and 65 GPM if it's a SP2607x10 . . .

[sosspenc]

Ok, so I walk out this morning....cloudiness is about the same. There may be a very slight difference, or it may be my eyes being optimistic. As to the pump, the model # C48J2N131B1 and the motor # SP-1605-Z1-M Service: 1.0.

I was thinking of taking a bucket of the pool water and adding floc to that (as a trial) before adding to my pool, to see if it would settle in the bucket.

[sosspenc]

I did some experimenting today. I hauled about 10, 5 gallon buckets to work with me. I work with fish. I filled 3 five gallon aquariums with my water, and hooked up a mini sand, DE, and cartridge filter. After about 6 hours, the DE had started to clear the water; the sand and cartridge will probably still be the same a month from now!. I tried a few different polymer pool flocs. I used one beaker with nothing added as a control, none of them did a thing. I had cultured for algae last week (just in case I hadn't shocked it into oblivion)...no algae in the pool water (or there wasn't last Wednesday, and I have maintained same cl level). I don't know if any of this will help. Is there a chance that an alum based floc would work?? I couldn't get my hands on any today.