New to forum...please help...green pool and quickly clogging filter

[Watermom]

Do you have a submersible sump pump? I'm wondering if you could use it to circulate after you put in bleach. Then, once the algae is dead, then use your filter. Jan's right -- live algae clogs DE filters FAST!

[mas985]

Two options:

#1 Remove the filter grids and DE and then run without them until all of the algae is dead.

#2 Turn the pump off and circulate manually. When adding chlorine, walk around the edge of the pool pouring slowing. Mix it up a bit with a pool brush or leak rake. That should be good enough.

[paraman72]

I have had the similar problem, however my filter would clog in 5 minutes!!!!. I have 2 inch PVC piping from my pump to my filter, so i made a bypass and remove my filter so the water goes back into the pool to circulate the chemicals and kills the algae then I put the filter back in and go through the process of filtering the pool....

[PoolDoc]

Hi Josh;

Your membership is now upgraded; you can log on and see everything.

Regarding DE filters, it is unavoidable that live algae can stop them up almost instantly. The only work around is to kill the algae.

Mark's suggestion of removing the grids will work. But, the grids are often somewhat 'icky-picky' to remove and replace, and not the sort of task for someone who's not 'handy'. Plus, some styles are rather fragile, and as the filter ages, can become VERY fragile. All in all, I would not recommend it, though it will work.

Regarding the algae - if it's not dying, your chlorine is NOT in the "ideal range", no matter what your test kit or pool store says. Get a cheap OTO (yellow drops) test kit, and add chlorine till you get in the dark yellow range. Since you've got a DE filter, and can't circulate, use bleach. It can be added even when the pump is off.

A starting dose for a 10K gallon pool that's full of chlorine resistant algae would be 5 gallons of PLAIN 6% household bleach. Add this in the evening, and retest chlorine in the AM. If the algae is not dead AND the OTO chlorine level is not in the strong yellow range, add 2 more gallons immediately, and then 6 gallons that evening. Let us know what happens.

Also, you need to find out your CYA (stabilizer) level. If your CYA is quite high, it may take MUCH higher doses of chlorine, or some alternative treatments, to kill the algae.

[PoolDoc]

Just moved your thread where it belonged -- if you tried to post and couldn't, you can now. Sorry. Ben