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.