Should I change my filter sand?

[CaptainHowdy]

Thanks guys....I had concern after reading online reviews for that sand, several people had problems. The pump I bought last week (I am still concerned why the old one failed after less than 4 years) It got very hot and only hummed at the end. It's a Milennium 2 HP, 2 speed. I have a 24 foot above ground pool...the filter is a 22 inch milennium ball. I thought about painting it yellow and making it a minion, lol. Yes, in fact, when I put the sand in back in August 2012 I put water at the bottom of the filter, and put in 4 bags of sand....it was filled to the widest point of the filter, not to the top, per the instructions of the pool store. What is a DE test?

[Watermom]

The DE test is what PoolDoc described in step 2 of his post above. It checks to see if your filter is working correctly. If, after adding the DE, you see it shooting out of the return jet, you know that you have a filter that is not working properly.

[CaptainHowdy]

I get that, I just have no bloody idea what DE is, lol.

[Watermom]

DE is Diatomaceous Earth and is dust made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is the filter media that is used in DE filters. Many of us who have sand filters use it to help filter out the really tiny dust that the sand won't catch. And, we also suggest throwing a handful in when there is a question of whether a sand filter is working properly or not. You can buy it at a pool store and maybe at Lowe's or someplace like that.

Adding DE to a Sand Filter

[CaptainHowdy]

Gracias

[Watermom]

De nada!

[CaptainHowdy]

I ended up going to the pool store with a sample of the leftover sand I have, I definitely see a different in the consistency....I will post photos later. I'm a photographer, so that part is easy, lol. I decided to just change it, here it goes.

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Bummer, I don't see a way to upload an image....the Quikrete definitely looked more coarse.

[CaptainHowdy]