Water clarity problem

[waterbear]

I noticed you said you had in in floor cleaning system. My understanding is that they create a lot of backpressure and therefore requre a bigger pump. When I was getting quotes on having my pool built (before I decided to go with fiberglass) I contemplated the in floor cleaning systems and the pumps that were in the quotes were on the large side compared to the filter. A cardridge filter will filter almost as small a particle as a DE filter and will actually filter better once it gets a bit dirty. You might want to inspect your cartridge for damage that might be allowing the dirt to get back into you pool. The high level of organics in your water are certainly adding to your problem. You need to get them out ASAP on a regular basis. I don't know if a robotic or presure side cleaner can be used with an in floor cleaner but if it can it might be an option.
Also, you did not specify what brand of SWG you have but most of the manufacturers recommend keeping the CYA between 60-80 ppm with a SWG.
I'm in St. Augustine also (North Beach) and my pool (6600 gal fiberglass IG with 300 gal raised spillover spa and SWG) always has a layer of pollen sitting on it now but the skimmer takes care of it, I only vacumn once every week or two and run my Cl at 3 or 4 ppm. Other than the pollen on the surface my water is crystal clear. I do try to skim daily, however.

[keastman]

I've been thinking of different filter types when I go to a bigger one, but this week of cleaning the cartridge may have convinced me that it would be better to stay with a cartridge. There is so much leaf and tree flowers ending up in the filter that I'm thinking I'd be loosing a lot of water backflushing a sand or DE filter all the time while the Oaks are flowering and dropping their leaves for March and April. At least, I'm assuming that all that debris would clog them up pretty fast and necessitate backflushing.

Waterbear, looks like we are practically neighbors, I'm in St. Aug Beach.

Thanks for your input. I may try letting the Cl, go back to normal levels and try a new cartrige until I put in a bigger filter.

Kevin

[keastman]

I had to go away for 4 days and came home to a real mess as it rained and the majority of oak flowers and pollens were washed out of the trees into my pool. A couple hours of cleaning got me back to where I was. Still cloudy but not much green. I shot the Cl back to 12, replaced the cartridge with a new one and am doing the vacuum and filter cleaning daily. The new cartridge seems to be helping, hopefully that will do the trick and help clear things up.

I do have a question on phosphates. The pool store said my level was high, likely due to the constant invasion of the tree debris that I have. I've read that this will contribute to algae growth. With that in mind, does it make sense to buy their stuff to reduce phophates or will that only contribute to my porblems.

Thanks for you help.

[waterbear]

If the levels are high a lanthanum based product will actually precipitate the phosphates out of your system. Their biggest drawback is that they will cloud the water if added directly to the pool and can cause your filter pressure to jump up, requiring backwashing or cleaning, if added to the skimmer. IMHO, If you don't have an algae problem and you keep on top of your free chlorine levels I wouldn't loose too much sleep over it. If you start to get algae blooms then you MIGHT want to try it as a POSSIBLE treatment solution. (Emphasis because chlorine and brushing are your best first defense.) Phospates ARE a favorite algae food but if you have a lot of tree debris and get an algae problem I would also look at your nitrate levels which are ALSO a favorite algae food.