Do you ever have to replace sand in a sand filter

[egk61]

Thanks to all, I did end up changing it, the good advice of the pool center was "when in doubt change the sand" He noted that sand is cheap and you can spend lots of $$ on chemicals trying to fix the issue (and still end up back at the sand). Didn't even try to sell me chemicals!! He told me to stop when I could see the laterals so they would have support and not break off, and to fill the tank about 1/2 way with water to lessen the shock of the snd on the laterals when dumping it in. Time consuming, but easy. I seem to be able to clean up now so I guess that really was it!

[duraleigh]

I have awful dirty dark green water even after days of shocking. I too am beginning to think I need to change sand. I usually can just shock and get past this, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Thanks to all, I did end up changing it, the good advice of the pool center was "when in doubt change the sand".............I seem to be able to clean up now so I guess that really was it!

I am glad your pool has cleaned up. However, I think it is misleading to Newbies to assume that changing their filtration will fix an algae-ridden pool....it will not.

Changing the sand, changing the cartridge or putting new DE in your DE filter will not eliminate algae. Newbies would do well not to get that mind set.

The addition of chlorine at ADEQUATE DOSE LEVELS will do more to clear your pool than any other solution.

Without test results, none of us here can accurately answer why your pool was green or how it got cleaned up.......nevertheless, I'm glad your methods worked for you. I simply think it's misleading for beginners to chase algae by changing filtration.....that doesn't eliminate the source of the problem....chlorine does that.

[waterbear]

I have to agree with Dave. Chlorine kills algae! The filter will remove the dead algae from the water. It is important to have the filter in good running order for it to do this, however. If you have neglected your filter then breaking it down and getting it back into shape might help it clear the dead stuff out of the pool but it will NOT get rid of an algae prolem.