Added DE to sand filter. Now pool is full of DE.

[poolmom06]

I have a 100lb sand filter and a 1 HP pump and I just add about 1/3 cup of DE each time, I WAIT 20 minutes( per instructions here) and check the pressure, if it has gone up 1PSI then I am done. I rarely have to add any more... the first time I did it, I did the same thing kept adding and didn't see any result in PRSure rise, came back and read this site and did it right after that!!

[CarlD]

You could also try the following:
1) backwash to clear any DE out of the filter
2) Vacuum (not to waste) and see if the filter takes the DE or blows it out again into the pool (DE is MUCH finer than sand).
3) If it's still blowing out DE, repeat steps 1 and 2.

You have to WAIT until the pressure rises.

[les_smith]

So, I'm figuring that I added the DE to quick. The bonus is that pump pressure rose back to 15 psi which is 1 1/2 psi higher than when I started. I suppose that as the pump ran and circulated the water the DE was re-collected in the sand filter and the pressure rose back up. I vacuumed up what settled to the bottom of the pool and I'm going to assume that it is now sitting on top of the sand as well. I'll check tomorrow to see if anymore has settled to the bottom. If not, then I figure everything is good-to-go. If four cups is to much, then I look forward to experimenting to see exactly how much gives me a 1 psi jump in pressure. Next time I'll add it slower.

[medvampire]

I did the same thing the first time but I had added but only 2 cups. After trial and error I found I only need 3/4 cup added over a 1 to 2 hour peroid due to blow through of DE through my filter.
Steve

[aquarium]

If you haven't opened the multi-port valve in a while, you might check the spider gasket and see if it allowed that blow-by.

[les_smith]

Well I checked the pool this morning and the pump pressure was holding steady at 15 psi. So, the DE is working. There wasn't nearly as much DE settled at the bottom as there was when I put the DE in. The pump only runs 6 hrs at night, so I'm figuring there was plenty of down time for the DE to settle. I keep vacuum (not to waste) and see if the DE quites settling. Do you guys think that with the amount of DE I added that some will continue to blow by the sand? If not, I'll just wait and let it go until I do my next backwash and then re-do it with a smaller amount of DE.