My sand filter sucks, new filter options?

[Unabomber007]

I have a brand new sand filter and it just WILL NOT filter for anything. I have a pretty dirty pool with dead algae. I get 2-3 widths of vacuuming and the returns start pouring out green water during the vacuuming process. Backwash---rinse----filter and get 2-3 more widths. Repeat this cycle 6-8 times and get 3/4 of the pool done. Then......I have a cloudy pool and need to put more water in.

Previously, I've added DE to the sand filter. I have added like 3 full cups to get 1PSI increase. Then after a day or two.....the pressure will shoot up from 13PSI to 20PSI. Apparently, my sand filter doesn't like DE for some reason.

Run the Aquabot Viva (2 micron filtration NOT) and it just pours a steady stream of green out it's exhaust outlet.

So unless someone has any advice....I'm in the market for a brand new DE filter and pump. My pump is fine, but I'm thinking it would be in my best interest to replace it all at once. The current pump is a very old Hayward (I think) and is so worn I have no idea of model or HP rating, but it's one speed.

My pool is an 18 x 38 rectangular inground vinyl. The deep end is maybe 8 to 10 ft deep (not sure).

Can anyone recommend an APPOPRIATELY sized filter and new pump?

[Unabomber007]

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=5423

This link shows what kind of gook I'm filtering up. I'm not sure if it's from the filter or is just dead algae, but my heart tells me it's from the filter.

Last year on my DE filter, it was an algae free summer other than a few SMALL outbreaks. This year, the only thing that changed is the new sand filter and my pool just plain sucks. Still using bleach and borax and all the numbers are fine just like last year.

[GraceByDesign]

my very inexperienced take on your filter 'not liking' DE... perhaps the pressure is shooting up because the DE is working and trapping so many particles... as your media gets full of stuff, the pressure goes up, right? so I would think if you were catching all the very fine stuff it could cause a large rise in psi

It sounds also like you have put a LOT of DE in your filter... others here use less than a cup of DE to get the 1psi rise... did you add it VERY slowly? or perhaps you have a huge sand filter?

[let_her_flicker]

When you vacuum your pool, you need to vacuum to waste. Do not vacuum to the sand filter. It will infest it with dead algae. After vacuuming to waste, backwash your filter just to make sure you get rid of any algae in your filter. Then go to rinse and run in the rinse cycle for at least 30 seconds. When water is clear, go back to filter. Green water should not be coming out of the return. Also, make sure you turn the pump off each time you change the handle between filter, waste, backwash, etc.

It will take a while, but your pool will clear up. Don't forget to brush your pool aggressively after vacuuming. You also need to maintain a high chlorine level based on your CYA numbers to insure you've killed off the algae.

With a sand filter, always vacuum to waste when dealing with lots of dead algae.

Hope this helps.

[KurtV]

bomber,
If you're getting algae, I think we can conclude that your numbers are not fine. Insufficient chlorine for your level of CYA is by far the most likely reason for the problem. While poor filtration might exacerbate an algae problem, I think it unlikely that that's the root cause. Can you post a full set of numbers?

On your sand filter, what size is it? Does it have sufficient sand in it? Too much? Does it have filter sand and not play sand in it? A properly sized and properly functioning sand filter won't have the problems you're having.

Cheers,
Kurt

[JohnT]

Algae isn't a filtration issue. It's a sanitizer issue.

[Unabomber007]

I can post full numbers when I get home later, but from memory:

Stabilizer: 60
Chlorine: 5

The only thing that's kinda high is pH which is at 8.2

If I were to vacuum to waste, it would probably take a week to do so as the water level would go down and down and down with vacuuming. I shouldn't have to do this as I could vacuum my pool on my old DE filter with 6 inches of muck and never have any filtration problems, the water always came out clear as a bell from the returns. I only cleaned my DE filters once a year and then only for fun to remember the process.

Last year w/ DE filter = wonderful pool
This year w/ sand fitler = I want to fill it in

The issue is NOT with chemicals, that I'm sure as I have a wonderful test set and am a chemical nazi. I'm not sure if the green stuff is algae or is some weird crud the sand filter is spewing out. I assume it's NOT algae since my leves are and always have been fine since finding this site.

Don't know the sand filter numbers as I have those at home. The pool people set it up and we haven't touched it since the install.

*backstory* Went on deployment to the Persian Gulf in Sept. Removed/cleaned DE filters for the wife before deploying. They are 100% PERFECT. Pool people come to close the pool and ALL 8 FILTERS are suddenly bad and need replaced. They tell her it will be the same price for a new filter, so she says go for it without any training/advice/options given to her. They just push the new filter and I get stuck with it. I'll be calling the pool place today as I've had enough with trying to figure this out. Unless they have an epiphany for me, I'll be buying a DE unit + pump from somewhere else.

DE filter size/brand + pump size/brand would be nice if anyone has any suggestions on what I need.

[KurtV]

[quote=Unabomber007]I can post full numbers when I get home later, but from memory:

Stabilizer: 60
Chlorine: 5
With a CYA of 60 you need to be keepingh the chlorine between 5 and 10 ppm. If it hasn't been kept consistently at or above 5 ppm that is very likely why you have the algae.

The only thing that's kinda high is pH which is at 8.2
A high pH will exacerbate the low chlorine level.

If I were to vacuum to waste, it would probably take a week to do so as the water level would go down and down and down with vacuuming. I shouldn't have to do this as I could vacuum my pool on my old DE filter with 6 inches of muck and never have any filtration problems, the water always came out clear as a bell from the returns. I only cleaned my DE filters once a year and then only for fun to remember the process.

Last year w/ DE filter = wonderful pool
This year w/ sand fitler = I want to fill it in

The issue is NOT with chemicals, that I'm sure as I have a wonderful test set and am a chemical nazi. I'm not sure if the green stuff is algae or is some weird crud the sand filter is spewing out. I assume it's NOT algae since my leves are and always have been fine since finding this site.
I think you're prematurely ruling out the most likely cause of the problem; insufficient chlorination. There are many people here using sand filters who don't have any of the problems you're describing.

...
quote]

If you don't indeed have algae, the problem may be with your filter but the eastiest and cheapest first step woould be to bring your chlorine to shock level (>= 20 ppm for your CYA level) for a few days or until the water clears and you can hold the FC level overnight. If that doesn't work, I'd open up the filter and inspect for the proper amount and type of sand (filter sand is vey fine).

By the way, have you talked with the guys who installed the filter about the problem?

Best of luck.

[Unabomber007]

I haven't talked to the filter guys yet, but I plan on it tonight. I will try to bring the pH down and shock the heck out of the pool today.

It's just darn frustrating as I NEVER had any issues with my old DE filter. With it, it would filter everything and ask for more. Backwashing every 5 minutes is not my idea of good filtration.

I have no idea about the new unit as when it was installed my wife got ZERO training and not even a manual, which I had to download. The manual really, really sucks as it doesn't go over anything. I don't even know how to open the unit and look/check the sand or any of that.

[mbar]

Did you check to see if anything in the filter is broken? Here is a thread that you may want to read:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...en+sand+filter