What size sand filter and pump?

[b2001]

I'm under several oak trees. Rains really mess up my pool - I get a lot of organic crap from the trees into my pool. So I can go from a pristine pool to a cloudy murky pool in a matter of a few hours after a rain, even with maintaining my chemicals and proactive shocking.

I'm very proactive with cleaning out my cartridges - when the pressure starts rising, I remove the filter, seperate it from the cartridge, and thoroughly wash it down inside and out with a pressure nozzle on my hose. As time goes by, pressure will rise more quickly, and I'll have to wash it more often. As this happens, it takes longer and longer to recover from a rain. I've noticed that if I leave a fllter out to dry for several days, it improves in performance some - so I always have at least two filters on hand.

I started using a skimmer basket sock last summer - it catches a lot of crap that thereby does not make it to the filter. However, it must also be continuously cleaned up or it will clog. A lot of times, it has a complete layer of "orange-brown" sludge - baquacil "goo".

With maintaining my chemicals, vacuming, scrubbing the sides of my pool weekly, and maintaining the cartridge filters as mentioned above, I can get my pool most of the way to "pristine".

However, I can't get it completely there. It could be that bacquacil and cartridges don't do well together - it does appear that baquacil precipitates out and the cartridges filter this finer "goo" out, while the sand might let it pass. Also, my trees and storms might come into play. After spending $300 to $350 a year on cartridge filters (2 to 3), I'm wanting to make a change to see how that goes.

As I said in another thread, I believe that I'm going to buy a sand filter and hook it up in parallel to my cartridge and run the sand most of the time and the cartridge for final poslishing - I'll end up only buying one cartridge filter a year and in a couple of years will have paid for the sand filter.

You might not have the above issues if you're going to use chlorine and you're not under a bunch of trees. I hope this helps some ...

[CarlD]

If you have to buy a cartridge filter every year one of 3 things is wrong:
1) Your cart is too small for your pump.
2) You are maintaining your cart incorrectly, or
3) Your situation is not good for carts, they are being destroyed despite correct sizing and maintenance and you should switch to sand or DE.

As much as I would dread having a cart, I am aware that the cartridges are not intended to be replaced every year and should not have to be.

[b2001]

1. As I said before - 18 x 36, 14,000 gallon ag pool withPurex Triton Maxim pump, AO Smith BN35 motor (1-1/2 hp), it is marked "HP 2.0 SPL", and a Pentex 150 sq ft cartridge filter. How is this combo?

2. I'm not sure what I would be doing to maintain the cartridge incorrectly. I thoroughly wash it down many times during the course of a summer as the pressure rises. I usually have two on hand that I will swap out every week or two.

3. That could be the case, although the cartridges are not actually "destroyed". I've got three sitting around from last year. They just become ineffective and I can't get my water clear after a rain. The pressure will rise, I'll remove the cartridge and clean it, and when I reinstall it and start the system, the pressure shoots back up high.

I really feel like last year was the first time that I got a good handle on chemicals, scrubbing, and scrubbing and getting the pool clean. It was still not 100%, but close. However, it would take longer and longer to recover from each successive storm to the point where these cartridges were just not working right, and pool quality kept going down.

I'm definitely switching from baquacil - I'm reading everything on this site that I can ...

I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks for your responses, Carl ...

[CarlD]

Try soaking the ineffective carts in Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent, the powder. If that doesn't work, try soaking them in Muriatic Acid--what have you got to lose if they are clogged anyway?

Switching over from Bacq may be your best answer. Be prepared with lots and lots and lots of chlorine...I'd suggest getting the 5 gallon carboys of 12% from the pool store--there's usually a deposit on the carboy, but you only pay it once. I'd get two and as one was empty I'd get a replacement--it may cost a little more (maybe not--depends on prices) but disposal becomes a non-issue.

Normally, I'd say just buy the bleach, but with the amounts you'll need for the switch, the carboys may make life MUCH easier. Besides, if you can get 12% for $15, that's like getting 10 gallons of Ultra bleach for $15.--$1.50/gallon. Around here, Ultra is now running $1.80/gallon (.45/quart).

I only said that those are the possible reasons for your yearly purchases.

I have never understood the attraction of Bacquacil, or Bromine.

[b2001]

I only said that those are the possible reasons for your yearly purchases.

Sorry, if I came across wrong, I'm just trying to get to the bottom of my issues - I've had some frustrating times in the past.

I have never understood the attraction of Bacquacil, or Bromine.

New pool owner ignorance coupled with advice from the pool dealer - if I only knew then what I know now...

What I heard from the dealer was that baquacil would not have that chlorine smell, and would be easy to use - which sold me. I didn't hear anything about a lot higher costs, etc. Bottom line is I really didn't do my homework - but other than this forum, most of the information out there seems to be provided by pool chemical product manufacturers and pool supply dealers. I guess there's no substitue for experience.

I've done the muriatic acid thing - too messy, and not enough of a benefit that I could see.

I had never heard of a carboy - I'll check with a pool place tomorrow. Looks like that's what I need. My baquacil was at 50 ppm last week. I emptied my pool down to 16" and refilled it back up and it seems to be down to from 0 to 15 ppm. I'm hoping that will reduce the mess during conversion.

[CarlD]

Sorry, if I came across wrong, I'm just trying to get to the bottom of my issues - I've had some frustrating times in the past.

Not a problem.

New pool owner ignorance coupled with advice from the pool dealer - if I only knew then what I know now...

Been there, done that. So have most of us....

What I heard from the dealer was that baquacil would not have that chlorine smell, and would be easy to use - which sold me. I didn't hear anything about a lot higher costs, etc. Bottom line is I really didn't do my homework - but other than this forum, most of the information out there seems to be provided by pool chemical product manufacturers and pool supply dealers. I guess there's no substitue for experience.

Makes used car salesmen look good, don't they?

I've done the muriatic acid thing - too messy, and not enough of a benefit that I could see.

I had never heard of a carboy - I'll check with a pool place tomorrow. Looks like that's what I need. My baquacil was at 50 ppm last week. I emptied my pool down to 16" and refilled it back up and it seems to be down to from 0 to 15 ppm. I'm hoping that will reduce the mess during conversion.

A carboy is just a name for the 2.5 and 5 gallon reusable blue jugs they use to sell liquid chlorine. You give a deposit on the jug, but you can either get it back, or trade the empty--like a deposit bottle...