Some advice please?

[mrrudedog]

Hello All,

I'm a test kit owner and an infrequent poster, though I've used this board many times for reference.
I'm trying to get my pool ready for a party in a couple weeks, but am working 7 days a week and unable to find time for extensive research right now. That said, I was wondering if y'all could give me some pointers on what I should focus on right now.

After much algae I shocked pretty hard and the algae is dying fast, my current numbers are"
FC = 14
CC = 0
ph = 7.2
alk = 70
cal = 90
cya = 80
temp 74

I don't really understand the cya number as it was about 40 last year. Not adding any "stabilized" tabs or shock.
Vinly pool about 40k gallons. Thanks for any help!

[waterbear]

your pool is cloudy from the dead algae and the CYA test is a turbidity (cloudiness) test. Wait for the pool to clear completely and then retest the CYA. Your other numbers are basically perfect. Enjoy!

[aylad]

Keep the chlorine up until the water is cloudy blue, then let the chlorine fall back to your regular level. Keep your filter running 24/7 until the cloudy blue clears. You're killing the algae, but the filter is what gets it out of the pool! Keep an eye on your filter pressure..

Janet

[mrrudedog]

Thanks so much waterbear and aylad.

The only thing I hate about mt DE filter is that I can't leave it on in situations like this. Right now, I have to bump about every hour and change powder every 8 - 10 hours of filter use.

Do you folks prefer sand, cartridge, or DE filtration?

Thanks,
Ray

[ChuckD]

What are you using for an indicator that you need to change your DE? Even in the beginning of the season when opening places the heaviest load on the DE, I change it maybe three times in the first week, then once the next week and that lasts for a month or so. I change it when bumping doesn't bring the psi down as much as it should, and it climbs back up within a couple hours. For my Hayward EC65A I charge it with 4 pounds or so and normal psi is around 12-15. With the factory recommendation of 7 lbs. the pressure runs around 20-25. Bumping happens when either of those numbers rises 5 lbs. or so.

I think you could go somewhat longer between recharges.

[mrrudedog]

What are you using for an indicator that you need to change your DE? Even in the beginning of the season when opening places the heaviest load on the DE, I change it maybe three times in the first week, then once the next week and that lasts for a month or so. I change it when bumping doesn't bring the psi down as much as it should, and it climbs back up within a couple hours. For my Hayward EC65A I charge it with 4 pounds or so and normal psi is around 12-15. With the factory recommendation of 7 lbs. the pressure runs around 20-25. Bumping happens when either of those numbers rises 5 lbs. or so.

I think you could go somewhat longer between recharges.

I have the same filter as you. When the pool is this dirty I let it run until I can barely see the outlet jets moving (I need a new pressure gauge, haven't got there yet). I bump, repeating process until I see that after I bump I'm shooting a lot of debris back into pool. I usually change the powder after that. I fill a bucket of DE powder that holds around 5 pounds. !2-15 psi is about normal for my filter also.

I love the filter under normal conditions, it just takes a lot of extra work every year when I open the pool up.

Thanks for the input!

[Watermom]

Do you folks prefer sand, cartridge, or DE filtration?

Thanks,
Ray

You'll get a lot of different opinions in regards to this question. But, for me, sand is my preference. There is nothing easier to maintain than a sand filter and it does a perfectly adequate job of keeping my pool clear. It may not filter down to quite as tiny of a particle as a DE filter will, but, in most cases, you probably won't be able to notice it. Besides, many of us sand filter owners have discovered that by adding a little DE powder to our sand filters, it does filter out the smaller particles. Just my .02.

[waterbear]

Asking what kind of filter is best is like asking who you think will win on American Idol!
For me it's a cartridge filter because I find it delivers the best compromise between filtration and ease of maintenance AND since I have a SWG it means my water balance stays more stable since there is no backwashing and dilution of the pool water. (My salt, CYA, and brorates, and CH stay stable and don't really decrease with time.) To me that is a MAJOR plus to a cartridge filter since it reduces my chem costs even more!

Edit: and if us Cart owners need even better filtration we can use either a chitosan based (natural) clarifier or a bit of cellulose filter aid (DE substitue) and get even better filtration! I have never needed either but it's nice to know the options are there.