Running out of POP!

[TheGoose]

This sounds exactly like what is happening with my pool, except that I have a 1-HP pump and a 300# tagelus sand filter. Water color is good, chlorine levels are holding, all other chemistry looks good, water just won't clear.

Ben do you think turning off the filter will let the particles settle?

[PoolDoc]

Ben do you think turning off the filter will let the particles settle?

I don't know. I'm going to be recommending a 3-stage trial:

1. Try to settle with nothing. Vacuum to waste if it works.
2. Add floc, and try to settle. Again, vacuum to waste if it works.
3. Add clarifier, and try again.

During the recirculation steps (2 & 3) it will be important to bypass the filter. I do know that sand filters can 'break' floc agglomerations.

[sosspenc]

Thanks!! The pump is a Hayward SuperPump if that helps any. I just checked and adjusted the cl- to 20; it was between 15 and 20. I'm going to let it circulate for another half-hour and shut off the pump. I agree that the dead algae is going right through the filter. The first few days I was needing to backwash every few hours; now the pressure rises maybe 1-2 psi over the course of the day..even with the DE added. I will report back with results on your recommendations. Once again, thank you so much.
Stella

[PoolDoc]

Yeah. A 3/4HP Super Pump is almost certainly over-driving a Tagelus 50D, which shouldn't be run at more than 35 GPM max. If you have an up-rate Super, you're probably running 40 - 50 GPM.

Tell me what your clean filter pressure is, and I can estimate it more accurately.

[sosspenc]

Clean pressure hovers between 11 psi & 12 psi. When I restart pump, I can check that against another gauge. Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

That would suggest you are running between 40 and 50 GPM if the pump is an SP2605x7, or between 50 and 65 GPM if it's a SP2607x10 . . .

[sosspenc]

Ok, so I walk out this morning....cloudiness is about the same. There may be a very slight difference, or it may be my eyes being optimistic. As to the pump, the model # C48J2N131B1 and the motor # SP-1605-Z1-M Service: 1.0.

I was thinking of taking a bucket of the pool water and adding floc to that (as a trial) before adding to my pool, to see if it would settle in the bucket.