Brief summary - we purchased this home June 2014, installed our pool at the end of May 2015. Last summer we were absorbed with extensive remodeling and didn't spend much time outside, so we didn't realize how much of an issue pollen would be for us. We were concerned about the surrounding trees primarily for leaves - big oversight on our part. Pollen has been a nightmare. Every time we get it 'clean'ish, rain dumps more pollen in and we start over. I posted for advice here and that advice has helped somewhat, but I'm afraid either we need a new filter, or we've done the wrong thing so long we just have a mess to fix before this one will work.
We have a 22" sandman sand filter and this 1.5 hp pump.
We are using skimmer socks (replaced every 2 hours), running the filter 24/7 for weeks now, and doing both manual and auto vac ('Lil Shark) daily. We have added DE to the filter (many, many, many times). Today I decided to open up the filter, and discovered GLOWING yellow water. When I stick my hand in I pull out huge clumps of yellow DE. (does not leave the filter when we backwash, apparently?) So I pulled out all the clumps of pollen ridden DE that I could - roughly 40 fistfuls - and put the filter back together. I then backwashed and got the nastiest, most yellow water I've ever seen to come out of the filter. I wonder now if that water was getting recirculated back into my pool, thus never allowing me to truly clear anything.
I do not know what to do now. I think I have 4 options.
1 - vacuum to waste (and then do one of the following)
2 - add DE and allow auto vac to run
3 - add DE and brush, allowing filter to run with skimmer socks
4 - replace sand filter with DE filter
I guess I need advice on a few things. (And of course anything else you know I have not considered!)
Do I need to continue using the DE with my sand filter? It does seem to be working since I saw the clumps in the filter?
Do I need to keep opening the filter to pull out these pollen lumps myself?
Do I get it as clean as possible and then empty it entirely, replacing sand and removing DE?
Do we replace the filter entirely with a more capable DE filter?
And if so, will this Hayward EC50AC DE filter work with the pump we already have, or do I need to buy a new pump too?
My water chemistry has been impeccable thanks entirely to TFP methods, and I am so very grateful for that! At least we have crystal clear water above our pollen covered pool floor. LOL I trust y'all to steer me in the right direction!
We have a 22" sandman sand filter and this 1.5 hp pump.
We are using skimmer socks (replaced every 2 hours), running the filter 24/7 for weeks now, and doing both manual and auto vac ('Lil Shark) daily. We have added DE to the filter (many, many, many times). Today I decided to open up the filter, and discovered GLOWING yellow water. When I stick my hand in I pull out huge clumps of yellow DE. (does not leave the filter when we backwash, apparently?) So I pulled out all the clumps of pollen ridden DE that I could - roughly 40 fistfuls - and put the filter back together. I then backwashed and got the nastiest, most yellow water I've ever seen to come out of the filter. I wonder now if that water was getting recirculated back into my pool, thus never allowing me to truly clear anything.
I do not know what to do now. I think I have 4 options.
1 - vacuum to waste (and then do one of the following)
2 - add DE and allow auto vac to run
3 - add DE and brush, allowing filter to run with skimmer socks
4 - replace sand filter with DE filter
I guess I need advice on a few things. (And of course anything else you know I have not considered!)
Do I need to continue using the DE with my sand filter? It does seem to be working since I saw the clumps in the filter?
Do I need to keep opening the filter to pull out these pollen lumps myself?
Do I get it as clean as possible and then empty it entirely, replacing sand and removing DE?
Do we replace the filter entirely with a more capable DE filter?
And if so, will this Hayward EC50AC DE filter work with the pump we already have, or do I need to buy a new pump too?
My water chemistry has been impeccable thanks entirely to TFP methods, and I am so very grateful for that! At least we have crystal clear water above our pollen covered pool floor. LOL I trust y'all to steer me in the right direction!