Filter sand being shot into pool

[Salpal]

Hey!

I opened up my pool last week and almost immediately noticed a brown cloud being shot from my return every time I turned the pump on and now there is clearly pool filter sand on the bottom of my pool.

I plugged everything up and started draining the filter today to inspect the laterals and replace the sand but I guess I just wanted to make this post to see if there's anything else I should look out for. Like what if the laterals are fine? Is there anything else that can cause this?
It's been a good 5 years since the last sand replacement so it's definitely time for that at least.

 

[Texas Splash]

Laterals would make sense. Be sure there are no cracks and they are seated properly in the hub assembly.

 

[borjis]

You can re use the sand you have.
It doesn't wear out at all.

Good time for a deep clean, probably.
But replacing it won't make any difference.

 

[dlvonde]

This is likely not your issue but for any noobs out there like me..I was getting brown water shot into my pool whenever I started my pump up and realized TODAY I had never backwashed my filter in the 10 or so months I've had the pool up and running . It was about a solid minute of chocolate milk coming out of the waste port....then another 30 seconds before it looked clear enough for me to switch to rinse, then back to filter. I will likely be doing the deep clean procedure just to try and counteract my ignorance/neglect . I'll bet the cloudiness will clear up now as well...