Ok, so here is an update.
I wanted to make sure to restate that the problem with my pool is that the filter doesn't remove the cloudiness, and allows particles back in the pool. I have no question that BBB or proper water chemistry is going to keep me away from the problem in the future.
Here are some updates and status.
So, it has been running 24 hrs. for about 5 days now.
I vacuumed it on Tuesday, 2 days ago.
Have kept chlorine high (not sure exactly how high), the Taylor arrived yesterday and am just learning.
There is no visible green left in the pool. There is lots of whitish stuff.
I vacuumed it again this morning, added 2 more bottles of 12%
Filter pressure was approaching 30 lbs.
This morning I cleaned the filters again. Added 4 handfuls of DE.
Startup pressure was 17 lbs.
There is very little large debris left in the bottom, mostly just the whitish powder stuff. Of course I can't see any of the bottom so I am vacuuming by feel. But I can tell how much debris is coming up by how often I have to clean the catch basin by the pump which grabs all the large stuff.
So, a few observations.
1. obviously the filter carts are cleaning somewhat, because the pressure went up.
2. the water cloudiness is no better (see pics below).
3. during vacuuming, there is still much cloudiness that comes back into the pool through the filter. This didn't happen with my old DE filter which I had in the 90s.
So.....hmm....
- so far I am in about $75.00 of electricity for pumping and $45.00 of chlorine. I could have had a crystal clear pool by now by refilling for roughly the same cost.
- I didn't do that, since it would not have helped to isolate the problem with the filter, why it doesn't remove this cloudiness?
- I have 3 known options.
1. keep down this path with the old carts (24 hr filter, lots of chlorine), there has been some advice that this could work. But the progress so far is isn't giving me much hope
, perhaps I am too impatient? , and if it doesn't work I'll have to do 2. or 3. below anyway.
2. buy new carts and start it all over. (probably around $500) With little confidence that the new carts will clear the cloudy water in case this ever happens again.
3. convert to the DE (most expensive, probably around $1000)
- with my old DE filter, I had never had a problem getting rid of the cloudiness, after cleaning (not just backflushing) and reloading with DE it always came back crystal clear (well at least 95% clear).
Other things:
- talked to the owner of the local pool shop when I picked up chlorine, he (like everybody else) of course acknowledged that the carts don't clean as well as a DE filter.
- He suggested a TSP soak, but I can't understand this given the problem with my pool. Seems a DE soak, or a chlorine bath soak (Bruce's suggestion) would help to remove particles and gunk from the carts. But that isn't the problem I am having, seems the problem with my carts is that they don't catch enough cloudiness; how would these soaks help it to filter better or to catch the finer debris?
- I can't figure out why adding DE to my cart filter doesn't get the performance close to a DE filter.
Unfortunately, it seems perhaps the state of the pool cloudiness is exactly the state is has been about 3 times in the last 3 years. And I have done the basics before: lots of shock, everything dies, vacuum like crazy, let it run for 2-3 days, and cloudiness doesn't go away. I am not sure, maybe another 5 days of running the filter will show the progress we are seeking :?: . Each time I drained and refilled. So a part of me thinks we are no further along yet in isolating the problem, or solving the problem (sorry don't mean to be negative, but I think my view is fairly accurate). Of course there is progress, I have learned more, am prepared to prevent the problem in the future if we can get it cleaned.
And then there is the question of flocculants. But I am really hesitant about that unless we understand the science: what types of particles are in my pool, what is the size and chemical nature, what is the density, how much flocculant would be required, what types of particles do flocculants affect, etc, etc.
I am also wondering about the filtering science (maybe need to read here a bit more). What size particles can these carts catch when new? What size can they catch now when degraded? What size are the particles with the pool cloudiness? What size does DE catch?
Thanks all!
Roland
Here is a shot of the pool steps when I went out this morning, after 48 hours of filtering after vacuuming 2 days ago. The 3rd step is barely visible, the bottom is not at all.
While vaccuming, even in the most shallow end, the vacuum head and the end of the white hose attached to the vacuum head are not at all visible.
Here is a shot of the jacuzzi after vacuuming this morning. The top step is barely visible, about 3-4 inches under water. The other steps or bottom cannot be seen at all. That is because during vacuuming some of the white powder goes back into the jacuzzi. One of 4 return pipes goes into the jacuzzi.
Bruce has been with us for quite some time...hey some pool pro advice and a friednly chat over a beer 
sounds good to me :lol:
An impatient teenager wanna be? 