Desperately in need of help, white particles all over the pool surface

[JJ_Tex]

I dont know if any skimmer baskets are better than others so I would just make sure you add one.

On your picture the weir door (white flapper) is up. Is it up when the pump is running?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Do you have a main drain at the bottom of the pool's deep end?

If so, is it controlled via a valve at the equipment pad?

 

[Sam83]

I dont know if any skimmer baskets are better than others so I would just make sure you add one.

On your picture the weir door (white flapper) is up. Is it up when the pump is running?

Hi it opens when the pump is running with water flow. Although most of the time, i have the vac connected and since the hose go through the door. It forces it open.

 

[Sam83]

Do you have a main drain at the bottom of the pool's deep end?

If so, is it controlled via a valve at the equipment pad?

Yrs main drain is at the deep end(other side). I dont know of any control valve. Is therw is one i have never used it.

 

[Sam83]

Yrs main drain is at the deep end(other side). I dont know of any control valve. Is therw is one i have never used it.

Here is a picture

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Most likely, the front skimmer inlet is connected to the main drain. Make sure there is plumbing under the port and that it is not plugged. A float/diverter valve at the bottom of the skimmer would help to balance suction between the skimmer and main drain. The diverter valve is adjusted by opening/closing a flap at the bottom of the valve. With the diverter/float valve installed, you could split suction between the skimmer and main drain port to keep the skimmer from sucking air. The second function of a diverter/float valve is to close off suction to the skimmer port in the event water level drops at the skimmer basket. If your not the original owner, take a look around for something that looks like a UFO disc looking thing like the photo below.

 

[Sam83]

Hmmm i dont recall seeing this. Would it be near the pump?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

The diverter would sit at the bottom of the skimmer, over the two ports.

You can try to reduce pump speed to a point the skimmer stops sucking air. Make sure water level is at halfway up the mouth of the skimmer. You need a skimmer basket and you should probably pick up diverter/float valve as well. You'll need the make/model number of your skimmer to shop around. You should be able to find this info on the skimmer or the skimmer lid.

You should be able to find some videos on how the diverter/float valve works. Google skimmer, diverter, float, video.

 

[Sam83]

Will do thank you

 

[ajw22]

Post a pic of your skimmer and measure the dimensions of it.

 

[proavia]

Look at the underside of your skimmer cover. Post all the numbets and names from it here.

As for sucking air when the vac is disconnected... remove the vac flow control from the skimmer when using the skimmer. The vac flow control opening sits higher in the skimmer than the actual skimmer pipe opening and is causi g the induction of air into the system. The flow control is only supposed to be connected to the skimmer when the vac hose is attached.

 

[Sam83]

Look at the underside of your skimmer cover. Post all the numbets and names from it here.

As for sucking air when the vac is disconnected... remove the vac flow control from the skimmer when using the skimmer. The vac flow control opening sits higher in the skimmer than the actual skimmer pipe opening and is causi g the induction of air into the system. The flow control is only supposed to be connected to the skimmer when the vac hose is attached.

Look at the underside of your skimmer cover. Post all the numbets and names from it here.

As for sucking air when the vac is disconnected... remove the vac flow control from the skimmer when using the skimmer. The vac flow control opening sits higher in the skimmer than the actual skimmer pipe opening and is causi g the induction of air into the system. The flow control is only supposed to be connected to the skimmer when the vac hose is attached.

Hi, here is number and pictures of the skimmer.
I also like to report that after switching back to normal DE on Saturday, i see a significant reduction in the white stuff. My theory is that my grids do have a very tiny holes and the cellulose fiber goes through them and a small portion floats on top of the water. The normal DE is much better in filling tiny holes. I had the fiber DE for a year without issues. It did make less of a mess when cleaning and it is supposed to be environmentally friendly and not as bad for you and supposedly they filter down to 2micron versus 5 for normal DE. But things can go wrong much easier.
I might change the grids next year and experiment with the fiber one more time.
For now i need to find a skimmer as recommend by you guys.
Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[ajw22]

The lid model number 8650-8655 says you have a Swimquip/Sta-rite (now owned by Pentair) skimmer. It looks like this is your basket...

Generic Skimmer Basket And Handle for Pentair, Hayward, U-3, Swimquip Inground Skimmers - 08650-0007 - INYOPools.com

08650-0007 - BASKET, SKIMMER, OEM (08650-0007)

www.inyopools.com

Amazon.com : Pentair 08650-0007 Sta-Rite U-3 Skimmer Basket with Handle Pool Supplies : Swimming Pool Skimmers : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Pentair 08650-0007 Sta-Rite U-3 Skimmer Basket with Handle Pool Supplies : Swimming Pool Skimmers : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

Check the dimensions. According to an answer on the Amazon page this basket is approximately 5-1/4 inches in height, 8-1/2 inches wide at the top and 5-3/4 inches wide at the bottom.

 

[Sam83]

maybe a silly question but this does not have any holes, how do I get my VAC hose through it and connect it to the skimmer? I thoight it should come with one or two holes to match my skimmer

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

As for sucking air when the vac is disconnected... remove the vac flow control from the skimmer when using the skimmer. The vac flow control opening sits higher in the skimmer than the actual skimmer pipe opening and is causi g the induction of air into the system. The flow control is only supposed to be connected to the skimmer when the vac hose is attached.

Did you try removing the hose adapter as suggested? If you need a float/diverter valve, this should work:

Amazon.com: Pentair 08650-0079 Float Assembly with O-Ring Replacement Sta-Rite U-3 Pool and Spa Skimmer: Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com: Pentair 08650-0079 Float Assembly with O-Ring Replacement Sta-Rite U-3 Pool and Spa Skimmer: Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

maybe a silly question but this does not have any holes, how do I get my VAC hose through it and connect it to the skimmer? I thoight it should come with one or two holes to match my skimmer

You'll need to remove the basket to connect the vacuum hose or buy a separate vacuum plate that sits on top of the basket. Either way, you can't skim and vacuum at the same time. The advantage of the skimmer plate is that it will catch the debris before they reach the pump basket.

Most of us with suction cleaners don't use them as the primary suction source when the pump is running. Your skimmer should be active most of the time. Ideally, most debris that fall into the pool will be remain on the surface and end up in the basket. What the skimming action misses ends up at the bottom and is picked up by the cleaner. I run my cleaner a couple hours every other day or so.

 

[Sam83]

Did you try removing the hose adapter as suggested? If you need a float/diverter valve, this should work:

Amazon.com: Pentair 08650-0079 Float Assembly with O-Ring Replacement Sta-Rite U-3 Pool and Spa Skimmer: Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com: Pentair 08650-0079 Float Assembly with O-Ring Replacement Sta-Rite U-3 Pool and Spa Skimmer: Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

You'll need to remove the basket to connect the vacuum hose or buy a separate vacuum plate that sits on top of the basket. Either way, you can't skim and vacuum at the same time. The advantage of the skimmer plate is that it will catch the debris before they reach the pump basket.

Most of us with suction cleaners don't use them as the primary suction source when the pump is running. Your skimmer should be active most of the time. Ideally, most debris that fall into the pool will be remain on the surface and end up in the basket. What the skimming action misses ends up at the bottom and is picked up by the cleaner. I run my cleaner a couple hours every other day or so.

1) Hi, yes I removed the adapter and the tornado thing goes away unless I really go high in pump speed > 2200. so with just the skimmer I dont have the air sucking any more
2) I agree with the vac not being needed all the time, but its hassle to manually connect / disconnect. currently i have an adapter (hardly seen from the original picture I posted) that you can kinda control the how much water goes through the lower part versus the vac. but it never does as good of a job as the skimmer alone without the VAC. I will buy the skimmer and disconnect the vac but I need to figure out a better way so it doesnt need a manual intervention.
Thanks for the feedbacks

 

[Sam83]

So after I changed back to normal DE and I switched to having the skimmer only, the white stuff are completely gone. The water is crystal clear. I will start with vacuuming once a week on weekends and keep the suction on skimmer only and see if that would be good enough. I wish there was a way that i didnt need to manually switch between skimmer and vac.
Thanks for all the help.
Regards
Meysam