UPDATE(x2)! Help troubleshoot dirt in pool, here's what I have done...

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Baker25

0
Jul 1, 2018
72
Roscoe, IL
I've been trying to figure this out over the last year or more. I notice after vacuuming my pool, I get dirt on the bottom after I resume normal filtration.

For example, yesterday I vacuumed my pool, left the pump running for a few minutes before turning it off and unseating the lid in the skimmer box. Once I turned off the pump I backwashed, then rinsed. Normally at this point I would turn the pump off, then to filter and back on and within a little while I would see dirt on the bottom of the pool. Yesterday I decided to not turn it back on after rinsing and left it off. 24 hours later I checked and NO dirt at all in the pool. Nothing.

I turned the pump on this morning and within 10 minutes there was dirt on the pool floor.

I know the knee jerk reaction is to replace the lateral. I did it last year while trying to figure this out. I fully inspected both the old and new lateral assembly and neither were damaged. I bought sand that was suggested on this site. The color of the dirt is brown, not even close to the color of the filter media. Before I learned to backwash/rinse after vacuuming, the water would be dirty when after I kicked the pump back on after unseating the lid in the skimmer box. Notably, I have no leaks that I can see, but I get air bubbles in the pump basin when vacuuming which leads to bubbles out the return when vacuuming. No bubbles during normal operation.

The dirt is very fine, and blows away easy like when I get close to try and take a photo. My FC is always on point, and I only lose about 2ppm within 24 hours. My CYA is at 30, keep my FC at 6.

I'm assuming the pump does not contribute to this issue, so the filter is to blame. The filter is a Hayward S180T. The multiport valve's spider gasket is built in to part of it and can't just be replaced. A new head unit is only $90, and I will buy one in a heartbeat if you all think it could be an issue there.

Please help me!
 
With it being so fine and poofing away when you get near it, we typically see that as dead algae.

How are you testing your pool water chemistry?
 
mknauss said:
With it being so fine and poofing away when you get near it, we typically see that as dead algae.

How are you testing your pool water chemistry?
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TF-100. It’s not dead algae. Even if it was, vacuuming it up would be the end of it. I just opened the pool, SLAMed, passed the test. Water has been clear from the start. I’ve had this same issue since I got the pool in 2017 to be honest. You don’t find it odd that for 24 hours nothing is on the floor and as soon as I turn the pump on, it reappears?
 
Pool DE. If you have a neighbor or friend with a DE filter bum a couple pounds off of them. Or buy your own. Problem is it comes in big bags and you only need a little. Do not use garden DE -- different stuff.
 
mknauss said:
Pool DE. If you have a neighbor or friend with a DE filter bum a couple pounds off of them. Or buy your own. Problem is it comes in big bags and you only need a little. Do not use garden DE -- different stuff.
Click to expand...


Here's an update while I wait on the DE. This morning the pool bottom was completely clear. Turned on the pump and within 5 minutes there was dirt everywhere on the pool bottom. I should have taken a picture. I put a sock over the return and after 15 minutes of vacuuming I got it cleaned up. I ran it on rinse for awhile and with the sock still on, put it on filter. After a few minutes on filter I took the sock off and let the continue to run as normal. Zero dirt in the pool. So whatever is happening, is happening within the first few minutes of start up. I would leave a sock on the return, but then I don't get the rotational current around the pool.
 

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Pretty much. Only other is channeling of the sand. But you said that is not the issue.
 
Sure it's not sand? I had a cracked vertical pipe in the sand filter (not sure what it's called but someone else will) that was causing a similar issue and I repaired it with stock PVC parts and it fixed the problem. If you're sure it's not sand then ignore but in case it's useful, this sounds just like what happened to me.
 
mknauss said:
Pretty much. Only other is channeling of the sand. But you said that is not the issue.
Click to expand...

I replaced the MPV and added DE, and I am having the same issue. I followed the steps for adding DE so that went fine. I am wondering if this is environmental. It's always at least a little windy, and I have trees all around and lots of neighbors. Like mowing and such. The filter/pump sat off all night after I vacuumed it and no wind all night. This morning it was on from like 9am-1pm and no sediment on the floor. It was windy all day and when I got home the pump was off, nothing on the pool floor. I did notice stuff like a few leaves and other debris floating around. I turned on the pump and within a little while later the sediment had appeared on the floor caught in the wrinkles in the liner. Again, it's very fine sediment and is a brown color, just like dirt. I'm wondering if when the pump kicks on, the strong current forces the sediment around and some of it gets hung up in the wrinkles and is no longer effect by the current? I have so far replaced the entire lateral assembly, MPV, and added DE.
 
Yep, I have the same problem here as well, I bought a felt filter 1 micron bag for water (only had felt filter for 3 days now). I cleaned the pool looked great, ran the filter with the felt filter on the return for 3 hours and nothing on bottom of pool, let it sit all day or over night still clean, soon as I run the pool filter without the felt filter on the return, with in 5-10 min same thing all over again, the dirt silt, pollen or dead algae or what ever it is still comes back.

So far I have only used intex auto pool cleaner, next manual vacuum with felt filter on the return and see what happens?

77 pound sand filter is new this year, 50 pounds of new sand and 27 pounds from old filter, and was cleaned before adding to new filter.

I've read so many threads on this site about this and found no real answer to the problem, other than using the felt filter on the return works so far.

If I figure anything out I'll post something.

Thanks,
Mike
 
zmike said:
Yep, I have the same problem here as well, I bought a felt filter 1 micron bag for water (only had felt filter for 3 days now). I cleaned the pool looked great, ran the filter with the felt filter on the return for 3 hours and nothing on bottom of pool, let it sit all day or over night still clean, soon as I run the pool filter without the felt filter on the return, with in 5-10 min same thing all over again, the dirt silt, pollen or dead algae or what ever it is still comes back.

So far I have only used intex auto pool cleaner, next manual vacuum with felt filter on the return and see what happens?

77 pound sand filter is new this year, 50 pounds of new sand and 27 pounds from old filter, and was cleaned before adding to new filter.

I've read so many threads on this site about this and found no real answer to the problem, other than using the felt filter on the return works so far.

If I figure anything out I'll post something.

Thanks,
Mike
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Try adding DE as shown in the how to section on the site. I added some last week as directed and I can tell a difference. It's not that expensive and if done right, won't hurt and it can only help. Be sure to rinse after you vacuum but not backwash.
 
Well, I put felt filter on the return and used the manual vacuum, then when done with the vacuum I let filter run for about 1/2 hour with the felt filter still on. Removed the felt filter from the return and ran the filter for an hour, and it seems 95% is gone, will vacuum one more time and see what happens?

I will keep the DE in mind if this don't work.

Thanks,
Mike
 
zmike said:
Well, I put felt filter on the return and used the manual vacuum, then when done with the vacuum I let filter run for about 1/2 hour with the felt filter still on. Removed the felt filter from the return and ran the filter for an hour, and it seems 95% is gone, will vacuum one more time and see what happens?

I will keep the DE in mind if this don't work.

Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...

Felt filter eh? Link? Are the results still holding good?
 
Mcmaster-Carr Water Filter 1 Micron Felt Filter Bag $6.77 plus shipping
McMaster-Carr

Link with different sizes
McMaster-Carr

Yes it seems to work pretty well, clean for a couple of days, then it comes back. I think the dirt, silt or dust or what ever it is, is airborne then gets in the pool, you run the filter and mixes in the water again, then settles to the bottom?

Every thread I've read points to algae, done OCLT test(s) and I don't believe I have any algae what so ever! Water crystal clear and balanced

I would leave it on all the time, but the water does not circulate at all, also best way to clean it, I found is to use a milk crate and pvc pipe and hose it off.

Mike
 
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