Getting Sand in Pool, brand new pool

[jdegraeve]

Hi All,
I'm brand new to the world of pool ownership. Last summer, mid July, I had a 24' ABG pool installed. From day one, I kept getting small amounts of filter sand accumulating in the bottom of my pool. Silly me, I thought this may be something to do with everything being new, a break in period, if you will. Opened the pool up 2 weeks ago and I found the same results happening now. Did my research, everything suggested a crack or manufactures defect in the either the stand pipe, the laterals, or the manifold assembly. Took the entire system apart over the weekend, inspected everything, no cracks, nothing. Unscrewed and reinstalled each lateral with teflon tape since some of the threads weren't the tightest connection I've seen. Replaced sand, backwashed 2-3 min, ran rinse for 1 min. Turned the pump back on to filter and away we go. Initially looked good but by late in the day the next day, I started to see small piles of sand in the bottom again. I don't understand what is causing this. I've read some posts online that point to the spider gasket on the multi-port control. Could this be my problem? I'm seriously confused by this whole thing and the fact that this entire setup is basically new, compounds the problem.
Any ideas?

Premium Blue 19" Filter by Waterway
1.5" Multi-port 7 function Valve (Filter, backwash, rinse, bypass to pool, bypass to waste, winterize, closed)

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! A few questions/comments:
- May seem silly, but are you sure it's sand? You've felt it? Gritty, not slimy?
- Do you recall what brand or type of pool sand was added? Some brands have been know to be slightly finer thereby slipping through the lateral openings.
- Did you add water to the filter, a few inches above the laterals, to help relieve pressure before dumping on top of them (weight)?
- Were you careful to not get any sand into the center standpipe?

Let's start there and see what develops.

 

[zea3]

Hi, welcome to TFP! Is the sand all over the pool or just near the return? Do you have a photo you could post? Do you have a current set of test results you could post?

 

[jdegraeve]

Welcome to TFP! A few questions/comments:
- May seem silly, but are you sure it's sand? You've felt it? Gritty, not slimy?
- Do you recall what brand or type of pool sand was added? Some brands have been know to be slightly finer thereby slipping through the lateral openings.
- Did you add water to the filter, a few inches above the laterals, to help relieve pressure before dumping on top of them (weight)?
- Were you careful to not get any sand into the center standpipe?

Let's start there and see what develops.

Hey thanks for reaching out.
Definitely sand. It's not the algae that looks like sand.
I can look to see what brands of sand were used both originally and over the past weekend when I changed it out, they were definitely different colors.
I did add water to about 3 inches above the laterals before adding sand. Went ultra slow when adding sand to be careful I didn't damage anything along the way.
As for the stand pipe, I used the sand fill guide that came with the filter, completely covers the stand pipe.

I just checked a few minutes ago and there is more sand on the bottom than yesterday, so it's definitely still happening today.

 

[jdegraeve]

Hi, welcome to TFP! Is the sand all over the pool or just near the return? Do you have a photo you could post? Do you have a current set of test results you could post?

Hey thanks for replying. The sand is definitely coming from the return. There's a "line" of sand on the bottom from the return. Test results for the pool water? I don't have that with me at the moment but took a sample over to be tested after I put everything back together this past Saturday. The pool store told me the water quality was spot on.
I can post a photo later.

 

[Husky25]

Hey thanks for replying. The sand is definitely coming from the return. There's a "line" of sand on the bottom from the return. Test results for the pool water? I don't have that with me at the moment but took a sample over to be tested after I put everything back together this past Saturday. The pool store told me the water quality was spot on.
I can post a photo later.

This isn't going to help your sand issue, but you should strongly consider getting a recommended test kit so you are not under the pool store's thumb and add unnecessary chemicals to your pool.

 

[jdegraeve]

This isn't going to help your sand issue, but you should strongly consider getting a recommended test kit so you are not under the pool store's thumb and add unnecessary chemicals to your pool.

Appreciate it. Being a "newbie", that's certainly helpful!

 

[Texas Splash]

For a moment, if we rule out the laterals and hub/knuckles it connects to, I think of two other items:
- Any chance you might have over-filled the filer with sand?
- Your signature doesn't show what pump you have to go with that 19" Waterway. I wonder if it might be too powerful? The exception would be if it's a 2-speed or VSP and you still see the sand while on low speed/rpm.

Then there's the sand itself which perhaps you'll tell us later if that could be the issue itself.

 

[jdegraeve]

Hi, welcome to TFP! Is the sand all over the pool or just near the return? Do you have a photo you could post? Do you have a current set of test results you could post?

 

[Texas Splash]

Look at that horribly clean, crystal clear TFP water. Yikes.

You could always let it get dirty to not see the sand.

 

[jdegraeve]

For a moment, if we rule out the laterals and hub/knuckles it connects to, I think of two other items:
- Any chance you might have over-filled the filer with sand?
- Your signature doesn't show what pump you have to go with that 19" Waterway. I wonder if it might be too powerful? The exception would be if it's a 2-speed or VSP and you still see the sand while on low speed/rpm.

Then there's the sand itself which perhaps you'll tell us later if that could be the issue itself.

Filter and pump pics attached. To answer your original question from your first reply, the original sand used was Mystic White II (at least that's what the invoice says for the entire pool package). The new sand i just replaced it with over the weekend is Sidley Natural Quartz.
Over-filled - I don't think so but there is something odd here. The sticker on the side of the filter says it takes 150 lbs of sand for 19" model. In the manual that was provided it has a table in it that says 100 lbs for 19" model. Pool store said they would always follow the sticker on the filter itself, the invoice also mentions 150 lbs.

 

[Texas Splash]

Sand usually goes up about 2/3 the way, or about the curve of the filter. A good couple inches below the center pipe opening if that helps. That motor is a single speed correct?

 

[jdegraeve]

Look at that horribly clean, crystal clear TFP water. Yikes.

You could always let it get dirty to not see the sand.

That actually is a very good point........what's the best way to do that?!?!

 

[jdegraeve]

Sand usually goes up about 2/3 the way, or about the curve of the filter. A good couple inches below the center pipe opening if that helps. That motor is a single speed correct?

Yeah that's spot on with the level of the sand. Motor is single speed.

 

[Allycelt]

Hi Folks I have very fine material coming back into my pool, could be sand or just fine dirt from the filter.
I know that there could be a problem with cracked laterals but I don't want to have to empty my filter until I have ruled out any other possibilities.
The material is so fine that it disperses when slightly disturbed which made me initially think it was algae.I have treated the pool and nothing appears until the pump is switched on, definitely ruling algae out. Can anyone advise where this very fine material could be sneaking past to get into the pool?

Thanks in advance for any advice.