TLDR; rinse zeolite media in a net/sock until clean before placing into a filter.
So it’s been a few weeks since my father in law opened his pool and a new Intex SWG/Sand Filter was installed. At the time no one local had pool sand, so Clorox Pool Filter Sand Plus was used from Lowes.
He did backwash and rinse, but the pool immediately turned hazy. He was using test strips and threw shock with stabilizer and other stuff at it based off app recommendations, to no avail.
About 3-4 days into this, before Memorial Day weekend, I came over for the first time and from what the strips showed FC/TC were high(10+), pH was high (8.0) and CYA was crazy. It wasn’t like algae it was just murky and cloudy. Also, if pumped was stopped and started it threw out dirty water for a few seconds. At that time, I was not familiar with TFP/BBB or really any pool maintenance, so I lowered the pH with some pH down and added a couple ounces of Clorox clarifier. Next morning it was clear with fine sediment on the bottom. We vacuumed to filter and backwashed.
Results at this point…
Fast forward, I now have read many articles here, every important pool school, and acquired K-2006C.
I can now say I’ve got the CYA down to 100 (will let drop over over time with backwashing and filling), FC in range (high end but dropping slow) and CC usually at 0.0 or 0.2. All other numbers are ideal. We still have fine particles on the floor every day… even after vacuuming to waste and extensive backwashing and rinsing.
Today, I decide to check this filter media, so I remove it and start rinsing in a big tub and it gives off a fine dust in the water. After many cycles of washing and draining the water is nearly clear. So I scoop it up bit by bit in a pool net, rinsing throughly before placing in the filter.
I needed to use some new material to make up for some loss and this is when I realize just how dirty this stuff is and what the original clarity issue was. So every 3-4 cups required rinsing in a net with 20+ gallons of water to get it to run clear. This stuff is loaded with fine particulate that will not be caught by laterals and even works its way through the media back into the pool.
Lesson here, take about a cup of any new filter media and rinse in a pool net, skimmer sock, cheese cloth, something with holes similar to your laterals over a bucket before committing to use and placing in the tank. The stuff that comes out will tell you if you need to rinse heavily before use or if backwash only will work.
Will update if the floor remains clear and problem is resolved or if I’m still searching for the root cause of the particles on the floor. Also, if it was my personal pool, I probably would have just replaced the media with HTH sand from Ace.
So it’s been a few weeks since my father in law opened his pool and a new Intex SWG/Sand Filter was installed. At the time no one local had pool sand, so Clorox Pool Filter Sand Plus was used from Lowes.
He did backwash and rinse, but the pool immediately turned hazy. He was using test strips and threw shock with stabilizer and other stuff at it based off app recommendations, to no avail.
About 3-4 days into this, before Memorial Day weekend, I came over for the first time and from what the strips showed FC/TC were high(10+), pH was high (8.0) and CYA was crazy. It wasn’t like algae it was just murky and cloudy. Also, if pumped was stopped and started it threw out dirty water for a few seconds. At that time, I was not familiar with TFP/BBB or really any pool maintenance, so I lowered the pH with some pH down and added a couple ounces of Clorox clarifier. Next morning it was clear with fine sediment on the bottom. We vacuumed to filter and backwashed.
Results at this point…
Fast forward, I now have read many articles here, every important pool school, and acquired K-2006C.
I can now say I’ve got the CYA down to 100 (will let drop over over time with backwashing and filling), FC in range (high end but dropping slow) and CC usually at 0.0 or 0.2. All other numbers are ideal. We still have fine particles on the floor every day… even after vacuuming to waste and extensive backwashing and rinsing.
Today, I decide to check this filter media, so I remove it and start rinsing in a big tub and it gives off a fine dust in the water. After many cycles of washing and draining the water is nearly clear. So I scoop it up bit by bit in a pool net, rinsing throughly before placing in the filter.
I needed to use some new material to make up for some loss and this is when I realize just how dirty this stuff is and what the original clarity issue was. So every 3-4 cups required rinsing in a net with 20+ gallons of water to get it to run clear. This stuff is loaded with fine particulate that will not be caught by laterals and even works its way through the media back into the pool.
Lesson here, take about a cup of any new filter media and rinse in a pool net, skimmer sock, cheese cloth, something with holes similar to your laterals over a bucket before committing to use and placing in the tank. The stuff that comes out will tell you if you need to rinse heavily before use or if backwash only will work.
Will update if the floor remains clear and problem is resolved or if I’m still searching for the root cause of the particles on the floor. Also, if it was my personal pool, I probably would have just replaced the media with HTH sand from Ace.
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