Here is my basic maintenance schedule for my VSP:
18 hours at 1400 RPM
4 hours at 2350 RPM
2 hours off
I check the sand filter pressure at 2750 RPM (service mode). This ranges from 12 - 20 PSI, backwash around 18 (around once a month normally).
I deep-cleaned the sand filter a year or two ago. The sand was replaced in 2015. All water test levels are dialed in (FC 7, CYA 50, TA 70, pH 7.5).
This has worked fairly well for the last year or so, however there has been a persistent slight cloudiness. I essentially use a turbidity test: I go to one end of the pool with googles and visually inspect the features underwater at the other end. I can see the stairs and skimmer fine, but they are slightly fuzzy. I've had it clearer in the past with a single speed pump. Looking down into the pool from the deck, it looks like a very clear, clean pool.
I've tried incorporating some DE in the sand filter. I use 1/4" cup after backwashing. However, the results are perplexing. All will be fine for a week or two, or maybe just a few days. Then, during the 1400 RPM schedule, the flow at the returns is suddenly reduced. The weir door starts to lift. Then things get weird. I put the pump into service mode to check the pressure. It will be normal, around 12 PSI. I stop and restart the pump at 1400 RPM, and the issue is magically fixed. The flow at the returns will be normal again for a while. This ONLY happens with DE, and it happens EVERY TIME. It's like the DE takes a set in the filter that has to get reset by the start/stop. I'm sort of at a loss here. The DE has helped with the cloudiness a bit. As I see it, there are a few options:
1) Increase the lowest 1400 RPM to 1800 RPM. This increases the energy usage (230 W) but gets the flow back to normal and lowers the weir door again
2) Just backwash and add fresh DE when this happens. This solves it as well, at the cost of water usage and convenience and increased metals over time (this is an issue I've had).
3) Reduce the DE amount even more. I've reduced and reduced by trial and error and am down to the 1/4 cup. Can I realistically go lower and have this still be effective and worthwhile?
Thoughts?
18 hours at 1400 RPM
4 hours at 2350 RPM
2 hours off
I check the sand filter pressure at 2750 RPM (service mode). This ranges from 12 - 20 PSI, backwash around 18 (around once a month normally).
I deep-cleaned the sand filter a year or two ago. The sand was replaced in 2015. All water test levels are dialed in (FC 7, CYA 50, TA 70, pH 7.5).
This has worked fairly well for the last year or so, however there has been a persistent slight cloudiness. I essentially use a turbidity test: I go to one end of the pool with googles and visually inspect the features underwater at the other end. I can see the stairs and skimmer fine, but they are slightly fuzzy. I've had it clearer in the past with a single speed pump. Looking down into the pool from the deck, it looks like a very clear, clean pool.
I've tried incorporating some DE in the sand filter. I use 1/4" cup after backwashing. However, the results are perplexing. All will be fine for a week or two, or maybe just a few days. Then, during the 1400 RPM schedule, the flow at the returns is suddenly reduced. The weir door starts to lift. Then things get weird. I put the pump into service mode to check the pressure. It will be normal, around 12 PSI. I stop and restart the pump at 1400 RPM, and the issue is magically fixed. The flow at the returns will be normal again for a while. This ONLY happens with DE, and it happens EVERY TIME. It's like the DE takes a set in the filter that has to get reset by the start/stop. I'm sort of at a loss here. The DE has helped with the cloudiness a bit. As I see it, there are a few options:
1) Increase the lowest 1400 RPM to 1800 RPM. This increases the energy usage (230 W) but gets the flow back to normal and lowers the weir door again
2) Just backwash and add fresh DE when this happens. This solves it as well, at the cost of water usage and convenience and increased metals over time (this is an issue I've had).
3) Reduce the DE amount even more. I've reduced and reduced by trial and error and am down to the 1/4 cup. Can I realistically go lower and have this still be effective and worthwhile?
Thoughts?
