Stand alone DE filter

andyth · Jun 27, 2020

I have an inground pool (30k gallons) and it always takes a long time to get it cleaned with my sand filter. I change my sand every other year. A friend of mine suggested getting DE filter. I picked up a used DE filter from a friend (Hayward EC65), now I am wondering if it is possible to double up the cleaning process by just using the DE filter as a standalone. Meaning, I will have pool water go directly using a hose to pump/DE filter and back to the pool instead of connecting thru the regular plumbing lines. Anything against it? If I do that, how do I add DE to the filter? Almost every advise suggest adding slushy DE water mix to the skimmer. There will be so skimmer in my case.

Am I nuts?

Andy

ajw22 · Jun 27, 2020

Let's take a step back. What is wrong with your filtration. Most people don't change the sand in their filters every 20 years let alone every 2 years?

Are you trying to filter out algae problems? Filters do not fix algae, chlorine does.

What test kit do you have?

You use liquid chlorine to chlorinate your pool?

Richard320 · Jun 27, 2020

You will not like it. A DE filter and a green pool is a recipe for hourly backwashes.

You can get almost the same effect if you Add DE to a Sand Filter - Trouble Free Pool It's like laying window screen over chicken wire but on a microscopic scale.

andyth · Jun 27, 2020

ajw22 said:
Let's take a step back. What is wrong with your filtration. Most people don't change the sand in their filters every 20 years let alone every 2 years?

Are you trying to filter out algae problems? Filters do not fix algae, chlorine does.

What test kit do you have?

You use liquid chlorine to chlorinate your pool?

I am using the SLAM process for the last few years. I use the TF100 test kit. With a lot of algae the SLAM process takes way too long to clear the pool. For example, it has been 2 weeks since I started the SLAM process and it is still bluish green with probably another week to go.
Before I started the SLAM,
1. Adjusted the pH to 7.2/7.3 level.
2. Brought up the CYA to about 30 from near zero.
3. Keeping the FC around 13. Testing and adjusting the FC 3 times a day.
4. I use the Austin Pool Tech LC @12.5%. It is a fresh stock which was produced few weeks ago. (Stamp says 20168 which June 6th production date)

After almost 10 days of SLAMing and pouring about 16 to 18 gallons of FC the pool still is not ready. I am thinking DE should somehow speed up the process?
Or I doing the process wrong. It seem to take way too long.
Andy

ajw22 · Jun 27, 2020

A different filter will not change the kill rate of the algae in your pool by the chlorine.

It took weeks to get such an algae bloom and it takes half that time or less to clear the algae. The SLAM Process does not nuke the algae overnight.

andyth · Jun 27, 2020

ajw22 said:
A different filter will not change the kill rate of the algae in your pool by the chlorine.

It took weeks to get such an algae bloom and it takes half that time or less to clear the algae. The SLAM Process does not nuke the algae overnight.

So it is not abnormal for the SLAM process to last for 3 weeks then?

ajw22 · Jun 27, 2020

andyth said:
So it is not abnormal for the SLAM process to last for 3 weeks then?

Nope. You are no where near the record for SLAM length.

Are you seeing an improvement in what you can see in the water? We suggest you pick one spot, the steps or the cleaner in the deep end, and take pictures and post them. You can usually see the difference every few days in what can be seen.

Folks also find it helpful to post all their tests and water chemistry so we can follow along.

You say you test 3X a day. How much Fc do you lose in what period of time? What is the CC? Keeping a log and observing the trend changes can evaluate progress or if the SLAM Process has stalled for some reason.

andyth · Jun 28, 2020

ajw22 said:
Nope. You are no where near the record for SLAM length.

Are you seeing an improvement in what you can see in the water? We suggest you pick one spot, the steps or the cleaner in the deep end, and take pictures and post them. You can usually see the difference every few days in what can be seen.

Folks also find it helpful to post all their tests and water chemistry so we can follow along.

You say you test 3X a day. How much Fc do you lose in what period of time? What is the CC? Keeping a log and observing the trend changes can evaluate progress or if the SLAM Process has stalled for some reason.

Yes, of course. The water has improved a lot since I started the SLAM process - from almost black to muddy to a green swamp to turquoise to bluish green now. It just took way more days than expected and the kids are getting agitated daily!
FC used to drop like crazy in the first few days, but seem to have slowed down a lot now (we got a lot of leaves, algae, and dirt out by scooping out, vacuuming and running the filter/pump constantly for the last 2 weeks.
Current FC as of this morning is 9 before adding Chlorine (which I am raising to 13 after this post). Overall, I seem to lose about 3 to 4 ppm of FC per day, and around 1 ppm of FC during the night. The CC is around 0.5 ppm
pH was lowered before the process to 7.2/7.3 and stays this same.
I backwash it when the filter pressure builds up from 12 to 20+. But, not when I added stabilizer for a few days. I tried to follow SLAM process very closely, just the time it takes it way long which concerns me.
Also, the phosphate level is still fairly high (400+). From organic matter before cleaning. I think that fed to algae growth. Should I consider reducing it during the SLAM or wait until the process over or just ignore it?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks for the help

duraleigh · Jun 28, 2020

The DE filter will only prolong your SLAM process, not speed it up.

Speed up the SLAM by.....
1. Closing late....water temp below 60 at least
2. opening early.......get a jump on any spring algae
3. Closing with a CLEAN pool.....chlorinated to SLAM level
4. Keep your SLAM level FC at max.....testing 3-4 times daily and brushing and vacuuming to get out all the debris

My bet is your SLAM would last less than a week if you did all the above diligently.

ajw22 · Jun 28, 2020

It may be unsightly but it is safe to swim in the water as long as the FC is below the SLAM FC level and you can see the bottom of the pool. So you can let the FC drop a bit during swim time and let the kids swim. Then raise the FC after swim time.

andyth · Jun 28, 2020

duraleigh said:
The DE filter will only prolong your SLAM process, not speed it up.

Speed up the SLAM by.....
1. Closing late....water temp below 60 at least
2. opening early.......get a jump on any spring algae
3. Closing with a CLEAN pool.....chlorinated to SLAM level
4. Keep your SLAM level FC at max.....testing 3-4 times daily and brushing and vacuuming to get out all the debris

My bet is your SLAM would last less than a week if you did all the above diligently.

When we close the pool in the northeast it is always colder (below 60 water temp for sure), but opening early and chlorinate to SLAM level close are good suggestions!

andyth · Jun 28, 2020

Current view of the pool.

Screen Shot 2020-06-28 at 11.08.27 AM.png

ajw22 · Jun 28, 2020

What liquid chlorine are you using?

andyth · Jun 28, 2020

ajw22 said:
What liquid chlorine are you using?

Austin Pool Tech LC @12.5%. Production date 20168 - (Jun 16).

Flying Tivo · Jun 28, 2020

If you can test/add more than 3 times a day it will go faster.

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