Another dual filter thread, but different

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Griff Griffinson

Member
Nov 22, 2020
10
Leander Texas
Pool Size
40000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Howdy,

I have read several dual filter threads and generally they are not advisable and of moderately low usefulness.
However I feel I have a unique pool situation.

I have a ~40k gallon pool with a hayward 60sq ft DE filter (I think so anyway, its 46" tall so that matches). Our pool is on a hillside below a large treeless ranch full of dust above the pool. Our home and pool equipments sits below it and has 90% tree cover, specifically 100 year old live oaks. The wind is gusts regularly and we go from very dry to very wet and back again rapidly. On an average day in a dry summer the wind will cover the pool with dust in 10 minutes that by evening when it runs through will completely clog my filter and require a flush. If I get a hard rain the dirt that comes out of the tree is many times worse with a complete color change to bright yellow with brown catkins in a single hour if the trees are in pollen. Those days may take me several days of flushing to get it back. I go through DE like it's water but I love the clarity when everything is good. My discharge area is deep with off white used DE. I have recently purchased a variable speed pump that's .75hp greater than my old single speed one. I have plenty of pool equipment space and I was thinking about putting a TR-140 sand filter in line with my DE so the sand catches 90% 20 micron and up garbage so I can flush that at will and let the DE filter catch the tiny stuff to polish the water nicely. I am posting this to see if anyone has anything to add that I have not considered as well as to tell me of any piping flaws I might have. For instance I am not sure check valves are needed on the jets and flush if the multi-valves are good enough to prevent backflow and being damaged. I added the three 3-way valves so I can cut off any section for rebuild while leaving the other running. pool.jpeg
 
I don't see the need for the check valve by the return.

I think you are just moving your maintenance efforts from one area of the pool to another. But it will be an interesting experiment how well it works. You are adding "head" to your plumbing with dual filters that will require a higher RPM for your pump and more electrical usage.

Keep us informed of how it goes.
 
Another option would be to use just the TR-140 and add a couple of handfuls of cellulose fiber to the skimmer after each backwash.

You could try just using cellulose fiber as opposed to DE in your existing filter, though 60 sq. ft. on a pool your size in the environment you have is rather small. Just be sure to follow the directions and get used to using MUCH less than what you are now using with DE. I used to use a 1-pound coffee can-size container with the fiber lightly packed into it for filters your size. Hard to get used to, but it works. You have to get all the DE out of your filter for the first use and may then have some short filter cycles as the fiber removes the oils from your grids. Using an enzyme product will help regardless of which way you go. When you backwash fiber to the ground it literally "goes away." If you need to open your filter to clean, it washes off the grids very easily and completely. It is a by-product of paper making and naturally deteriorates and is completely non-toxic as opposed to DE which has a very scary SDS.

Another is to plumb the second filter in parallel, not in series. Every class on pool hydraulics I have ever taken has taught that it is not practical to plumb multi-filter systems in series. I have installed up to 4 large cartridge systems on a large commercial pool, but always in parallel. Splitting the flow between filters allows the water to slow down and even very small debris to be trapped. It allows for longer filter cycles and easier cleaning.

You would do well to replace your current pump with a VSP, use a large sand filter, and run long, slow, even 24-hour, filter cycles. Remember, after July 19 this year these will be the virtually the only legal pump you can buy and use. If your current pump is 10 years old, or so, it is time to start thinking of a repair/replacement anyway. Another good way would be to install, or have installed, a Century (A.O.Smith) V-Green 2.7 motor to your existing pump. Not sure if you have a Max-E-Glas 1 or 2 (or Max-e-Pro as they are now called). Either way, it is an excellent pump that can be converted to variable speed very easily and for less than the cost of a new pump. I've done three this year ( I'm slowing down) and, probably 45-50 in the last few years. It has always benefitted the pool owner
 
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Understood 1poolman1,
I very well might just do the sand filter alone with the DE or Earth Friendly DE mod, I actually do have a Variable speed pump now. It was a max e glas 2.25hp and now its a max e glas with 3hp guts and an AVSS3 VS motor, or it will be when I get it all assembled. Running filters with such dissimilar characteristics in parallel would seem difficult to me. Perhaps the loss of 5 micron filtering wouldn't even be noticeable. Obviously people run sand alone and are 100% happy.
 
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