While we don't advocate for clarifiers for normal pool use, they can sometimes help with removing excessive amounts of oils if your filter isn't working as well or as fast as one would like. The problem with clarifiers is that you may need to deep clean your filter afterwards.
Cloudy pool s/p refill - not losing FC (1 ppm/day) CC 0-0.5 - next steps?
- Thread starter crimson avenger
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
I’m okay with swapping out and deep cleaning the filters.
Is there a specific product that is recommended?
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,992
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Many people note the “sparkle” it gives the water. Not sure if its because of surfactant qualities or not but obviously using borax to clean things removes oils. (Although borax has some additional properties that plain boric acid doesn’t have)
You mentioned a sheen - that’s not quite the same thing as cloudiness.
You would only need about 5 lbs. of boric acid so it wouldn’t be a huge expense.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
I’ll take a look.
there is not a sheen. It’s cloudiness.
I can't recommend any particular product since I don't use clarifiers. There may be a couple of users on the forum who could recommend a high quality brand.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
Well, I came back into town on Monday night and things still looked the same. So yesterday (Tuesday), I threw in a few extra scum balls. Had a few people over yesterday and it had the same slight cloudiness to it.
This morning looked similar to slightly better.
Ran to Target and threw 6 tennis balls in the skimmer and took the scum balls out and they were a bit greasy.
Water is looking almost perfectly clear in the sun now, which is a big test.
Going to keep an eye on it the next few days…. But I think we might be back to pool nirvana.
Used a good amount of chlorine during the day yesterday (as expected given 5 people in pool), but today it’s back to its usual <2 ppm usage.
We shall see…
This morning looked similar to slightly better.
Ran to Target and threw 6 tennis balls in the skimmer and took the scum balls out and they were a bit greasy.
Water is looking almost perfectly clear in the sun now, which is a big test.
Going to keep an eye on it the next few days…. But I think we might be back to pool nirvana.
Used a good amount of chlorine during the day yesterday (as expected given 5 people in pool), but today it’s back to its usual <2 ppm usage.
We shall see…
So with an average volume of 2500 gallons and 5 people, you are talking hot tub ratios of swimmer residuals to gallons. Probably far worse too because most hot tubbing is evening/night when susnscreen isn’t an issue.
While your 150 sq ft filter is in theory huge for the gallons, maybe it’s still unable to handle the workload because the water is just so
residual-ed.
I don’t dare say the ‘T’ word that rhymes with ‘murnover’, but maybe you need to push your volume many times through a bigger filter after the bigger parties.
The S8M500 (500) and S7M450 (450) share the same housing and you can put the 500s in the 450 housing. Maybe a 250 cartridge will fit yours. Ask pentair right on their website in the Q/A section for which larger filters fit your unit. I was trying to help a member a while back and asked there. They took 3 or 4 days but came back with the answers.
While your 150 sq ft filter is in theory huge for the gallons, maybe it’s still unable to handle the workload because the water is just so
residual-ed.
I don’t dare say the ‘T’ word that rhymes with ‘murnover’, but maybe you need to push your volume many times through a bigger filter after the bigger parties.
The S8M500 (500) and S7M450 (450) share the same housing and you can put the 500s in the 450 housing. Maybe a 250 cartridge will fit yours. Ask pentair right on their website in the Q/A section for which larger filters fit your unit. I was trying to help a member a while back and asked there. They took 3 or 4 days but came back with the answers.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
What about increasing RPM? Reasonable alternative to buying a big filter? Might be worth a try, and is free…
Certainly won’t hurt anything but the electric bill. Full speed on my VS drew 22.5 times the watts as the 1200 RPM trickle.
But yeah. You need it forced through the filter over and over. The only question is if the 150 sq ft is small based on how much gunk gets in the water. Or really, The ratio of not so diluted gunk to gallons.
Find out from Pentair just for future knowledge. If all else fails it’s a backup plan because you certainly don’t want to go through this all the time. Not every party will be a blowout like the last one, and the 5 people ones will probably be more manageable, but if bigger filters fit you can try that once we’ve exhausted the free fixes.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
That makes sense. Thanks for the help. I had a suspicion there was a filtration, not a chemistry problem.
Through unscientific experience, I have found roughly 1k gallons to swimmers to be the magic ratio for cloudiness. (Of course it’s in general. Swim for 10 hours and you can get there with less people, etc). It hit me with my own pool when it went cloudy for the first time 7 years in. 35 swimmers and 35k gallons. 20+ people we had more times than I could count but 35 gave me the first cloudiness.
Since then I noticed many of the Intex people do the same when they had a couple people over. Each time it pretty much lined up at 1k pp.
My 500 sq ft filter and 3HP pump cleared it before bedtime that night. The smaller systems can take days, and I fear with your….. people to gallons instead of gallons to people (lol) could be miserable.
Since then I noticed many of the Intex people do the same when they had a couple people over. Each time it pretty much lined up at 1k pp.
My 500 sq ft filter and 3HP pump cleared it before bedtime that night. The smaller systems can take days, and I fear with your….. people to gallons instead of gallons to people (lol) could be miserable.
Actually scratch all that. The S8M150 in your signature is a 450 square ft dual cartridge, (holy cow and BRAVO) but not the clean and clear also in your sig.
Which one do you have ? If it’s the 450 sq ft that would clean your water like no tomorrow.
Which one do you have ? If it’s the 450 sq ft that would clean your water like no tomorrow.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
Here are the pics of the two boxes for my two cartridges. They both go in at the same time. One is 200 sf and the other is 100 sf. Does that mean I have 300 ft.² at any given time?
My signature includes what was in the contract. Obviously I got something else.
My signature includes what was in the contract. Obviously I got something else.
Attachments
Well, you got the system3 / S8M of some kind and with 300 sq ft between the 2. Which is stupid large (but again, BRAVO 
) for 2k-3k gallons and now I’m kinda stumped again. The exact filter model will be stamped/labeled on the top half of the housing.
A 150 which the signature model # suggested (but my jumped conclusions were wrong), may have struggled, but a 300 should be able to handle anything you could possibly throw at it. Crazy parties or not.
) for 2k-3k gallons and now I’m kinda stumped again. The exact filter model will be stamped/labeled on the top half of the housing.A 150 which the signature model # suggested (but my jumped conclusions were wrong), may have struggled, but a 300 should be able to handle anything you could possibly throw at it. Crazy parties or not.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
Part of me wonders if when I cleaned the filters, I somehow installed them incorrectly. But it’s basically idiot proof. I think. Filter pressures have been normal.Well, you got the system3 / S8M of some kind and with 300 sq ft between the 2. Which is stupid large (but again, BRAVO
A 150 which the signature model # suggested (but my jumped conclusions were wrong), may have struggled, but a 300 should be able to handle anything you could possibly throw at it. Crazy parties or not.
Yeah they are pretty fool proof and indestructible which is why a moved Heaven and earth to secure a new one for my new build.
It is possible when putting the little guy in that it disloged the big one. (Or vice versa) Open it up and reseat them. Tool free and only takes a minute. Another HUGE reason I was getting another one, shortages be darned. Lol.
It is possible when putting the little guy in that it disloged the big one. (Or vice versa) Open it up and reseat them. Tool free and only takes a minute. Another HUGE reason I was getting another one, shortages be darned. Lol.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
Wouldn’t you expect the filter pressure to be a little bit lower than usual if that were the case?
Doesn’t every opening and closing risk the O-ring? I don’t have a spare on hand and I’m afraid if I damage it with unnecessary openings I may be out of the pool all together.
Which reminds me… I’m going to order a new O-ring today.
The hula-hoop O-ring ? Coat it with Jacks magic lube each time you put it back (pro-tip : use disposable gloves that we now all have permanently
) and it will take 10 years to dry rot. Maybe, but my pressure was so low already it would have been hard to tell.
It never hurts to have a spare but mine was going strong 8.5 years later. I’d be more worried that the new on would be just as dry rotted when the time came. Lol.
- Jun 22, 2019
- 338
- Pool Size
- 2300
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-20
Sounds good.The hula-hoop O-ring ? Coat it with Jacks magic lube each time you put it back (pro-tip : use disposable gloves that we now all have permanently
Maybe, but my pressure was so low already it would have been hard to tell.
It never hurts to have a spare but mine was going strong 8.5 years later. I’d be more worried that the new on would be just as dry rotted when the time came. Lol.
Should I run it at a higher rate though? I’m assuming that will work. I’m at 1600 rpm now. Power costs are reqlly not significant to begin with ($8/month).
Yeah I would go for pure volume for a few days and see if that speeds things along. You need many passes through the filter and it will take either a considerable amount of time or considerably more energy to power the extra flow.
No need to run 3450 RPMs, but 2800/2900 is probably close enough.
No need to run 3450 RPMs, but 2800/2900 is probably close enough.