DE in sand filtr

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1

1teppy1

Member
Jul 31, 2022
6
Prairieville LA
Pool Size
36000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
We have been using DE for the past couple days now to take care of cloudy water. The reason that the water got so cloudy was because shock, clarifier, and anything else added was done directly in the skimmer. It messed up the sand. The DE has cleared it up crystal clear.

My question is will this clean it up temporary or permenant? I feel like once we get it cleared up when backwashing to where the water is clear in the little glass bulb that it will be fine. He is telling me that it’s temporary and will just cloud the water back up again unless we keep using it (DE)now after every backwash. If that’s the case should we just go on and change the sand?
 
Anyone considering changing out their sand should first perform a "deep clean" (see sticky link at the top of the forum). Sand doesn't wear out, but it can get gunky from additives like clarifiers and other pool store snake oil. However, I had great success with a deep clean, and it should be much easier than a sand replacement.

Also, cloudy water is usually a chemical problem, not a filtering problem. Algae is what is usually clouding your pool so it must be killed. Check your chemical levels.

Finally, before I knew what I was doing, I did add DE to my sand filter and it helped. However, IMHO, it's just a band-aid masking other problems (like gunky sand or algae growth).
 
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SDor said:
Anyone considering changing out their sand should first perform a "deep clean" (see sticky link at the top of the forum). Sand doesn't wear out, but it can get gunky from additives like clarifiers and other pool store snake oil. However, I had great success with a deep clean, and it should be much easier than a sand replacement.

Also, cloudy water is usually a chemical problem, not a filtering problem. Algae is what is usually clouding your pool so it must be killed. Check your chemical levels.

Finally, before I knew what I was doing, I did add DE to my sand filter and it helped. However, IMHO, it's just a band-aid masking other problems (like gunky sand or algae growth).
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All of my chemical levels are good. I ran a complete check yesterday. The sand filter was definitely messed up by adding stuff directly In the skimmer. After I started putting DE in it started clearing within an hour! Algae would not clear up like that after over 3 weeks of cloudy water.

I’ve actually been a pool owner for over 15 years now. When I sold my other house I didn’t plan on getting another pool. This house already had an over 37000 gal SWG pool. I have been a member of this group also. I just could not remember my user name and created a new one to start over. I never had to use DE before at my other pool. It works though! I’m just wondering if it’s a temporary fix or not after the water clears up. I will definitely read about the deep clean. I’ve never done that either. Honestly, this forum helped my keep my other pool in perfect shape all of the time. I did use the BBB method for awhile but then switched to a SWG.
 
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1poolman1 said:
Who is telling you? Which filter, size, brand? Nothing wrong with continuing to use it if you want, but shouldn't be necessary with a working sand filter.
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My equipment
 

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SDor said:
Nice pool!

With a CYA of 80, you might want to increase your Chlorine to 6 as the pool calculator says 4 is minimum and 6 is target. Also, I assume you measured these yourself vs. a pool store.
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Alright, I will keep the chlorine up a bit more. Actually today it was at 10. And yes, I measured this with my TF-100 kit.
 
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