Yesterday was my last DE change

Another advantage in my opinion, is that with the DE filters if you swim at night or use the lights in your pool, it will definitely have more crystal clear water if you’re using a DE filter correctly.

Can you take a picture of your equipment pad?

What you are describing is a breakdown and deep cleaning of your filter and I will agree that is a PITA. Do you ever just backwash? That is much easier and takes a few minutes. Mine is connected to my sewer and I never see the old DE. I just turn it to backwash, run the pump for a few minutes, turn it back to filter and add some DE to the skimmer.

Its your $ and you can get a cartridge filter if you want, but I would hate to see you make that decision based on thinking your only option to clean your filter was to break it down like you are describing.

It would be in your best interests in the long term to keep your servicable DE filter until your budget allows a large size quality cartridge filter. If you only wait until the next needed DE change interval and get whatever small cartridge fits the short term budget, you will be stuck with an undersized filter that will require frequent cleaning.

I tried the fiber type material in my DE filter. I liked it at first. One of its advantages was that it is biodegradable. Unfortunately I found out what that means. When it’s left in the filter just a bit too long, it becomes a mass of goo. It won’t backwash and even when doing a breakdown cleaning it’s difficult to get rid of. Back to DE.

chiefwej said:

I tried the fiber type material in my DE filter. I liked it at first. One of its advantages was that it is biodegradable. Unfortunately I found out what that means. When it’s left in the filter just a bit too long, it becomes a mass of goo. It won’t backwash and even when doing a breakdown cleaning it’s difficult to get rid of. Back to DE.

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I find a mass of goo either way. I just rinse each grid at a different spot in the yard. The fiber just disappears after hosing it down a little. The DE is much heavier. Either way is good.