Filter cartridge and pollen

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diesel1218

diesel1218

Well-known member
Dec 21, 2023
156
Sarasota, FL
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hi, so it is pollen season here in South Florida, and I am constantly battling a cloudy pool. Chemical levels are fine and I’ve done a chlorine loss test. I am planning on slamming my pool in hopes that it will help clear up the water.

I run my pool 24/7 anyway. I use skimmer socks to help catch the pollen. However, my question is around my filter. Florida is known for its small filters. I am basically cleaning my filter once a day and there’s a ton of yellow pollen on the filter. My question is could it be the age of my filter even though it looks in good shape that it is still letting pollen pass through creating the cloudy water. I have to assume my filter is north of three years at this point. I do keep it well-maintained and it looks good but I would have to assume there’s been some wear over the years. I don’t have much pollen settling just a light dusting that I noticed when I brush my sun decks.
 
I have a C-1200 single cart filter as well for our ~18K pool. My cart lasts a good 8-10 years. I finally bought a new one not because of torn pleats or discoloration, but because over the years the paper wasn't allowing good flow-through anymore. This single cart filter does fine and I clean it maybe once every 3 weeks or so. If you're cleaning more than that, something is odd, even with pollen. No reason it should need to be cleaned everyday.

You don't appear to have Poolmath linked to your profile. Could you share some water test numbers?
 
diesel1218 said:
I use skimmer socks to help catch the pollen.
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We have bad pollen here in March, so I sympathize with your situation. Disposable hairnets in the skimmers help immensely.

diesel1218 said:
I am basically cleaning my filter once a day and there’s a ton of yellow pollen on the filter.
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Yikes. I have no idea why Florida builders love comically small filters. (I clean my filters once every 12-18 months.) How much pressure rise are you observing?
 
Texas Splash said:
I have a C-1200 single cart filter as well for our ~18K pool. My cart lasts a good 8-10 years. I finally bought a new one not because of torn pleats or discoloration, but because over the years the paper wasn't allowing good flow-through anymore. This single cart filter does fine and I clean it maybe once every 3 weeks or so. If you're cleaning more than that, something is odd, even with pollen. No reason it should need to be cleaned everyday.

You don't appear to have Poolmath linked to your profile. Could you share some water test numbers?
Click to expand...
Wow that’s a long time for a filter. The only reason I am cleaning so often right now is that I know the pollen is heavy and I felt it has to be passing through the filter back into the pool. I cleaned it yesterday it was yellow then I opened it this morning and already completely yellow again but my pool is still very cloudy. I will run some new test tonight. I do have pool math not sure if it is linked or not.

I did just add a ton of cl to bring my pool up to slam level so I doubt I get an accurate PH reading right now.
 
pjt said:
We have bad pollen here in March, so I sympathize with your situation. Disposable hairnets in the skimmers help immensely.


Yikes. I have no idea why Florida builders love comically small filters. (I clean my filters once every 12-18 months.) How much pressure rise are you observing?
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Can’t say I pay attention to the pressure.

I have fine socks but ordered a new brand to see if they make any difference.
 
diesel1218 said:
Wow that’s a long time for a filter.
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I have a large cartridge filter and use hairnets in the skimmers which catch the vast majority of debris before it gets to the filter.

diesel1218 said:
I felt it has to be passing through the filter back into the pool.
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Are you confident your filter is configured correctly with no internal failures?

diesel1218 said:
my pool is still very cloudy.
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What specific test kit are you using? Keep running 24/7 to allow your socks/hairnets/filter to remove the pollen. Are you passing the OCLT?

diesel1218 said:
I do have pool math not sure if it is linked or not.
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It's not visible. In PM, go to "Pool Setup", scroll to the bottom, and check "Link from TroubleFreePool.com use profile".

diesel1218 said:
I did just add a ton of cl to bring my pool up to slam level so I doubt I get an accurate PH reading right now.
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pH test is invalid with FC >10. Since you've already added the chlorine, you may as well perform a SLAM.

diesel1218 said:
Can’t say I pay attention to the pressure.
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You should. It gives an objective measurement of the dirtiness of your filter. Clean when your pressure is 20% higher than clean pressure.

diesel1218 said:
I have fine socks but ordered a new brand to see if they make any difference.
Click to expand...
I would highly recommend disposable hairnets. Very cheap, easy, and effective.
 
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pjt said:
Are you confident your filter is configured correctly with no internal failures?
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+1. Think of a coffee filter. More coffee grinds in the MrCoffee doesn't allow the extra to pass through. It slows flow while too much junk is trapped on the other side of the filter.

Unless it rips, but cleaning it doesn't fix the rips. It just makes them white rips.
 
pjt said:
I have a large cartridge filter and use hairnets in the skimmers which catch the vast majority of debris before it gets to the filter.


Are you confident your filter is configured correctly with no internal failures?


What specific test kit are you using? Keep running 24/7 to allow your socks/hairnets/filter to remove the pollen. Are you passing the OCLT?


It's not visible. In PM, go to "Pool Setup", scroll to the bottom, and check "Link from TroubleFreePool.com use profile".


pH test is invalid with FC >10. Since you've already added the chlorine, you may as well perform a SLAM.


You should. It gives an objective measurement of the dirtiness of your filter. Clean when your pressure is 20% higher than clean pressure.


I would highly recommend disposable hairnets. Very cheap, easy, and effective.
Click to expand...
Wow I did not realize people use their filters that long. I have noticed my next door neighbor doesn't have the pollen problem, (cloudy pool) like I have. He did replace his filter at the end of last summer. I just assumed since my levels are normal, minus the fact I need to add stabilizer that it could be the filter.

I don't have any errors on my filter and so I am not sure what else would tell me it isn't properly configured.

I use the TFP Pro Salt test kit. My levels are checked all the time, I really only need to ever add acid due to running the kids bubblers, and the spa. I just typically add it once a week. I am waiting to add Stabilizer once this pollen clears up so I don't have to clean the filter.

I could perform a SLAM at this point. I am pushing about a 15 FC as of this morning. I did an over night test before I added the additional chlorine. Also gave me a chance to clean my salt cell for the first time.

Noted on monitoring the filter pressure. Right now I am cleaning it daily just to rinse off the pollen. I do have a new filter arriving tomorrow.

I do use the skimmer socks currently, if you have a link to something that works better let me know. The socks are capturing a lot, well they are yellow daily, just letting pollen through still since the filter is yellow. I have my suction on about 75-80% skimmer. I run my pool 24/7 anyway and just can't kick this cloudy pool. The pollen doesn't settle much only on the sundeck and steps really but have been brushing daily as well.
 
diesel1218 said:
and just can't kick this cloudy pool
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I got overrun every spring with many oaks. Every dusting of pollen may take days (or daaaaaays) to find the filter and it's being added non stop for 3+ weeks.

If you're comfortable the filter is intact, and you don't lose FC overnight, it's a waiting game. I did another OCLT every 5 to 7 days just to feel better about it again.
 
Newdude said:
I got overrun every spring with many oaks. Every dusting of pollen may take days (or daaaaaays) to find the filter and it's being added non stop for 3+ weeks.

If you're comfortable the filter is intact, and you don't lose FC overnight, it's a waiting game. I did another OCLT every 5 to 7 days just to feel better about it again.
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Yeah I really think that's it for me, it is just odd that my neighbor doesn't have the same issue. He doesn't run his pool 24/7 so maybe his vacuum is picking it up before he notices it. Maybe I am just in a wind tunnel too as I am on the corner. I figured a new filter since it has been 3 year was probably a safe bet.
 

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diesel1218 said:
Maybe I am just in a wind tunnel too as I am on the corner.
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If the wind blows towards you, the trees on the property line come your way. Your neighbor needs no filtering, and you need more than you can possibly do in a day.

But the industry says you both need 3 turnovers. :scratch:
 
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Newdude said:
+1. Think of a coffee filter. More coffee grinds in the MrCoffee doesn't allow the extra to pass through. It slows flow while too much junk is trapped on the other side of the filter.

Unless it rips, but cleaning it doesn't fix the rips. It just makes them white rips.
Click to expand...
Just for reference this is what my gauge shows and my pump is running about 2000 right now. I have no idea if the red and green are set right, I haven't changed anything since it was built. IMG_3473.jpeg

Also this is my filter after a day.

IMG_3470.jpeg
 
diesel1218 said:
I have no idea if the red and green are set right,
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The default on many of them is +10, again it's crazy for all in the land, especially with VS pumps. +10 on low RPM may be a 400% increase and only a 50% increase at high RPM. The 50% increase is still likely way too much.

Once clean, run full speed and record the baseline. Let it go until it rises 25% and return to full speed anytime you wonder if it's time. You can use any speed if you always use it for this task, but you have to squint at 25% of 5 psi while 25% of 20 psi is 4 psi.
 
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Pool is looking clearer today. Not 100% yet. Although my FC is over 20 because I forgot to turn my salt cell off then I added the liquid chlorine.
I need to increase my calcium a bit sitting at 300. My TA is high but can't read the Ph anyway with the FC so high. The CYA is I think about 50 so I can add some stabilizer as well.
 
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