Pool Opening Process Has Plateaued. Help!

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aarogb

aarogb

Well-known member
Apr 15, 2020
49
Sanford, NC
Pool Size
7000
Surface
Fiberglass
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair iChlor 15
Hi everyone,

On my 5th year of getting my pool up and running. Previous 4 years have gone off without any issues... However, this year is giving me a lot of trouble.

I started getting my pool ready about a week ago by getting all the leaves out, (didn't use a cover over the winter) and starting the SLAM process. Process was going fine, the pool water was like pond water in the beginning of course, and it eventually cleared to this:

IMG_3017.jpg

It's gotten better since the "pond water" I first started with, but it's recently plateaued as shown in the picture above and it hasn't gotten any clearer in like the past four days. My most recent tests are:

4/19

FC - 11 PPM
CC - 4 PPM
CYA - 20
Backwashing multiple times per day and refilling water as level decreases.

4/20 (this morning)

FC - 10 PPM
CC - 4.5
CYA - 20
Backwashing multiple times per day and refilling water as level decreases.

Don't think it's ammonia problem as CYA is not at zero... But maybe it is? Who knows!

I will say that while cleaning out the pool from all the leaves, I did find several metallic items such as a metallic patio furniture, other pool deck items and I am curious if perhaps the salt interacting with the metal of these objects could have messed anything up? I didn't realize they had fallen in, so they've been in there several months...

Like I said in the previous four years, I would have had the pool crystal clear by now, but I am not sure what the issue is this year! Looking for any suggestions to help me get over the hump.

Thanks

Aaron
 
The frequency of your testing and replacing FC has a huge impact on how quick this goes. 3-4x per day is MIN. Every 2 hours is the max. The more you do, the faster it goes.

Add 10ppm of CYA to get to 30.
 
A CC of 4.5 is not likely unless you are combating ammonia. However, you would not be able to hold any FC more than a few minutes if you had ammonia. So the test data do not add up.
 
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So, I figured out that my reagents that came with my TF-100 Pro kit are about 5 years old now. Needless to say, they are probably expired, and the results haven't been accurate.

I just received my new reagents in the mail today. I retested FC and got 2.5 along with 2 CC. CYA was zero (the black dot was cloudy at the top of the view tube, but I could still see it).

I added stabilizer according to PoolMath and 10% liquid chlorine also at the SLAM amount according to PoolMath. So hopefully I am on the right track!

We'll see...
 
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Only add to 30 CYA and pause, slam at the much lower FC level (12 vs 28 for SWG), then finish adding CYA after passing slam.
 
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OK guys, since I got the new reagents and I’ve been testing, I am following the SLAM process but not much as changed in the past two days. Pictures of the water as of tonight:

IMG_3036.jpeg

Something that is interesting to me is that my filter pressure hasn’t changed since I’ve started this process. It’s always right at 10 PSI. I know the gauge isn’t bad because I just replaced it and when I turn the pump off, it goes to 0.

Do you think there is an issue with my filter?

Thanks
 
The pool filter is a Pentair Sand Dollar SD40. It’s 5 years old and has never had the sand replaced.

The pump is a Pentair Dynamo 1.5 HP
 

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That is a big pump for you filter (marty'd)....ha ha. Filters tend to filter better on low speed rather than high speed...that may be part of the problem.
That is a small "ish" filter, and sand filters take the longest to clear a pool. I'd go ahead and backwash every day.
You might try adding POOL DE to your sand filter to help.
www.troublefreepool.com

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Does your gauge go to 0 when the pump is off?
 
mknauss said:
Have you checked the sand level in the filter lately? It may be too low.
Click to expand...
No. I have never opened up the filter to access the sand. Sounds like it’s about time though!

If I'm doing all that, I’ll probably just go ahead and replace the sand. Although I am not sure why the PSI would still be so normal as it is now if the sand were very clogged up. Perhaps something is broken inside? Maybe a lateral? Or something is causing the water to bypass the filtration all together?

And yes I’ve double, tripled checked that I have the multiport set to “filter” and not “recirculate”.:)
 
My pool sounds like it was similar - too small of a sand filter for the pump used. The flow would just force the dirt through, and back into the pool. It would take sometimes two weeks to clear from the conditions you show. I got very familiar with floc and the like over the years to try to get it sped up. Although I never had issues, floc is NOT the way to go - so do not take this as advocating for it.

Things to try:
1. Deep clean the filter. The first thing to do, especially if it has been a long time or never. When really fouled, backwashing won't get out everything and the sand clumps, therefore allowing dirty water to channel and bypass. Read the how to here: Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter
2. If concerned, you can remove the sand and inspect the laterals and other components. Unlikely you will find anything wrong, but will give you piece of mind.
3. Verify that you have enough sand. Check your manual for how much. It is common to loose a little bit when backwashing, and over time (especially if years), filtration efficiency will be reduced.
4. If you've done a good job with the deep cleaning, there is no need to replace. Sand does not wear out, just gets dirty. New sand is very dusty and needs to be deep cleaned right away, before use, or the dust will also cloud your pool.
5. If possible, run the pump at a lower speed, to avoid forcing the dirt back into the pool.
6. You can try the DE suggestion - I found I had to buy big bags of the stuff, that would last several lifetimes. It can help some, and does flush out in the backwashing.
7. Despite the above about cleaning, don't backwash too often - some dirt in the filter will help increase the filtration.
8. Be patient. Begin to plan to replace the filter with one larger. I love my newish cartridge filter, but a properly sized sand can work as well.
 
mknauss said:
That is a lot of pump for a small sand filter.

Have you checked the sand level in the filter lately? It may be too low.
Click to expand...
How would I know the correct level of sand in the filter? Is there a line inside the filter that it should be filled to? The only thing I see about amount of sand is the lb. It says 150 lbs but if I just need to add more, I am not sure how much.
 
Generally you should add sand to the point that the shell of the filter starts to curve in. So about 2/3's full.
 
OK, so I got my sand filter open. The sand level does appear a bit low:

IMG_3038.jpeg

I would say it appears about half-way up the filter. What does everyone think? Is the sand level too low?
 

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