sand filter help questions

[*ryan]

i have a ranger series sand filter
i read about channeling in the filter so decided to take the valve off and take a look in to see

pulled the multi valve off and the pipe and laterals came right tot he top

this is the first time i have ever dived into the fitler
who knows what the previous owners did

anyways the water is very dirty and full of floating things
i back washed right before for a min and sight glass looked clear

water is very murky LOTs of solids floating around

put the hose in to let the solids float on and out
a few minutes of this and nothing looked any better at all
so i pulled the lower drain
and leaned over the filter some to get some more water out faster

so what should i do from here?

how much sand should be in the bottom of my filter?
should my water in the tank be this murky and full of solids?

it is still draining so i dont know how much sand is there
but i would imagine it wouldn't be much and wasnt even covering the laterals as they came right up witht he valve


any help would be appreciated

 

[JohnT]

The sand level depends on the brand of filter, but normally it is about up to the point where the tank starts to taper at the top. You want the surface of the sand to be where the tank is at its full diameter, and as high as possible.

 

[*ryan]

well i deffinately dont have that
i can push the laterals down so that about 5" of pipe is sticking out of the top

so i guess this means i have no sand?
why would this be?

laterals look pretty clean and from what i can see not damaged
but i cannot see the underside of them or the ends

 

[*ryan]

ok some more drained out
it looks like i have sand in the bottom o 1/4
its right to where the tank starts its cylinder shaped straight up part after the bottom bowl part

cant seem to get the laterals past the sand
so i guess ihave to remove all the sand and put in new sand?

 

[Bama Rambler]

Yes, you'll have to remove all the sand to get the lateral assembly to seat correctly in the receiver.

 

[*ryan]

just got back with sand
the filter is empty with water
the sand looks more like clay then sand thats in there

gonna shop vac it out
and fill with new sand

thanks

 

[*ryan]

vaccumed out the old sand
put in new sand

if you take a pepsi can and cut the top off with a can opener it fits right over the pipe

centered it up and dumped in 225 lbs of sand which i searched and saw came up for a 25" filter

backwashed till clean

rinse

and filter


thanks for the help everyone

found some white layers in my sand as i was vacuuming
is this the DE ive been putting into the filter?