How much DE and how to measure it...

[kodiak1120]

I just opened yesterday, and I had to add DE. I took the filter apart to clean the grids, so I was starting fresh. The filter states that 4.5 lbs of DE are required. The prior owners left a bag of DE, which also had a 13 oz. plastic coffee can. I have read online that coffee and DE have similar densities and therefore, a pound of DE is about equal to a pound of coffee. Keeping that in mind, I added 5.5 cans worth to the skimmer box (4.5 lbs x 16 oz. = 72 oz; 72 oz / 13 oz scoop = 5.5 scoops).

Just to double check my procedure, I searched on here and have seen some references indicating that this is not the correct way to do it, since DE only "weighs" half as much as coffee, so a 13 oz can of coffee would only hold about 6.5 oz of DE.

I'm confused. I know pool stores sell a special scoop, but when I called they told me to use a coffee can.

What is the correct answer? I've read one gallon of DE weighs one pound, but I haven's seen any official references to support this.

Kevin

 

[jblizzle]

Best route forward is to weigh it for yourself. Even the "official DE scoop" can vary a lot depending on how you load it.

See:
leslies-de-scoop-weight-t31401.html

 

[Richard320]

I use cellulose instead of DE, and it's really light. I weigh it out on a kitchen scale.

 

[Isaac-1]

I use an old digital postage scale, it weighs in ounces, but also will tell you how much the postage would be to send it in the mail 20 years ago, oh boy have times changed..