DE in sand filter 3cups and no move

[joshuaj1975]

Are you doing a SLAM? You’re saying “clearing up and more of a blue tint” which makes me think you have algae and should be SLAMming.

Are you doing a SLAM? You’re saying “clearing up and more of a blue tint” which makes me think you have algae and should be SLAMming.

Seem to have been having a filtering issue

No slam.
Always pass a oclt
3-4+ppm drop every day-0 at night

Just been trying to get rid off a brownish dust, which is gone due to vac to waste.

fc drop to 4ppm everyday I don’t think was helping anything.

Should be able to check sand level soon as I can today. I think I will need to be adding some.

 

[joshuaj1975]

Checked sand level. It is 14” from top of sand to top of filter edge. (Says 10” min. Required). Going to get about 3-5 more bags. Hope to see a significant change in filtering.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I don’t know that this is required in any sand filter but some filters recommend adding a layer of smooth pea gravel up to and over the laterals to protect them from the finer sand. Supposedly it’s to protect the laterals by giving them better support and improving the head loss of the filter. Not sure if any of those claims are realistic but given the size of your sand filter, it might be an option on the future

Perhaps more experienced sand filter users can chime in.

 

[joshuaj1975]

I don’t know that this is required in any sand filter but some filters recommend adding a layer of smooth pea gravel up to and over the laterals to protect them from the finer sand. Supposedly it’s to protect the laterals by giving them better support and improving the head loss of the filter. Not sure if any of those claims are realistic but given the size of your sand filter, it might be an option on the future

Perhaps more experienced sand filter users can chime in.

I’d be interested to hear some replies

 

[joshuaj1975]

I don’t know that this is required in any sand filter but some filters recommend adding a layer of smooth pea gravel up to and over the laterals to protect them from the finer sand. Supposedly it’s to protect the laterals by giving them better support and improving the head loss of the filter. Not sure if any of those claims are realistic but given the size of your sand filter, it might be an option on the future

Perhaps more experienced sand filter users can chime in.

I think in a big filter like mine that would help save on buying some sand. Because it probably doesn’t filter anything below the laterals. But since it’s already in there I’m not gonna scoop it back out. The instructions and manual don’t say anything about P gravel for this particular filter.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

@mas985 or @JamesW any thoughts on the utility of pea gravel in a sand filter? I’ve only seen it mentioned in passing, not sure if/when it matters …

 

[JamesW]

Gravel can help provide better flow around laterals and prevent sand from clogging the laterals or going through the laterals.

Large commercial filter will usually use gravel and some places might require it.

The quality and consistency of the sand matters a lot and if there is a lot of fine sand in the sand, then you can get sand bypassing the laterals.

You can also use a larger grained more course sand near the laterals and then a smaller sand on top.

https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/nam/pentair-pool/commercial/manuals/filters/triton-instructions-english-spanish-french.pdf

FilPro® Filtration Sands and Gravel

www.ussilica.com

Mystic White II® Premium Swimming Pool Filter Sand

www.ussilica.com

My findings on how not all sand is created equal

Ok well today I finally got all my parts from Intex to fix my problem I was having with my sand filter. Here is a link to that thread which I will update as well http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/101906-New-Pool-Intex-Customer-Service-Long-Post-lol So basically for the sake of this thread...

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool Central 50 lbs. Bag Mystic White II Swimming Pool Filter Sand 31520813

Mystic White II Swimming Pool Filter Sand 50 lbs. Bag. Mystic White II is the descriptive name chosen to identify this exceptionally high quality swimming pool filter sand. It's a special grade of pure

www.homedepot.com

 

[JamesW]

Swimming Pool Sand filters generally use #20 silica sand which is approximately .40 to .55 mm.

If the slits in the laterals are a little bit large and the sand is a little bit small, then you can get some sand passing through the laterals.[6]

MYSTIC WHITE II filter sand has three effective sizes, .49 mm, .65 mm or .80 mm.

MYSTIC WHITE® II .49

MYSTIC WHITE® II .65

MYSTIC WHITE® II .80

So, you could use 0.80 mm near the laterals and then 0.65 mm or 0.49 mm near the top.

Or, you can do a layer of gravel, a layer of 0.80 mm, a layer of 0.65 mm and then a layer of 0.49 mm on top.

Sand Filter Use and Care - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[joshuaj1975]

Did everything and this is the result!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I guess when the filter manual says the freeboard spacing is important, they really mean it ….

Good job, great looking pool!

 

[Lake Placid]

I don’t know that this is required in any sand filter but some filters recommend adding a layer of smooth pea gravel up to and over the laterals to protect them from the finer sand. Supposedly it’s to protect the laterals by giving them better support and improving the head loss of the filter. Not sure if any of those claims are realistic but given the size of your sand filter, it might be an option on the future

Perhaps more experienced sand filter users can chime in.

This is common in commercial filters. I’m talking about those filters the size of a twin bed or bigger and hold multiple tons of sand. I don’t recall the gravel size but it was spec’d in the manual for each filter.

 

[duraleigh]

I have only skimmed this thread but I will add my filter was a TR140 that used 925 lbs of sand to get the freeboard distance correct. With a filter that size and adequate runtime it was crystal clear without the need for DE. Did you get the freeboard set?

 

[joshuaj1975]

I guess when the filter manual says the freeboard spacing is important, they really mean it ….

Good job,

I feel like getting my fc up played a good part. But I am using 6ppm every day. Had suggestions of raising cya…

 

[joshuaj1975]

I have only skimmed this thread but I will add my filter was a TR140 that used 925 lbs of sand to get the freeboard distance correct. With a filter that size and adequate runtime it was crystal clear without the need for DE. Did you get the freeboard set?

Yeah. 81/2” from top. It was at 14”. 4 more bags worth.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I feel like getting my fc up played a good part. But I am using 6ppm every day. Had suggestions of raising cya…

Losing 6ppm per day is not good. Do an overnight chlorine loss test. If you don’t pass, you need to SLAM the pool.

 

[joshuaj1975]

Losing 6ppm per day is not good. Do an overnight chlorine loss test. If you don’t pass, you need to SLAM the pool.

I have many times and always pass. 0 loss each time.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I have many times and always pass. 0 loss each time.

Ok. I see your latest CYA test was 50ppm. Did you increase that? Even with a pool cover, Arizona is too blazing hot to use low CYA.

 

[joshuaj1975]

Ok. I see your latest CYA test was 50ppm. Did you increase that? Even with a pool cover, Arizona is too blazing hot to use low CYA.

Just been going off the chart. I filled pool, used tabs and powedered shock for first month, found tfp and been doing that. I’d say it’s closer to 45. I think I’ll throw some tabs (not sure how long it would take to raise it from 45-50 to 60-65) in unless another way is recommended…

 

[jtpipkin]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011AFBU9S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[joshuaj1975]

Amazon.com : Puri Tech Pool Chemicals 10 lbs Stabilizer Conditioner Cyanuric Acid UV Protection Improves Chlorine Effectiveness for Swimming Pools and Spas Resealable Bag : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Out of stock.