Just as the title states - I am having some serious trouble getting my DE (DicaLite filter powder) to dissolve/mix with pool water. The DE seems to have some strong hydrophobic properties. I'm talking like Magic Sand hydrophobic levels!
I've always just dumped the DE powder right into the skimmer basket and cant remember ever having this problem before a few months ago... I know I should probably be making a slurry, but this has always worked well for me. I backwash and add DE probably once every 3 months.
I remember having a little bit of trouble getting it to mix a couple months ago, but when I went to add the DE today it was ridiculous... Something that usually takes me 5 mins (adding 6lbs of DE) ended up taking me an hour and made a horrible mess. I tried adding the first lb of DE to the skimmer and it just sat on top of the water. Stirring with a big spoon did hardly anything to get it to combine with the pool water. I then added 1lb at a time (first scooping the dry powder out of the skimmer) to a bucket along with around 4 gallons of pool water. I put the lid on the bucket and shook vigorously for around a minute.... That would dissolve around half of the powder with the remaining powder floating on top COMPLETELY DRY. Repeat, repeat, repeat. End result ended up with DE spilled on the pool deck and sheets of DE floating on top of the pool that missed the skimmer or came thru the skimmer because I was pouring too fast...
Any ideas what is going on? Bad DE (is that even possible)? Some parameter in my water messing things up (I just tested a few days ago using my TF-100 kit and everything seems within spec)?? Am I doing something wrong?? HELP!!
I've always just dumped the DE powder right into the skimmer basket and cant remember ever having this problem before a few months ago... I know I should probably be making a slurry, but this has always worked well for me. I backwash and add DE probably once every 3 months.
I remember having a little bit of trouble getting it to mix a couple months ago, but when I went to add the DE today it was ridiculous... Something that usually takes me 5 mins (adding 6lbs of DE) ended up taking me an hour and made a horrible mess. I tried adding the first lb of DE to the skimmer and it just sat on top of the water. Stirring with a big spoon did hardly anything to get it to combine with the pool water. I then added 1lb at a time (first scooping the dry powder out of the skimmer) to a bucket along with around 4 gallons of pool water. I put the lid on the bucket and shook vigorously for around a minute.... That would dissolve around half of the powder with the remaining powder floating on top COMPLETELY DRY. Repeat, repeat, repeat. End result ended up with DE spilled on the pool deck and sheets of DE floating on top of the pool that missed the skimmer or came thru the skimmer because I was pouring too fast...
Any ideas what is going on? Bad DE (is that even possible)? Some parameter in my water messing things up (I just tested a few days ago using my TF-100 kit and everything seems within spec)?? Am I doing something wrong?? HELP!!
I was hoping you didn't get an accidental shipment of somebody's "Breaking Bad" pool chem ... you know it always goes south with Heisenberg gets involved.