Faulty Sand Filter? Material making it back in to pool

[Papacheeks]

I have an issue with my sand filter, at least I believe I do (unless this is typical). When i run my pump, i have noticed that bugs are making it through the sand and back in to the pool. At first i was skeptical, but i placed a mesh back over the return port (spot where hte water goes back in, not sure if right name), and its been collecting gnat sized bugs and cottonwood.

Should this debris be making it through my sand filter like this?

I have the following pump/filter:

XtremepowerUS 3/4" HP Pump
13" Sand Filter


When i originally got the combo, i weighed in exactly 42lbs of sand per the instructions.


** When i first started noticing this I was in contact with the seller on amz, and they sent me a replacement valve but that unfortunately didn't seem to be a fix? I also don't see any broken laterals on the part that is in the bottom fo the filter.


Is this thing working as intended or do i just have a turd?

 

[Texas Splash]

Small bugs and debris are pulled into the filter through the multiport valve and typically rest on the surface of the sand in the filter. Since the laterals are at the bottom it would seem unlikely that insects would make it all the way down to the bottom of the sand, through a lateral, and back into the pool. Can you post a pic or two of your equipment pad from different angles so we can see everything?

 

[Papacheeks]

Small bugs and debris are pulled into the filter through the multiport valve and typically rest on the surface of the sand in the filter. Since the laterals are at the bottom it would seem unlikely that insects would make it all the way down to the bottom of the sand, through a lateral, and back into the pool. Can you post a pic or two of your equipment pad from different angles so we can see everything?

I guess that's why I'm confused. it's not a lot of debris making it through, but overnight i'll have a few bugs that seem to make it through. I don't currently have a picture of my setup, but I can get something this evening. Could it possibly be shoddy sand? We bought HGH Brand sand from our local meijer. Says its pool sand.

The vendor send me a whole new valve, and when i installed it I dumped all the old sand out so that I could check the laterals and none of them seem to be broken.

I have some pictures of the filter itself, and of the inside, as i plan on sending these to the vendor with my discrepanies with the product.


if it helps, the sand is currentlya bout 5-6" from the top of the lip of the filter. It seemed that there were bugs throughout the sand medium when i emptied. After i swapped the valve i did a backflush, rinse, then another backflush/rinse.

 

[Texas Splash]

Could it possibly be shoddy sand? We bought HGH Brand sand from our local meijer. Says its pool sand.

Possibly. Some sands have shown to be less reliable. However most often the sand itself sneaks through the laterals.

Your pump motor seems a bit strong for that small filter. Is it a single or 2-speed?

 

[Papacheeks]

Possibly. Some sands have shown to be less reliable. However most often the sand itself sneaks through the laterals.

Your pump motor seems a bit strong for that small filter. Is it a single or 2-speed?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say a single speed as there is no option to change said speed that I can see. Also - i was thinking maybe my filter was a bit small as well. its a combo kit I bought on the zon. Pump manufacturer keeps telling me the sand should rise to just below the rim of the fitler with about 2" of space. If thats the case I should probably add it.

I have some pictures of the laterals i'll attach here ina moment and of the filter. I was mainly taking the pictures for the seller so he could see my poor pump wasn't broken visibly at least. I was really hoping the new valve would fix my issue.

 

[Papacheeks]

You can kind of see the pump set up in "pool pic 3". I have it sitting on some pavers so it isn't directly on the ground.