For the last month the filter continues to put algae back in the pool. Chemicals are correct according to our basic test kit. (Not the TFP kit). As per pool store instructions we vacuumed to waste every day. Then rinse the filter, back wash the filter, then rinse again. At the same time we were shocking the pool and keeping the chlorine levels correct. But every time we turn the filter back on (even after backwash) dark matter comes out of the jets and back into the pool. Finally got a "pool professional" to come out he said he never saw green stuff come out to the jets like that before (not helpful). My uneducated idea was there had to be a filter problem because there was not much suction when vacuuming, the multi-valve did not move easily and the spider casket seemed all but dissolved. So a week ago I replaced the whole mulit-valve apparatus. This seemed to make a difference as we could vacuum better. The pool got clearer and while still cloudy the pool looks better. Yet every morning there are piles of dead algae (or at least I think it is algae) at the bottom of the pool. Each day I vacuum to waste, rinse, backwash, and rinse again. Turn the filter back on and watch the dirty water flow back in the pool. Each day the dead algae is back on the bottom. The kit we have continues to tell us our chemicals are right. The water inside the filter is always green (maybe that is normal). The definition of crazy is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Can someone please tell me how my filter can once again provide clean water back in the pool? Is it a pump problem? Filter problem? Chemical problem? Air Leak problem? I have read a lot of the forums and haven't found an answer yet.
Filter Continues to put algae or silt Back in Pool
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We cannot diagnose a chemical problem without test results. It most likely is a chemistry problem. Please tell us more about your pool by adding it to your signature so it will show up in future posts. More here about how to do it and what to add, Pool School - Read This BEFORE You Post
This is how we kill algae, SLAM Process
More here about water chemistry, ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
And here, TFPC for Beginners old comments
We cannot diagnose a chemical problem without test results. It most likely is a chemistry problem. Please tell us more about your pool by adding it to your signature so it will show up in future posts. More here about how to do it and what to add, Pool School - Read This BEFORE You Post
This is how we kill algae, SLAM Process
More here about water chemistry, ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
And here, TFPC for Beginners old comments
Yeah - I'm dealing with that one myself right now. My chemistry is absolutely perfect, and yet it WILL NOT FILTER . a deep cleaning had no effect (sand is original from when I installed the filter - 17 years + ). I replacing the sand, and in the process broke the standpipe - so a new lateral / standpipe assembly should be here tomorrow.
Is the water in the filter supposed to be green? Was there once so much algae in the pool that it got into the supply pipes and, as it dies, it is letting go and getting pushed into the pool? Is the water flow now so much stronger that it is breaking stuff loose from inside the pipes?
After replacing my pump I got some large chunks of what looked like coal in the main suction basket at the pump. I left it in the sun and it turned from black to a chalky color. I thought it was a large clump of DE but a pool guy said it was plaster. My pool was refinished about 5 years ago, before I bought the house.
If I were you, I would turn the pump on for a couple of minutes and then turn it off for ten minutes, or 5 minutes, then turn it on again. Repeat that cycle until the stuff stops coming out. It sounds like you are knocking stuff loose that is stuck inside the pipes. If that is all it is, it will clear up by doing that. If there are any pieces big enough that you can pick up, take a pic of them and leave them in the sun for a couple of days and take a look at them again.
After replacing my pump I got some large chunks of what looked like coal in the main suction basket at the pump. I left it in the sun and it turned from black to a chalky color. I thought it was a large clump of DE but a pool guy said it was plaster. My pool was refinished about 5 years ago, before I bought the house.
If I were you, I would turn the pump on for a couple of minutes and then turn it off for ten minutes, or 5 minutes, then turn it on again. Repeat that cycle until the stuff stops coming out. It sounds like you are knocking stuff loose that is stuck inside the pipes. If that is all it is, it will clear up by doing that. If there are any pieces big enough that you can pick up, take a pic of them and leave them in the sun for a couple of days and take a look at them again.
More Information added from initial post:
Had pool for 19 years this is the first time we have ever had issues. For the last month the filter continues to put algae back in the pool. Chemicals are correct according to our basic test kit. (Not the TFP kit). As per pool store instructions we vacuumed to waste every day. Then rinse the filter, back wash the filter, then rinse again. At the same time we were shocking the pool and keeping the chlorine levels correct. But every time we turn the filter back on (even after backwash) dark matter comes out of the jets and back into the pool.
Finally got a "pool professional" to come out he said he never saw green stuff come out to the jets like that before (not helpful). My uneducated idea was there had to be a filter problem because there was not much suction when vacuuming, the multi-valve did not move easily and the spider casket seemed all but dissolved. So a week ago I replaced the whole mulit-valve apparatus. This seemed to make a difference as we could vacuum better. The pool got clearer and while still cloudy the pool looks better. Yet every morning there are piles of dead algae (or at least I think it is algae) at the bottom of the pool.
Each day I vacuum to waste, rinse, backwash, and rinse again. Turn the filter back on and watch the dirty water flow back in the pool. Each day the dead algae is back on the bottom. The kit we have continues to tell us our chemicals are right. The water inside the filter is always green (maybe that is normal). The definition of crazy is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Can someone please tell me how my filter can once again provide clean water back in the pool? Is it a pump problem? Filter problem? Chemical problem? Air Leak problem? I have read a lot of the forums and haven't found an answer yet.
Picture of pool bottom below. (Looks the same each morning after vacuum to waste)
Chemical readings last night
Free Chlorine = 5
Total Chlorine = 5
Calcium Hardness = 180
Cyanuric Acid = 50
Total Alkalinity = 90
PH = 7.6
Copper = 0
Iron = 0
Phosphates = 500
Pool Temp = 87
Had pool for 19 years this is the first time we have ever had issues. For the last month the filter continues to put algae back in the pool. Chemicals are correct according to our basic test kit. (Not the TFP kit). As per pool store instructions we vacuumed to waste every day. Then rinse the filter, back wash the filter, then rinse again. At the same time we were shocking the pool and keeping the chlorine levels correct. But every time we turn the filter back on (even after backwash) dark matter comes out of the jets and back into the pool.
Finally got a "pool professional" to come out he said he never saw green stuff come out to the jets like that before (not helpful). My uneducated idea was there had to be a filter problem because there was not much suction when vacuuming, the multi-valve did not move easily and the spider casket seemed all but dissolved. So a week ago I replaced the whole mulit-valve apparatus. This seemed to make a difference as we could vacuum better. The pool got clearer and while still cloudy the pool looks better. Yet every morning there are piles of dead algae (or at least I think it is algae) at the bottom of the pool.
Each day I vacuum to waste, rinse, backwash, and rinse again. Turn the filter back on and watch the dirty water flow back in the pool. Each day the dead algae is back on the bottom. The kit we have continues to tell us our chemicals are right. The water inside the filter is always green (maybe that is normal). The definition of crazy is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Can someone please tell me how my filter can once again provide clean water back in the pool? Is it a pump problem? Filter problem? Chemical problem? Air Leak problem? I have read a lot of the forums and haven't found an answer yet.
Picture of pool bottom below. (Looks the same each morning after vacuum to waste)
Chemical readings last night
Free Chlorine = 5
Total Chlorine = 5
Calcium Hardness = 180
Cyanuric Acid = 50
Total Alkalinity = 90
PH = 7.6
Copper = 0
Iron = 0
Phosphates = 500
Pool Temp = 87
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Welcome to the forum.
Your really going to need to purchase one of the recommended test kits- either the TF-100 or K2006C if we can be of any real assistance. The pool store results don't hold much weight around here due to their unreliability and the test kit you are using doesn't sound that great either.
Getting rid of algae is primarily a chemistry issue and involves dosing the pool up with high levels of chlorine which need to be maintained over the course of at least a few days and possibly longer. This is what we call a SLAM and is a process which is methodical and based on precise and reliable test results.
As for the debris coming out of the returns and stating the obvious- have you checked that the multi-valve is not on recirculate instead of filter. Other than when you changed the multi-valve out -I'm assuming that you looked inside the actual filter by the sound of it and there is green in there-right? Have you tried a deep clean on the filter.
Your really going to need to purchase one of the recommended test kits- either the TF-100 or K2006C if we can be of any real assistance. The pool store results don't hold much weight around here due to their unreliability and the test kit you are using doesn't sound that great either.
Getting rid of algae is primarily a chemistry issue and involves dosing the pool up with high levels of chlorine which need to be maintained over the course of at least a few days and possibly longer. This is what we call a SLAM and is a process which is methodical and based on precise and reliable test results.
As for the debris coming out of the returns and stating the obvious- have you checked that the multi-valve is not on recirculate instead of filter. Other than when you changed the multi-valve out -I'm assuming that you looked inside the actual filter by the sound of it and there is green in there-right? Have you tried a deep clean on the filter.
Thanks for the information. Yes the multi-valve is set to filter. We have had the pool for 19 years and the filter for 6 and never had these issues before. We will try the SLAM technique. As for the deep clean we will do that to after the SLAM (or should we do that first?). We were told last night that the algae is "mustard algae" and we need to up the chlorine levels which from what I have read the SLAM will do.
Yes while your waiting for your test kit I would do the deep clean of the filter to see if you that resolves your filtration problem. Is the algae in the shadier parts of the pool? If it is mustard algae then you conduct the normal SLAM procedure and then when that is completed you do a one off elevated addition of chlorine to hopefully eradicate it. More on that here.
Again thank you for the quick response. I will clean the filter tonight and start the slam process tomorrow. I appreciate all the video and text links. I will post results.
Follow the regular SLAM Process process until all 3 criteria are met and then do this for mustard algae, Pool School - Mustard Algae
Thanks for the advice. The deep clean of the filter seemed to get the bulk of the algae to overflow out of the top of the filter. Filter is no longer pumping algae back into the pool. The slam killed the algae in the pool. Been a week today since the slam and the pool looks great. I will continue to monitor but the problem appears to be fixed. Thanks again.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,705
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Great you got the filter working as you like.
You never stated you purchased a test kit as recommended. If so, you most likely did not do a SLAM.
You most likely survive with acceptable water conditions because you replace so much water.
Your choice how you manage your pool. We would still recommend a proper test kit and following the chlorine/CYA chart to maintain a clean, clear, and sanitary pool.
Take care.
You never stated you purchased a test kit as recommended. If so, you most likely did not do a SLAM.
You most likely survive with acceptable water conditions because you replace so much water.
Your choice how you manage your pool. We would still recommend a proper test kit and following the chlorine/CYA chart to maintain a clean, clear, and sanitary pool.
Take care.