First Time cleaning the filter after I took over the pool from the previous owners in the bottom of the clean and clear plus cartridge filter by Pentair is filled with gravel. Does anyone know why this would be ? Should I remove all of this by hand?
First time cleaning filter why is the gravel at the bottom
- Thread starter Slpoolowner
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,990
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
I've heard of gravel used in some larger sand filters to help with circulation near the bottom, but not for cartridge. 
sl,
I can't see where it hurts or helps... I can't think of any valid reason to add it....
I am assuming that the gravel is below the bottom cartridge filter holder?? Maybe the bottom cartridge holder is broken or cracked and the previous was trying to use the gravel as support????
If this were my cartridge filter, I would take it out. But I would inspect the cartridge holders to make sure they are working.
Thanks,
Jim R.
I can't see where it hurts or helps...
I can't think of any valid reason to add it....I am assuming that the gravel is below the bottom cartridge filter holder?? Maybe the bottom cartridge holder is broken or cracked and the previous was trying to use the gravel as support????
If this were my cartridge filter, I would take it out. But I would inspect the cartridge holders to make sure they are working.
Thanks,
Jim R.
I’m always surprised by the amount of sand at the bottom of my Pentair cartridge filter when I clean it. I wouldn’t call it gravel, though. I think my sand is tracked in to the pool from my old concrete deck. Yours is truly gravel? Weird.
I don’t leave it in there to bounce around & possibly cause damage when the pump is on. Besides, when I clean my filter, I want it to end up clean! I use my wet/dry shop vac to suck the sand out. Or you can scoop it out. I wouldn’t open the drain plug & just let it fall out & make a mess.
I don’t leave it in there to bounce around & possibly cause damage when the pump is on. Besides, when I clean my filter, I want it to end up clean! I use my wet/dry shop vac to suck the sand out. Or you can scoop it out. I wouldn’t open the drain plug & just let it fall out & make a mess.
I *have* heard of it but I can't tell you which filter it was?? I'm thinking it was a sand filter that I once read about?
Maddie
Maddie
Killer95Stang
Well-known member
I first time I cleaned out the bottom of my filter it also appeared to have gravel in it (Pentair FNS 60). After a quick look, I figured out it was small pieces of loose pebble from my stonescapes plaster installation. Not a big deal and I haven't seen it since.
I see you have a few waterfalls. Are they shear descents or are they by chance natural rock / concrete type? If the latter, and the gravel in the filter is relatively fine (like very coarse sand), that erosion would be the most likely source. Not a big deal, but worth a hairnet or skimmer sock in your skimmer to keep it from going through the pump. If it's regular gravel-sized gravel, I have no clue why they would put it in there.