+1. It's turning the long sand filter cycle into a fast an efficient one.
First time pool startup
- Thread starter Shtutty
- Start date
Well I only have to backwash with the DE. Without it- didn’t need to at all
- May 3, 2014
- 58,499
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Add half the amount of DE you were adding. See if that lengthens the time to backwash.
clambert1273
Gold Supporter
- Jun 13, 2013
- 1,493
- Pool Size
- 12000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Edge-40
I know that's because it's catching more of the yuck
Is it normal that I only have to backwash for like 30 seconds for it to be clear? I read 2/3 mins but mine gets clear much quicker. Don’t want to run the 3 mins just to drain the water
Mine is Salt water generator...so I only use liquid chlorine (Sodium Hypochlorite 12%) for shocking/etc...I dumped 1.5 gallons on it the moment I turned on the pump and started brushing away (fished out all the leaves and debris from the bottom first)...a couple of days and the pool was crystal clear (running pump/filter 24 hours at 90%)...had to back wash the sand filter a couple of times...I started the opening process in April....
It is possible if the filter is not too dirty...I usually go by the head pressure on the pump before I backwash....when the pump hits 8-10 PSI above its normal pressure, that is when I backwash
- May 3, 2014
- 58,499
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
FYI -- TFPC guideline is going by 25% over the clean filter pressure.
It takes as long as it takes to clear. I believe the standard recommendation is assuming a normal filter cycle with lots of time to get the gunk settled deep in the filter.
Third day in a row passing the OCLT. still slamming bc pool is still cloudy. After it gets all clear. How do you maintain the chlorine if you don’t use tabs? You measure the FC every day and add liquid chlorine?
clambert1273
Gold Supporter
- Jun 13, 2013
- 1,493
- Pool Size
- 12000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Edge-40
Uh yeah I don’t see myself taking levels everyday lol maybe will need to invest in a SWCG soon
clambert1273
Gold Supporter
- Jun 13, 2013
- 1,493
- Pool Size
- 12000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Edge-40
I used to do it manual for years. It's quick & easy. I would do when I got up in the morning & again in the evening. Less than 5 min each time.
Awesome. So the algae is dead and it's now a mechanical / filter battle instead of a chemistry battle. You keep the FC up because brushing may expose new layers of algae on the walls, previously protected by the biofilm it grows, but the FC should be much easier to maintain at this point.
No need to OCLT until the water is clear, unless you're curious and just want to. If you fail any of the 3 exit criteria, the SLAM continues. Nothing is gained by failing 2 criteria.
After you get to know how your pool responds to that point in the season, you can double dose every other day.
Great Ty for the advice. Something about doing it myself makes me feel more accomplished- I can’t imagine if pool company opened. They’d just throw in 10 gallons of chlorine on day one which would probably turn to 0 PPM after a few hours lolAwesome. So the algae is dead and it's now a mechanical / filter battle instead of a chemistry battle. You keep the FC up because brushing may expose new layers of algae on the walls, previously protected by the biofilm it grows, but the FC should be much easier to maintain at this point.
No need to OCLT until the water is clear, unless you're curious and just want to. If you fail any of the 3 exit criteria, the SLAM continues. Nothing is gained by failing 2 criteria.
After you get to know how your pool responds to that point in the season, you can double dose every other day.
So after this is all stable and clear pool and slam is done, what’s my recommended chlorine PPM? Not 5 as I’ve read? Or I calculate that based on my CYA on pool math.
Minimum, plus the expected daily loss from UV at that point in the season (based upon recent tests), *plus* some wiggle room.
Pool Math and the charts have no idea if it's February in North Dakota, or July in Arizona. It's up to you to think, and it's a moving target.
The KEY is to have enough FC to make it free and clear above min until your next dose. Minimum is lava. Do not touch it. Do not get cool looking selfies near it. Stand back and take panoramic shots from a safe distance. Then call the emergency personnel on behalf of all the Millenials who ran up to it for Insta-likes.
If you tell me in August that PoolMath says 3 to 7 is fine and you are, like a 5, I will reach through the internet to slap some sense into you. I will take no joy in it, it's for your own good.
