Flocculating additive

[nuklhed]

My CH is way too high (600+), so I'm considering a flocculating agent. Pool has a cartridge filter. There doesn't seem to be any commentary around this. We are in Las Vegas and our water is very hard.
Should I be concerned this agent will permanently clog the filter matrix? Is it true that treating the water then shutting off the system overnight will allow all of the agent to 'react' and sink to the bottom, so it will be vacuumed up like ordinary particulates? And rinse from the cartridges for cleaning? Or is there a permanent clogging risk? A set of new cartridges now is $165.
Pool has three pumps (two for features), so water can be well circulated aside from the filter.

 

[Texas Splash]

Or is there a permanent clogging risk?

Floc will ruin your carts. Don't bother. Many in the NV and AZ areas manage their water all season with a CH of 800 or more by compensating with a lower pH and TA. I would do the best you could with the pH & TA until Dec/Jan and do a water exchange at that point. Your new fill water will still result in an elevated CH, but should be better than now.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Nuk,

What makes you believe that Floc will remove CH??

I can't even spell khemistry, but that does not sound right to me..

Many people in AZ and NV have high CH and I would have assumed that it would have been big news here if it were true..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[proavia]

Only two things will lower CH an appreciable amount - RO treatment (high cost) or drain/refill with lower CH water.
You aren't wasting water in a drain/refill - the water will be recycled into the ground. If the city requires that you drain into the sanitary sewer cleanout in your front yard, the water will be processed and recycled.

To keep the CH from climbing from evaporation, install a water softener plumbed to your autofill.
You would fill the pool after a full drain with unsoftened tap water and then use softened water to top off using your autofill.

A drain/refill can be done in the later fall, winter, early spring in Vegas or most anywhere in the Southwest. Doing it when it's hot out isn't a good option.
Check with your city to see where you are allowed to drain your pool water. Also check with the water department to get an estimate on how much 23,000 gallons of water will cost (added to a normal water bill).

EDIT - I guess it would be more correct to say: Only two things will lower CH an appreciable amount.... without possible undesirable side effects.