Fair enough.
So do you agree, Matt, that my current plan should be to SLAM while also TSP/acid wash filter cartridges to avoid them plugging up so quickly?
Help with Quad DE
- Thread starter Redshift
- Start date
Fair enough.
So do you agree, Matt, that my current plan should be to SLAM while also TSP/acid wash filter cartridges to avoid them plugging up so quickly?
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Yep. Having a DE filter means you may be loading up a lot during the SLAM so have some DE on hand to backwash with.
I have plenty of DE on hand but my concern is the cartridges right now. Both sets have been run without DE so they may be causing the issues so I first need to address that and get some clean filters in there, load with DE and only then do the SLAM.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Sounds like a plan.
And yes, running the cartridges without DE likely hosed them up pretty good. Hopefully the cleaning process can restore them a bit.
And yes, running the cartridges without DE likely hosed them up pretty good. Hopefully the cleaning process can restore them a bit.
For cleaning do you recommend soak ONLY, or scrub with a brush after they've been soaking, followed by a rinse, followed by acid wash?
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Soaking and rinsing with a strong garden hose spray should be fine. Mechanically brushing the cartridge material could damage it.
Will do. Just about to SLAM to 30ppm after adjusting pH down a little and adding some water to lower CYA.
You said it was safe to swim in 30ppm!?
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Yes. Because of the presence of CYA, the amount of active chlorine (hypochlorous acid) in the water is held down to reasonable levels. Even when SLAMing a pool at a 40% FC/CYA ratio, the amount of active chlorine present is less than if the pool water had no CYA in it. For example, a pool with 2ppm FC and no CYA has more than twice as much hypochlorous acid in the water than a pool with 32ppm FC and 80ppm CYA. So even at SLAM levels, the water is less harsh than an unstabilized swimming pool.
Shock level maintaining at 32-33ppm. At tad over target but am letting it drift down. Water noticeably cleaner today. Filters soaked overnight in detergent, about to rinse and acid wash. Then install, add DE and see what shakes down.
Filters cleaned and replaced. CYA around 70. FC 32. Safe to swim?
Some photos of the day so far...
Before cleaning:
After TSP soak and rinse:
After acid soak and rinse:
Back in place:
Some photos of the day so far...
Before cleaning:
After TSP soak and rinse:
After acid soak and rinse:
Back in place:
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Hard to tell from the lighting variation but did they get whiter after the acid soak or was it the same color after TSP?
Yes, it's safe to swim. You may just smell a little more strongly of chlorine when you exit the pool water.
Yes, it's safe to swim. You may just smell a little more strongly of chlorine when you exit the pool water.
Much whiter after acid soak. Look like new now. Those are my original filters. 7 years old.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Ok. Good to know. Did they feel different?? Like crusty/crunchy at all before acid soak?
I wouldn't say that. Maybe a slight texture improvement. I'm repeating the process with my spare set of cartridges now and will never again use them without DE.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Ok. They probably had some mild metal staining on them and the acid removed that. Could have been a mixture off calcium, dirt & metals; enough to discolor it but not enough to feel.
Please report pressures before and after. Let's see if you detect any changes.
Please report pressures before and after. Let's see if you detect any changes.
Similar pressures at full pump speed and after adding DE. I then ran pump at button 2 speed(I'll look up the rpm setting later) and recorded it on the dial on the pressure gauge at 12.5psi.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
TFP recommends backwashing after a 25% increase in pressure. So for your setup, that would be ~16psi.
- May 23, 2015
- 24,474
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Maybe ask them to swim in shifts....and NO sunblock. They won't develop cancer from one day without sunblock.