Huge amount of clumped up pollen at bottom of sand filter - pics attached, did it impact performance? And issues with sand particles by stair returns

[Rockstead]

I’m having an issue where I get sand particles by my pool stairs but no where really else that I notice.

A few years ago I emptied my sand filter to verify the lateral and i couldn’t find a hole but I decided to check again and show it to a professional.

The top of the filter had a bit of pollen, but the bottom really had a lot, pic attached.

Would this have affected my sand filter performance? And is there something I can do to better prevent this?

Could it be why I’m having these issue or is there something else I can check?

 

[Bperry]

I’m having an issue where I get sand particles by my pool stairs but no where really else that I notice.

A few years ago I emptied my sand filter to verify the lateral and i couldn’t find a hole but I decided to check again and show it to a professional.

The top of the filter had a bit of pollen, but the bottom really had a lot, pic attached.

Would this have affected my sand filter performance? And is there something I can do to better prevent this?

Could it be why I’m having these issue or is there something else I can check?

Are you sure it’s pollen? Whatever it’s, it’s not gonna filter well like that. Big particles should be caught at the top of the sand layers while finer stuff can make it through lower. Has floc or clarifiers gone through the filter and how often was it backwashed?

 

[Newdude]

Was cellulose fiber added ?

 

[Rockstead]

Are you sure it’s pollen? Whatever it’s, it’s not gonna filter well like that. Big particles should be caught at the top of the sand layers while finer stuff can make it through lower. Has floc or clarifiers gone through the filter and how often was it backwashed?

I backwashed once a week, I’m just opening up the pool from winter freeze, so this would have been there last season.

In previous years I may have definitely added clarifiers, but it’s. Or something I do anymore or at least in the last year, but yes, very possible.

I can’t be positive it’s pollen, I assumed it was because there is a point in my season where I get so much pollen that it’s thick enough in the skimmer to choke the system and it looks like you could knit several blankets, it gets that thick.

 

[Rockstead]

Was cellulose fiber added ?

Not that Im aware ever happened but I did occasionally add DE powder.

 

[Rockstead]

still looking for any advice.

 

[Newdude]

still looking for any advice

Whatever it was, it's out now.

I have a cartridge filter and my stairs collect sand from the patio, which is pavers directly on a slab with no sand base. The filter crud and sand on the stairs are likely not related.

 

[Rockstead]

Whatever it was, it's out now.

I have a cartridge filter and my stairs collect sand from the patio, which is pavers directly on a slab with no sand base. The filter crud and sand on the stairs are likely not related.

Was there an easier way to bring that junk to that surface? Other than the long way inside of emptying the entire thing in to a large container and sifting through with my fingers?

 

[Newdude]

Deep cleaning a sand filter might work, but its not much easier.

Everyday more people join team cartridge filter and most of them kick themselves for not doing it sooner.