Re: I GIVE UP!
You do not need to replace your filter. If you like, you can have your husband open up the top of the filter to check the sand - make sure it looks ok and is not channelled or anything.
This is where your
patience is going to be key - Keep checking to confirm the FC is still holding overnight by reperforming the overnight test tonight (if you didn't do one last night/today).
It takes longer for sand filters to clear up dead algae. You don't need products like Polysheen, whatever the heck that is
I know that you've been going at this for some time but honestly I don't think you
actually killed the algae until 2 days ago - it can take
up to a week for a sand filter to clear up the after affects of a bad bloom.
Despite the fact that you had the chlorine at what you considered 'high' levels - you weren't actually peforming the shock process
correctly until until last Thursday or so.
So have some POP - stay the course you are doing great. You should see visible improvement each day.
There are a couple of things you can try if you want. One, you can turn the filter off and see if the dead stuff settles on the floor and then VERY SLOWLY vacume to waste, but this will waste alot of water.
The other option is adding a little DE to the sand filter - instructions are in pool school. But I would give it a full week, that's
5 more days, before you try something additional.
Go ahead and have your husband check the sand though, if you haven't opened it up yet during this process.