Is it ok to run pump with no sand in the filter?

[z06801]

Just waiting to get some Zoelite to go back in to the Triton 2 and wanted to vacuum the pool to waste while I'm waiting. Any harm in running the system without the filter full of sand? other than the sand in the bottom that i want to pump to waste, the water is very clear. pool would not be in use till medium was in place of course.
thanks for any help!

 

[Mendy48]

Vacuuming to waste means you're bypassing the filter. Thus, I don't see a problem with it, but I'll let the experts chime in here.

 

[Jimrahbe]

z,

As Mendy points out, when vacuuming to waste the water does not go through the filter...

I can't see a problem doing it..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[z06801]

thanks for the replies! What about after could it be ran for a bit just to push out any sand in the pool return lines and test the system?

 

[zea3]

You cannot run it in filter mode without sand. Any debris small enough to get past the strainer in the skimmer and pump may lodge in your filter laterals. As long as you stay in waste or recirculate you should be fine.

 

[Donldson]

Why wait for zeolite when sand is cheaper, works just as well, and you can probably find some today and get back up and running?

 

[z06801]

You cannot run it in filter mode without sand. Any debris small enough to get past the strainer in the skimmer and pump may lodge in your filter laterals. As long as you stay in waste or recirculate you should be fine.

thanks again! that makes sense. I actually might get some today hopefully, My wife has a weird thing with pool water being dirty and ours has never been anything but perfectly clear so I was telling her I would get the best medium for the filter, I know it doesn't make any sense

 

[zea3]

From the posts here zeolite doesn't work any better than regular sand. If you want to use sand and get that extra polish on the water, get a small bag of DE filter media or celulose filter media and add just enough for a 1 point rise in pressure after every backwash. Usually a cup or two added to the skimmer after backwash and rinsing is enough for that 1 point rise.