EDIT: I've discovered that this is actually a widespread microscopic bug issue! Please read thread!
Hi - I have a 12k gal pool with a Pentair DE filter, no main floor drain, a single wall skimmer port and 2 return jets (pool and equipment details in my profile). Everything is seemingly working normally, but I am starting to doubt that the suction and power is normal after observing it for a few months (new owners of house and pool since October). For reference, the filter starts at about 18ish PSI after filter was fully deep cleaned and re-coated with DE and has slowly crept up to around about 20 after 1-2 months of normal use (all seems normal to me).
The reason I am starting to wonder is that when I look into the skimmer port on the ground, the flow just doesn't look normal or strong enough to me (at least based on what I would expect). I see the slightest of rotation and a small whirlpool inside at times, but otherwise mostly still water. It doesn't really seem to suck down tiny particles - at least not often. I do have the return jets positioned how I thought it would work best - the one near the stairs (opposite end of skimmer port wall) is pointed slightly up and forward, and the jet right across from the skimmer is also pointed slightly up and forward towards the skimmer. These seem to create a slight rotation of the surface water, at least in some areas.
Larger debris does go down all the way into the skimmer basket (leaves, bugs, frogs, etc), but just the last couple of days, something must've gotten into the pool (or maybe something breaking down inside the filter or heater??) that has caused tons of very tiny debris - small gray looking particles, almost like pieces of many stickers or papers got saturated and broken up or something (watch the two videos below to see). For the past few days I still see many of these particles just circling all around the pool surface and in the skimmer port, like a lot of it. Skimming it is tough because the particles are so small so wanted to depend on the filter to get them, but it certainly isn't cleaning them fast if at all. How can I been clean this?
How can I tell if things are working properly for this size filter and setup? See the videos below I took quickly of the skimmer port and also this insane amount of tiny debris all over the pool. Can I maybe use the vacuum hose to clean the debris off the surface or will that not work because it'll be sucking some air? What can I do? Thanks.
Hi - I have a 12k gal pool with a Pentair DE filter, no main floor drain, a single wall skimmer port and 2 return jets (pool and equipment details in my profile). Everything is seemingly working normally, but I am starting to doubt that the suction and power is normal after observing it for a few months (new owners of house and pool since October). For reference, the filter starts at about 18ish PSI after filter was fully deep cleaned and re-coated with DE and has slowly crept up to around about 20 after 1-2 months of normal use (all seems normal to me).
The reason I am starting to wonder is that when I look into the skimmer port on the ground, the flow just doesn't look normal or strong enough to me (at least based on what I would expect). I see the slightest of rotation and a small whirlpool inside at times, but otherwise mostly still water. It doesn't really seem to suck down tiny particles - at least not often. I do have the return jets positioned how I thought it would work best - the one near the stairs (opposite end of skimmer port wall) is pointed slightly up and forward, and the jet right across from the skimmer is also pointed slightly up and forward towards the skimmer. These seem to create a slight rotation of the surface water, at least in some areas.
Larger debris does go down all the way into the skimmer basket (leaves, bugs, frogs, etc), but just the last couple of days, something must've gotten into the pool (or maybe something breaking down inside the filter or heater??) that has caused tons of very tiny debris - small gray looking particles, almost like pieces of many stickers or papers got saturated and broken up or something (watch the two videos below to see). For the past few days I still see many of these particles just circling all around the pool surface and in the skimmer port, like a lot of it. Skimming it is tough because the particles are so small so wanted to depend on the filter to get them, but it certainly isn't cleaning them fast if at all. How can I been clean this?
How can I tell if things are working properly for this size filter and setup? See the videos below I took quickly of the skimmer port and also this insane amount of tiny debris all over the pool. Can I maybe use the vacuum hose to clean the debris off the surface or will that not work because it'll be sucking some air? What can I do? Thanks.
Last edited:
