Let me give you what I do -
First off - for closing the pool in the fall, I use a closed "solid" pool cover tarp after I use a Jack Frost winterizing kit (I buy for a 30,000 gal pool normally - I would rather have too much than not enough. This also holds the "leaf tea" away from the pool water (I have big issues with this). The solid (light stopping) cover helps prevent algae from starting in the first place.
In the spring - yes, I open my pool in early April just to give myself plenty of time to get the pool under control so I can start swimming in May (I had my first 2 swims on 5/30 and 5/31 - in water that was around 72 degrees). I used to have big time problems getting the cover off, until the wife and me figured out that we had to get ALL the leaves and water out of the top of the cover - before we figured that out , we would dump lots of brown water and leaves that took lots of effort / pumping and backwashing to clear up. I still have some leaves that snuck under the cover over the winter, but it is a very much more manageable problem now. If it would have been warm enough - my pool was ready by May 1 this year.
The guy I buy my pool supplies from sold me my big sand filter several years ago, and it's been fine ever since. I usually backwash after I vacuum or weekly during pollen season (also early spring through current).
From the sounds of it - you're not too happy (understatement ?) with your cartridge filter, so I would consider going back to DE or change to sand, whichever you're more comfortable with. Just follow the guidelines on this site for "proper sizing" and don't let someone try to sell you something that is not big enough just because they have it in stock. A good price is not necessarily a good value if it is not right for your situation.
You have done one thing right - you came here !
First off - for closing the pool in the fall, I use a closed "solid" pool cover tarp after I use a Jack Frost winterizing kit (I buy for a 30,000 gal pool normally - I would rather have too much than not enough. This also holds the "leaf tea" away from the pool water (I have big issues with this). The solid (light stopping) cover helps prevent algae from starting in the first place.
In the spring - yes, I open my pool in early April just to give myself plenty of time to get the pool under control so I can start swimming in May (I had my first 2 swims on 5/30 and 5/31 - in water that was around 72 degrees). I used to have big time problems getting the cover off, until the wife and me figured out that we had to get ALL the leaves and water out of the top of the cover - before we figured that out , we would dump lots of brown water and leaves that took lots of effort / pumping and backwashing to clear up. I still have some leaves that snuck under the cover over the winter, but it is a very much more manageable problem now. If it would have been warm enough - my pool was ready by May 1 this year.
The guy I buy my pool supplies from sold me my big sand filter several years ago, and it's been fine ever since. I usually backwash after I vacuum or weekly during pollen season (also early spring through current).
From the sounds of it - you're not too happy (understatement ?) with your cartridge filter, so I would consider going back to DE or change to sand, whichever you're more comfortable with. Just follow the guidelines on this site for "proper sizing" and don't let someone try to sell you something that is not big enough just because they have it in stock. A good price is not necessarily a good value if it is not right for your situation.
You have done one thing right - you came here !
