I’m new to using a cartridge filter. I just starting using a new cartridge and had it running all night. When I checked the cartridge the next day just the bottom was green with algea the top was still clean white. Is that normal? Thank you
New filter cartridge
- Thread starter Arocko712
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 58,402
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum!
The cartridge is fine but your pool water is not! Time to read about the SLAM Process. How do you test your pool water chemistry?
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
The cartridge is fine but your pool water is not! Time to read about the SLAM Process. How do you test your pool water chemistry?
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,802
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
My single cartridge gets more dark & dirty at the bottom as well, I suspect due to the location water enters the lower part of the filter and settles at the bottom easier. But in my case it's from dirt not algae. Algae is always a no-no and means something chemically is not being maintained properly. Use the links Marty gave you above and also the ones in my signature to assist you. Remember, it all starts with the proper test kit - ether a TF-100 (which I highly recommend) or a Taylor K-2006C. Nothing else is as reliable or easy to use at home. Don't fall for pool store "free" testing or advice. You'll chase your tail and dump a lot f money trying to fix things. Last thing ... please update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. It will help us later.
www.troublefreepool.com
My single cartridge gets more dark & dirty at the bottom as well, I suspect due to the location water enters the lower part of the filter and settles at the bottom easier. But in my case it's from dirt not algae. Algae is always a no-no and means something chemically is not being maintained properly. Use the links Marty gave you above and also the ones in my signature to assist you. Remember, it all starts with the proper test kit - ether a TF-100 (which I highly recommend) or a Taylor K-2006C. Nothing else is as reliable or easy to use at home. Don't fall for pool store "free" testing or advice. You'll chase your tail and dump a lot f money trying to fix things. Last thing ... please update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. It will help us later.Create Your Signature - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,152
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
712,
Welcome aboard! It's very normal for vertical filters to work from bottom up. As they foul slightly at the bottom pressure drop in that area forces more water flow up. It's a good thing. As the others mentioned green color is algae and this is not good. It will cause bigger problems soon if you don't do as our experts advise. Once you get it cleared up just follow TFP recommendations and you'll have your pool crystal clear, dirt cheap the TFP way.
Good luck!
Chris
Welcome aboard! It's very normal for vertical filters to work from bottom up. As they foul slightly at the bottom pressure drop in that area forces more water flow up. It's a good thing. As the others mentioned green color is algae and this is not good. It will cause bigger problems soon if you don't do as our experts advise. Once you get it cleared up just follow TFP recommendations and you'll have your pool crystal clear, dirt cheap the TFP way.
Good luck!
Chris
BowserB
Silver Supporter
- Jul 29, 2018
- 777
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Longer term--after you've fixed the algae problem--here are a couple of my amateur observations as someone new (Oct 2018) to pools and stuff.
One. My filter logic says that since you can't backflow water through the filter cartridges when cleaning, there is probably some permanent reducing of flow from fine sticky contaminants in the pool water no matter how much cleaner and surfactants you apply from the outside, and since most of the visible debris is at the bottom, it would make sense that the little permanent stuff is there too. I flip the cartridges upside down after cleaning, so as to equalize the "clogging" effect and hopefully maximize the effective life of the cartridges.
Two. Skimmer socks are a good way to extend the time between cleaning the filter cartridges by catching a LOT of little debris that would otherwise go right through the skimmer basket. I don't know what all the stuff is, but a lot of dust, pollen, dandilion seeds, ants, skinny wax myrtle leaves, and what an old vacuum cleaner salesman I knew called "the filth of civilization", collects in my skimmer socks (actually inexpensive hair nets from Amazon). I clean them out every day or two (mostly every day) and replace them about once every week or ten days. I know that sounds like a lot of trouble, but it only takes five minutes to back-rinse them with a water hose, and it's worth it to postpone cleaning the filter cartridges and knowing I've stopped all that stuff from going into and through the pump impeller!
Three. My filter tank has an "internal air bleed" system, but I've discovered that it doesn't work very well at low pump speeds. Since my system has ozone entering from the filter pump, oxygen would tend to collect at the top of the filter tank. At prime, the brief full speed pump would evacuate the air in the tank, but then it would start to accumulate over the next 11 hours of low speed pump running. I don't know how low the water level might get, but when I opened the manual air bleed after seven or eight hours, I might get ten seconds of air before water gushed out. The solution was to add an external air bleed--essentially just a T fitting under the pressure gauge with a small hose running to just past the heater where it feeds back into the water returning to the pool. Now, the tank is always full of water, so the whole filter is available. My air in the tank was due to the O3 being sucked in, but I think a little bit of air in the tank may be normal...or why would there be an internal air bleed built into the tank.
One. My filter logic says that since you can't backflow water through the filter cartridges when cleaning, there is probably some permanent reducing of flow from fine sticky contaminants in the pool water no matter how much cleaner and surfactants you apply from the outside, and since most of the visible debris is at the bottom, it would make sense that the little permanent stuff is there too. I flip the cartridges upside down after cleaning, so as to equalize the "clogging" effect and hopefully maximize the effective life of the cartridges.
Two. Skimmer socks are a good way to extend the time between cleaning the filter cartridges by catching a LOT of little debris that would otherwise go right through the skimmer basket. I don't know what all the stuff is, but a lot of dust, pollen, dandilion seeds, ants, skinny wax myrtle leaves, and what an old vacuum cleaner salesman I knew called "the filth of civilization", collects in my skimmer socks (actually inexpensive hair nets from Amazon). I clean them out every day or two (mostly every day) and replace them about once every week or ten days. I know that sounds like a lot of trouble, but it only takes five minutes to back-rinse them with a water hose, and it's worth it to postpone cleaning the filter cartridges and knowing I've stopped all that stuff from going into and through the pump impeller!
Three. My filter tank has an "internal air bleed" system, but I've discovered that it doesn't work very well at low pump speeds. Since my system has ozone entering from the filter pump, oxygen would tend to collect at the top of the filter tank. At prime, the brief full speed pump would evacuate the air in the tank, but then it would start to accumulate over the next 11 hours of low speed pump running. I don't know how low the water level might get, but when I opened the manual air bleed after seven or eight hours, I might get ten seconds of air before water gushed out. The solution was to add an external air bleed--essentially just a T fitting under the pressure gauge with a small hose running to just past the heater where it feeds back into the water returning to the pool. Now, the tank is always full of water, so the whole filter is available. My air in the tank was due to the O3 being sucked in, but I think a little bit of air in the tank may be normal...or why would there be an internal air bleed built into the tank.
Thanks guys for the quick responses!! Very helpful. Yes I am aware of the alge and will have that fixed with the links provided.I was more concerned about the filter Cartridge only being half used. The old one I took out I saw dirt up to the top. The house I rented the pool was left unattended for some time it looks like. I will work on my signature shortly with all my equipment details. Again thanks to everyone.
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,152
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
712,
A properly sized filter will go a long time between cleaning. I do mine about every 6 months and could go longer. I've always noticed the same "creep up" phenomenon. As you clean the filter multiple times some particles get permanently logged in the media and don't come off. This will cause the dirtier line to move up and this, along with shorter time to reach the change pressure are indicators it's time to change. Depending on your conditions and if your sizing was done right you can easily get years off your cartridges. I get about 3 years but we have at least one expert that is going on 6 or 7 years.
I hope this helps.
Chris
The first thing I looked at....... Yup, they’re from Florida. This one could go either way because one of the plethora of facts I’ve learned here is that FL builders like small filters.
welcome 712, you are in wonderful hands and most of us came here for an issue and never left.
I never thought or read about this. And when I clean my cartridge, it's usually full of little stuff.
So, in Amazon, do I look for actual hair nets? I just saw a pack of 100 for $7. That??
N,
Yes, the pack of 100 is what I buy.. They last me forever.
You will most likely have to put a rock in the skimmer basket to keep the hair net from floating up with the pump on slow or off. Make sure the rock is smooth and too big to go down any pipes.
Jim R.
Yes, the pack of 100 is what I buy.. They last me forever.
You will most likely have to put a rock in the skimmer basket to keep the hair net from floating up with the pump on slow or off. Make sure the rock is smooth and too big to go down any pipes.
Jim R.
please share the link from amazon. i see too many choices. to these help with the pollen season nearly upon us?
thanks.
hairnets make a HUGE difference in keeping your cartridge filter clean..I just started using them this past year after owning pools for 25 years 
I just bought these but probably all made by the same company https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XK2FS0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I just bought these but probably all made by the same company https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XK2FS0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
borjis
LifeTime Supporter
They are perfect for collecting pollen.
Just be aware to check them daily. A ton of pollen coating the sock can clog up good flow easily
Just be aware to check them daily. A ton of pollen coating the sock can clog up good flow easily
Pollen that would normally coat your filter
I was surprised when I started using them how much " junk" they caught