Pool filter sand questions

[kevinz92702]

Hi everyone, as I type this there are currently two big vacuums running and my pool is refilling after installing a new liner after nearly 20 years. But I digress, the excitement is just killing me.

Anyway, last year I changed the who knows how old filter sand for fresh stuff so I knew what I was working with. I used some stuff that was specifically labeled pool filter sand from menards. I had a lot of sand making its way through the returns into the pool. When I changed it I inspected the laterals and filter internals and did not find anything broken.

A quick search here at the time led to some older posts talking about how some filter sand, even labeled as such, is not the correct size granules. I can get the HTH brand local and eas wondering what people think of it. The other media I have been looking at is the ruby red media.

Would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank you

 

[splashpad]

Would appreciate any and all suggestions. Thank you

Are you needing filter sand, or have it already? (just clarifying)

Did you backwash the sand until clear, rinse to 'settle' it, before starting to filter to pool?

 

[kevinz92702]

Yes, this was a constant issue last summer. I did everything right to prepare the new sand.

I do not have the new media yet

 

[PoolStored]

Did you backwash the sand until clear, rinse to 'settle' it, before starting to filter to pool?

^^This

The rinse to settle is important. When you settle the sand, any small particle will blow through to waste.

I had a lot of sand making its way through the returns into the pool.

Once? or all summer?

 

[kevinz92702]

All summer. The new sand looked like it had a lot of very fine particles to it versus what was in the filter, so I'm hoping that since the laterals appeared ok that the sand was not a suitable replacement