Remove Separation Tank

[tsar]

I have a DE filter, and a separation tank. Right now things work pretty well. The pool stays open from Apr - Oct, and I think I backwash about twice in the season at best.
It might not be worth the pain of going through this, but I was considering removing the separation tank, and putting in a backwash hose all the way to the gutter of the street (quite some distance downhill).

The main reason is the major pain it is to haul out the bag from the separation tank, and some of it gets washed in the gutter anyhow as I need to hose it down etc (Separately I'm also thinking about moving to perlite etc. to avoid having to deal with DE, but that's a separate conversation).

I wonder how folks generally feel about this, and how they deal with the separation tank? What could be a good way to go about this?

 

[ajw22]

DE disposal is always an issue and one of the main drawbacks of a DE filter.

Does your town or county have any regulations about the disposal of DE?

I would not simply wash DE effluent onto the street pavement where the water can evaporate and the DE can be left there for children or pets to step into it. DE should be washed down to the street storm sewer if it is allowed.

My experience with DE alternative media is it is more of a PITA then DE. It clogs too quickly and requires too frequent backwashing. I tried it and wet back to DE.

 

[TinFoilHat]

On my old bump DE filter I drained it into a dirt pit area next to the filter and then shoveled it out into the garbage can when it dried out.

 

[guyzag]

Greetings poolmates,
I have the same complaint about the difficulty removing the filter bag for cleaning.
The bag has a metal ring sewn into the top that seats it securely inside the tank.

Tapping a screwdriver around the edge seems to help as does removing as much water as possible

Any suggestions appreciated as pulling on the bag strap doesn’t work well.

Guy

 

[guyzag]

I contacted the support people at Pentair. A guy named David Figueroa responded but I swear he may be a robot or a bot. He keeps asking me the same questions over and over again. The latest was asking me if I bled the air out first!

Hello, thank you for contacting Pentair, we are sorry for this delay. At this time we are experiencing a higher volume of calls and emails. When you look at the bad is it dirty and filled with Debris and DE?

David Figueroa
Technical Support Representative
Pentair
293 Wright Street
Delavan, Wi, 53115, US
1.800.831.7133 main

me:

he bag is new and clean and contains a normal amount of DE.

It is wedged in so tightly is difficult to pull out. It takes an hour it seems to do so.

Guy S
him:

Hello, thank you for contacting Pentair, we are sorry for this delay. At this time we are experiencing a higher volume of calls and emails. When you look at the bad is it dirty and filled with Debris and DE?

David Figueroa
Technical Support Representative
Pentair
293 Wright Street
Delavan, Wi, 53115, US
1.800.831.7133 main

me:

The bag is new and clean and contains a normal amount of DE.

It is wedged in so tightly is difficult to pull out. It takes an hour it seems to do so.

Guy S

here's the latest:

him:

Yes it can be tough to remove, Are you bleeding the air before this removal?

David Figueroa

me:

Bleeding the air? The cover is removed!
You know I am having trouble believing you are an actual human being!
Don't write back. Please just call me instead.

Guy S.