I just changed the sand in our sand filter yesterday ... I've been using the BBB method since we set up the pool 5 years ago and I've been having trouble with the water clearing ... I don't know the age of the filter since we got the pool from a friend (above ground pool), nor do I know when the last time the sand was changed. So, I got 100 pounds of pool sand - amount was based on what is printed on the filter. vacuumed out the old sand, checked the laterals and they all looked good. When I backwashed initially a lot of sand came out. The filter has now been running all night and I am worried that i now have 100 pounds of sand in the pool. The friends I got the pool from don't know the age of the filter either, and it could be 20 years old (pool was set up when they bought their house)? Does anyone know if the pool sand sold today is finer than what it was 20 years ago .... waiting on the robot to finish to see if I have a bunch of sand in the pool.
Sand Filter Help - changed sand for first time
- Thread starter Aprilspool
- Start date
I'm pretty sure #20 silica has been the standard for pool filter sand a loooooong time. Can you not see the bottom if you're having to wait for the robot to finish to see if you "have a bunch of sand in the pool?" For future reference, there is an article in Pool School on how to deep clean a sand filter rather than risk messing up a lateral in there by changing it out. Did you add water to the filter first before adding any new sand?
No - I can't see the bottom of the pool - it has been milky blue for about 2 weeks after I finished opening and slamming. I've been running the pump almost constantly ... I noticed the end of last summer that it wasn't filtering as much as I thought it should, so I deep cleaned it then but then this spring it just seemed worse. I was adding water and sand at the same time - maybe that was my mistake! UGH ...
We decided to replace the sand, because when we deep cleaned the sand that we removed seemed to be a much larger grit than the pool sand that we saw in the store ... the sand we removed seemed more like play sand ... which is why I started questioning myself.
If I didn't have enough water in it when adding the new sand, do I need to open it up again and remove the new sand? ... I was working via flashlight last night ...
Was there any water in it before adding the new sand?
The weight of the falling sand might have cracked a lateral, especially if the internals are older.
There was definately water up to the laterals, but I didn't think to check if the water/sand adding ratio remained the same after that ... regretfully it was after dark when I did this ... I probably should have waited until this morning.
when I cleaned it out yesterday I actually removed all the laterals and reinstalled them as some of them didn't look like they were screwed in all of the way. They all seemed to be in good shape and no breaks or cracks.
That sounds okay! Next Q: Was the upright pipe capped/covered to keep sand out? (assuming it's a top mount filter)
Yes, I put a bag over it with a rubberband ... I did do that! haha! I just backwashed again, and no sand came out ... there is some sand in the robot, but not an enormous amount.
I probabaly need a big dose of pool owner patience ... it is hot here in NC ... and everyone like, mom when can we get in the pool ... did order my test kit refill today! hopefully soon ... hopefully soon.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,167
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Catching-up on yoru thread, I see a lot was discussed about the sand swap, but you appear to be in SLAM mode now correct? I didn't see any water test results. Did you have any FC/CYA queestions for us? Are you sure where you should be (FC-wise) or have anyquestions about the SLAM Process instructions? If so, just let us know.
I slammed several weeks ago, but I got to wait on my refills to slam again ... Luckily I ordered this morning and it has already shipped. Hopefully the second slam will be short ... and I will have clear water again ... before I empty this sucker out and start over! LOL ... the thought has crossed my mind!
I'm already noticing a big difference in the water clearing ... and I am quite sure that the reason that I never knew the sand was a problem the first few years was because I followed the trouble free method to the letter ... however, our pump went out one summer the year before last and then the pool robot quit last spring it seemed that I never could get back on track after that, or at least the clear pool water that I had before. Last summer was frustrating and it never occured to me that the previous owners may have used the wrong sand. We never close the pool, so I had never opened up the filter before last fall, and even then I didn't know how fine the sand was supposed to be! So, I'll be opening it up for a deep clean every spring from now on! Now, looking forward to getting those refills so I can slam, and swim soon!