Sand in pool - broken filter?

[orangepower10]

We live in Oklahoma and we’ve had what I thought was dirt in the pool from the heavy winds for the last 2 weeks. I’m starting to think it’s sand from our filter. I’ve noticed it’s usually in the morning when it shows up. (After our pump runs from 8pm to 8am. Last night we had the pool crystal clear and I woke up to a dirty pool. We had some really low temperatures this winter and left the pool open and running. I’m thinking a lateral pipe in the filter may be damaged. Any advice for determining the cause and fixing the problem would be appreciated. I’d really like to know it’s the lateral for sure before going in and removing sand to see.

Why There's Sand in Your Pool and How to Get it Out

You have a pool, not a beach, so you don't want any sand in your pool. To get it out and keep it from returning, you have to understand how it got there.

www.swimuniversity.com

 

[mknauss]

When you brush it, does it move around like sand, or does it poof up into a cloud?

 

[orangepower10]

It goes up into a cloud.

 

[mknauss]

That typically implies algae. I would suggest an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test some time soon.

 

[orangepower10]

We passed the overnight chlorine loss test. We cleaned the pool 2 nights ago and didn’t run the filter. Woke up to a crystal clear pool, no dirt.

Last night we ran the filter again and woke up to the dirty pool. The water is very clear though and all levels are good.

I found this thread and it sounds very similar to what I’m experiencing. It’s a reddish brown substance that goes into a cloud when brushed.

Pool dirty only when pump running

I've got a swg pool that is constantly dirty. Vacuum pool and 6 hours later pool is dirty again. Pool has been doing this for over a year. It is clear and has been since the initial algae after opening. Levels have been testing good, I keep FC on the high side of the range, around 6 for a CYA of...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[orangepower10]

I’m at a loss on the cause. Can anyone offer some advice? At this point it’s an every day occurrence. When we didn’t run the pump it stayed clean.

Is a deep clean of the sand filter the next step that should be taken?

 

[Kiewo]

I’m at a loss on the cause. Can anyone offer some advice? At this point it’s an every day occurrence. When we didn’t run the pump it stayed clean.

Is a deep clean of the sand filter the next step that should be taken?

Im in OKC and experiencing the same issue. See my post.

 

[orangepower10]

Finally got around to opening filter up and this is what it looks like. Suggestions?

 

[Flying Tivo]

Might as well remove the sand with a shopvac and inspect the lateral.

 

[orangepower10]

Is there any way it is mustard algae with a passed overnight chlorine loss test? It only shows up in the morning after the pump has been running.

 

[Flying Tivo]

There is a better chance it is not. Go for the simple stuff first, inspect laterals.

 

[borjis]

Are you 100% sure it's sand?
We've had a bigger than usual oak pollen season.
Looks just like that but it's oak pollen, not sand.
Thinking out loud.

 

[orangepower10]

It’s definitely not sand. The sand in the filter looks nothing like this. When brushed it clouds up into the pool.

 

[Flying Tivo]

If you are sure its not sand, then i would suggest to start a SLAM Process even if you passed the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. Clean behind the lights, steps, skimmer door, etc...

 

[orangepower10]

Are you 100% sure it's sand?
We've had a bigger than usual oak pollen season.
Looks just like that but it's oak pollen, not sand.
Thinking out loud.

Have you found a way to get rid of it? We have slammed the pool, used tiger shark, brushed every day for 2 weeks. It comes back every day after the pump has run all night.

 

[borjis]

I've been hand vacuuming it with a pool blaster Li and fine silt bag. Each time it gets more of it and now after two weeks it's almost completely gone. It's all over my decking too. Gonna have to power wash it off soon.