I'm learning the simple way of the TFP. What takes out oils from the water? The kids wear sunscreen, etc. I suspect the DE Filter takes out some? I notice an oil ring forming in the skimmer basket holder. It's not bad, but it just makes me think about what kind of ring is forming on the dark pool tiles. What do you use to make the tiles shiny again? Is there a legitimate pool store chemical to knock the oils off the top of the water?
So....TFP People, how about oils
- Thread starter powergator
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The best solution is the simplest: If you see an oil slick forming in the skimmer, ladle it out into a bucket and then pour it down the drain.
You don't want to use chemicals. That would only cause the oils to mix with the water, which is not where you want them.
There are about ten reasons why you should aerate the pool. When you start aerating, you will be amazed at the amount of oil that comes to the surface. There is a proverb that says oil and water don't mix, and they don't mix very much, but 30,000 gallons of water will hold an impressive amount of oil. The oil sticks to the surface of the aerator bubbles and comes to the surface. Run the aerator and skimmer together, and ladle out the oil as mentioned above.
There are two kinds of oil. The fats and oils that come from plants and animals contain so-called fatty acids, such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, et cetera. Soaps also contain fatty acids. If such things get into the water, they will react with calcium to form calcium stearate et cetera. You've seen that before in the form of hard waxy or greasy soap scum that forms in the bathtub or shower. If a "bathtub ring" forms around the edge of the pool, just scrape it off and throw it away. The chemicals you might use for cleaning the bathtub are not suitable, because they depend on rinsing out the tub, and you can't do that in the pool.
The other type of oils are like motor oil or vaseline. They are much less reactive.
Yes, oil will stick to the DE in a DE filter. It exits the system when you replace the DE. This works OK if there is a tiny amount of oil, but for larger amounts it is woefully inefficient.
Similarly, oil will stick to the sand in a sand filter. This is much more of a problem. Cleaning the sand is a pain, and replacing the sand is an even bigger pain. I feed a little bit of DE into my sand filter every so often, in hopes that the oil will preferentially stick to the DE, and exit the system at the next backwash. However, mostly I just try to keep oil out of the filter. If there is an oil slick in the skimmer I do *not* allow it to get sucked into the filter. I ladle it out.
You don't want to use chemicals. That would only cause the oils to mix with the water, which is not where you want them.
There are about ten reasons why you should aerate the pool. When you start aerating, you will be amazed at the amount of oil that comes to the surface. There is a proverb that says oil and water don't mix, and they don't mix very much, but 30,000 gallons of water will hold an impressive amount of oil. The oil sticks to the surface of the aerator bubbles and comes to the surface. Run the aerator and skimmer together, and ladle out the oil as mentioned above.
There are two kinds of oil. The fats and oils that come from plants and animals contain so-called fatty acids, such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, et cetera. Soaps also contain fatty acids. If such things get into the water, they will react with calcium to form calcium stearate et cetera. You've seen that before in the form of hard waxy or greasy soap scum that forms in the bathtub or shower. If a "bathtub ring" forms around the edge of the pool, just scrape it off and throw it away. The chemicals you might use for cleaning the bathtub are not suitable, because they depend on rinsing out the tub, and you can't do that in the pool.
The other type of oils are like motor oil or vaseline. They are much less reactive.
Yes, oil will stick to the DE in a DE filter. It exits the system when you replace the DE. This works OK if there is a tiny amount of oil, but for larger amounts it is woefully inefficient.
Similarly, oil will stick to the sand in a sand filter. This is much more of a problem. Cleaning the sand is a pain, and replacing the sand is an even bigger pain. I feed a little bit of DE into my sand filter every so often, in hopes that the oil will preferentially stick to the DE, and exit the system at the next backwash. However, mostly I just try to keep oil out of the filter. If there is an oil slick in the skimmer I do *not* allow it to get sucked into the filter. I ladle it out.
Thanks for the feedback. I haven't ever seen oil in the skimmer. Just the ring. I haven't aerated much because of the pH increase it causes.
I wonder if anyone ever used an absorbent oil pad in the skimmer. The ones I remember only grab the oil off the top. Absorb no water.
I wonder if anyone ever used an absorbent oil pad in the skimmer. The ones I remember only grab the oil off the top. Absorb no water.
You want a Scumball. It will end up floating inside the skimmer and it will absorb all those oils.
Ha! I like it! Never heard of it. But I bet it works. I could put them under the waterfall too and I'm sure it'd work.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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