Trying out the SlimeBag

[DR Robert]

I just cannot filter fine dead algae from my pool without vacuuming to waste several times, a colossal "waste", and even then I can't get all the fine dirt/dead algae out.

A fine 1 micron filter is required.

My pool has 2 banks of four water returns.

I checked with Slime Bags, and although I have *zero* doubts at the quality of their products, I just cannot rationalize the total cost of even 4 without having to consult a divorce attorney, and I have become accustomed to my wife, the 3 dogs and 2 cats.

This thread has been enlightening.

But I am taking a slightly different tack, and will report the results upon completion.

I have purchased 5 #2 1 micron 7" x 32" polyester felt bags from DudaDiesel on Ebay, under $40 shipped to my Miami freight forwarder.

I have ordered 10 2.25-3.25" SS hose clamps for $8. By the time all is shipped to the DR, I'll have spent $55.

Rather than fuss with PVC adapters, I'll simply cut the ring from the top of each bag, and singe the fibers to prevent fraying. I'll then simply neatly bunch the bag around each of return fittings that stick out about 1" into the pool, and secure them tightly with the SS hose clamps. I'll then shut off the other 4 returns.

So for under $55, I'll have efficient "slime" filters on 4 returns, with on spare, for $15 less than the cost of one Slime Bag.

Let's see how this works out...

 

[Patrick_B]

Re: SlimeBag for 1/10 of the price, yes you can!

Cool...

I'll be interested to see how it does. I bought a slime bag for my little pool and it worked nicely. This looks VERY similar.

I know our own RobbieH uses Dudadiesel for things too, and I checked them out after hearing him talk about the site. They have a lot of stuff for pool owners there you wouldn't even imagine with that name.

 

[JasonLion]

Any working filter can filter out dead algae. If you have something in the water that you can actually see, then any normal pool filter can filter it out (unless that filter is broken).

 

[Isaac-1]

Jason if you read his previous thread there is not any "filter sand" available on the island, so instead whoever installed it used construction sand, and he is living in a rented house at the moment so does not want to invest a lot in pool equipment.

Ike

 

[DudaDiesel]

My immediate concern would be the 1 micron bags clogging too quickly, depending on how much slime you are dealing with. If your set-up doesn't work perfectly, it might be improved with several stages of filters, such as a 100 micron, then a 25 or 50, followed by the 1.

 

[DR Robert]

My immediate concern would be the 1 micron bags clogging too quickly, depending on how much slime you are dealing with. If your set-up doesn't work perfectly, it might be improved with several stages of filters, such as a 100 micron, then a 25 or 50, followed by the 1.

Good point.

But this stuff is really fine. I mean when I've drawn a sample the water in the tube looks 100% clear, but left stagnant for a couple of hours accumulates on the bottom of the tube in a thin yellow/brown layer. Shake the tube, and the water looks clear again.

We'll see.

I have read that the bags can be cleaned several times with a pole & garden hose, inside & outside before needing replacement.

 

[Patrick_B]

If they are like the brand name ones, they can take a lot before they completely foul out. You can clean them many, many, times.

 

[chem geek]

To DudaDiesel,

Welcome to TFP!

If you are actually with DudaDiesel, we recommend you as one of the sources for getting Boric Acid Granular for adding 50 ppm Borates to pools and spas.

 

[DudaDiesel]

Thanks for the welcome! Yes, we've heard some customers get our boric, and even some extreme customers with large pools who have used our sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid for pH control (though I wouldn't these unless you know what you are doing)

 

[DR Robert]

Hola, all!

It's been a month and I wanted to share my experience with DIY with my cheap-sumb!tch "micro-filter" bags. SlimeBag is a trademark, and I respect that.

Recall I have an enormous amount of dead algae that just wont filter out no matter what I do. The chemicals can be within correct levels, and when I turn the filter off it makes a yellow/green covering on all the underwater horizontal surfaces. The water is clear, but the bottom nasty. I can vacuum and sweep, the water becomes very cloudy, and it all settles to the bottom again when the filter is off for a while. Hence the SlimeBags.

First of all I am certain the SlimeBags are well made and effective. My ONLY issue was cost, as it would cost around $300 for 4 bags & fittings. I just was not going to pay that, so I went to Plan B. As stated before, I have under $55 invested so far for 5 bags and 10 hose clamps shipped to the DR.

One design parameter is the pool outlets. I have 2 banks of 4 each. The goal was to make 4 bags and attach them around the outlets with hose clamps. One problem I ran into immediately is in total only 4 of the 8 outlets protruded out enough, 3/4" MOL, to attach a bag.

All the materials came in. Here are the parts I used:

Filter bag, 2.5"-3.5" SS hose clamp, scissors, razor knife, screwdriver and bottle (for shaping.)

The filter bags are a quality unit and much tougher, substantial, well-constructed and thick than I expected.

First I removed the strap & metal ring from the bag:

I cut slices at the lip. Note: I found more cuts and removing some tabs works best. Pics later.)

The hose clamps were fully opened, and I folded the filter to slide the clamp to the slits on the top:

The bottle is about the same diameter as the outlets from the filter. I used it to form a round opening in the bunched filter mouth. This is kinda clunky at first, but you figure it out quickly:

I'm ready to install the bags. Sorry, no pics. But the key is to open the bag enough to get it over an outlet and firmly tighten the hose clamp onto the outlet. This is easier said than done, and took a few tries to finally figure it out. But it worked. One secret is to make cut tabs and cut off half. This prevents bunching of the thick material, because you're taking thick fabric made into a 7" diameter opening down to 2.5-3", so there can be a lot of bunching. You can see this in later pictures.

I put 3 bags on one the 4 outlet banks, and shut off the other bank, so 75% the water would flow into the 3 bags. MISTAKE. When I turned on the pump, I could see a brown cloud coming from the filter. Shutting off half the outlets created too much pressure and the bag would not contain the algae. So I made a 4th bag, and put it on the one outlet on the other bank that protruded out enough to attach, and opened all outlet banks. When I turned the pump back on...*voila!* Success! The bags filled and captured the gunk.

Every day the pool got cleaner, there was less algae and the bags were turning brown. But then no more progress, and I noticed the bags were hard from internal pressure. Then one blew off. I captured it and looked inside: completely covered with gunk.

(Note the tabs; much easier.)

So I had my guy, Junior (and his son helper), take all the bags off and clean them:

(continued)

 

[DR Robert]

(continued)

NOTE: this is easy. I noticed with the SlimeBags cleaning is somewhat problematic. But we took the top ring off, turned then inside out, put it over a pole and sprayed it with water until clean.

Note the tabs again.

4 cleaned, and back into the pool!

The pool became MUCH cleaner, and the clean bags began to turn brown again after 10 days. I noticed water escaping from around the hose clamp on one, so I figured the pressure was high and the bag no longer filtering, so out they came. When I would unattach a bag and lift it from the pool, little water escaped/filtered through since the bag had become occluded.

Dirty bag, part two. They aren't as bad as the first time, but still very dirty:

Yuck. This has been circulating in my pool:

Second cleaning was much easier. This time I put then against a chain link fence, used barbed wire to keep it from falling, and used my pressure sprayer. Good choice, clean again (this is on the pole for a picture):

Back in the pool:

I suspect there will be at least one more cleaning before ALL the dead algae is gone, but I have no doubt the problem will be solved.

I bought 5 bags in a lot from Duda, and I am glad I did. I now put water into the pool from the cistern (fed by the local water company) through the remaining bag.

Why is this necessary? This is from one filling:

In the past that water, unfiltered, went into the pool.

Bottom Line:

All-in-all I am quite pleased with both the cost and results. I also think this offers one distinct advantage over the actual SlimeBag: ease of cleaning. The SlimeBag, I recall, has a small fitting on the bag that makes cleaning difficult. I just turn the bag inside out like a pair of socks for cleaning.

 

[DR Robert]

I need to mention one unexpected result of these filter bags: the alter the water flow within the pool. I had algae pooling in specific spots that required constant sweeping.

 

[Isaac-1]

Thanks for the update, do let us know how things progress

Ike

 

[jblizzle]

That looks awfully green for "dead" algae. Are we sure the SLAM process was followed to completion and then there after the appropriate FC levels were maintained as a function of the CYA level?

 

[pwrstrk]

Yea I agree that looks pretty green for dead algae. ?

 

[DR Robert]

That looks awfully green for "dead" algae. Are we sure the SLAM process was followed to completion and then there after the appropriate FC levels were maintained as a function of the CYA level?

Yup, as best as I could.

 

[Isaac-1]

You might want to bump up the chlorine level in there and see if it holds over night

 

[DR Robert]

Today's numbers:

FC: 5
CC: .5
TC: 5.5
CH: 50
TA: 120
CYA: 20

I've been trying to keep the chlorine up. All I have to work with are chlorine pucks and bottled household chlorine. My local ferreteria is going to get in some granulated chlorine.

I've also been using a lot of algaecide and soda ash to keep the ph up.

I wish I had access to better supplies as I had back in the states.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

On another note, the water continues to clear, and there isn't much slime in the bags, so hope springs eternal.

 

[Isaac-1]

It sounds like you have all you really need chemical wise trichlor pucks to boost FC and CYA over time, plus bleach for when you don't want your CYA to go up, most of the rest is just pH control, unless you have metals and looks like you have a fairly good test kit. It would probably help to do an an overnight chlorine loss test (dusk to dawn) to confirm you don't have anything living in there.

Ike

 

[DR Robert]

It would probably help to do an an overnight chlorine loss test (dusk to dawn) to confirm you don't have anything living in there.

Ike

I'll do that this evening...