Hello, I am new here. I wanted to get insight on what I should do. My friend gave me Pool flocculant and said to use it on my Pool to get rid of the tiny particles I can see when I’m underwater in my pool. He said to vacuum it after I let it sit overnight. I added the flocculent before I googled the product and found out everywhere that I need a waste option. I checked my pump and reasearched and turns out it has no waste option. I was wondering if I could just vacuum it up and my filter will catch it? I’m not sure, but it’s a cartridge filter. Also I was wondering if I could use clarifier to counter the effect? Thanks to whoever can help me out. I know I should’ve done better research ?
Used flocculant, no waste option on filter/pump
- Thread starter Tony916
- Start date
Welcome to TFP!
Well, you are in quite a bad spot. Attempting to vacuum it through the filter will destroy your filter. Trying to use clarifier will only make it worse. You have to figure out a way to rig up your filter to where it will not run through the filter and will discharge outside the pool. Or possibly renting a pump that you can attach the vacuum to. However you do it that stuff has to be removed from the pool and cannot be filtered. Even if you decided that the filter was an acceptable loss you can't just filter it out. The filter would permanently gum up before you finished, leaving plenty of floc to destroy the next filter.
And, to file in to the "information that would have been useful yesterday" department: TFP strongly discourages the use of floc or clarifiers. They have a tendency to ruin filters and even when used completely correctly will sometimes fail to work properly and cause even larger problems. They also only serve to mask the real problems that need solved. Visible particles floating in a pool are often a result of something amiss with the water chemistry and, after correcting the issue, will be filtered out and not return.
Good luck with this.
Well, you are in quite a bad spot. Attempting to vacuum it through the filter will destroy your filter. Trying to use clarifier will only make it worse. You have to figure out a way to rig up your filter to where it will not run through the filter and will discharge outside the pool. Or possibly renting a pump that you can attach the vacuum to. However you do it that stuff has to be removed from the pool and cannot be filtered. Even if you decided that the filter was an acceptable loss you can't just filter it out. The filter would permanently gum up before you finished, leaving plenty of floc to destroy the next filter.
And, to file in to the "information that would have been useful yesterday" department: TFP strongly discourages the use of floc or clarifiers. They have a tendency to ruin filters and even when used completely correctly will sometimes fail to work properly and cause even larger problems. They also only serve to mask the real problems that need solved. Visible particles floating in a pool are often a result of something amiss with the water chemistry and, after correcting the issue, will be filtered out and not return.
Good luck with this.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,353
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Welcome to TFP.
Take pics of your equipment pad and any labels on your filter and post them so we can figure out what type of filter you are dealing with.
Don't add anymore pool store potions like clarifier. It will only make your problem worse.
#1 rule of TFP is never add anything to your pool water that you don’t know all the effects of adding.
You might want to call a local pool company who has an external vacuum rig to vacuum your pool.
Take pics of your equipment pad and any labels on your filter and post them so we can figure out what type of filter you are dealing with.
Don't add anymore pool store potions like clarifier. It will only make your problem worse.
#1 rule of TFP is never add anything to your pool water that you don’t know all the effects of adding.
You might want to call a local pool company who has an external vacuum rig to vacuum your pool.
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I’ve never heard of that filter, but maybe the easiest thing to do is write off the cartridge(s). Let them get completely coated with floc (watch your pressure gauge) and replace them with new cartridges.
Rattus Suffocatus
Silver Supporter
- Jun 5, 2019
- 1,713
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Universal40
Pac Fab filters and equipment are from the 80s and 90s if I read my pool history correctly. I assume you can still get the cartridges for that unit? Okay. Pentair acquired Pac Fab in 1998 and I see that Inyo pools at least carries the cartridges for about $50. The also apparently acquired Sta-Rite and other brands. Interesting story to research. At least you can still get cartridges for it.. You'll probably need one...
Yea I replaced the filter recently, still works fine despite the age of the pacfab. Honestly after the flocculent did it’s magic I was left with only a bit of sediment on the floor in a few spots, might get new filter or attempt to renew it with a cleaning solution.
Rattus Suffocatus
Silver Supporter
- Jun 5, 2019
- 1,713
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Universal40
Yeah, if so at about 50 bucks a pop worse case you are out a hundred probably. You certainly can try to clean the cartridges too. Dishwasher detergent seems to work well if you soak them. At least on my hot tub it does...
Update—-8/24
Vaccumed the bottom, water looks clean from up top but when I jumped in the pool it’s like dust everywhere I look, same as before I used the flocculent. Cleaned the filter, seems fine. I’m not sure what I should do now, I hate all the dust floating around. Any suggestions? Again pool pump has no waste option, so should I use clarifier or call a company to come do what they do? Any help is appreciated again, thanks
Vaccumed the bottom, water looks clean from up top but when I jumped in the pool it’s like dust everywhere I look, same as before I used the flocculent. Cleaned the filter, seems fine. I’m not sure what I should do now, I hate all the dust floating around. Any suggestions? Again pool pump has no waste option, so should I use clarifier or call a company to come do what they do? Any help is appreciated again, thanks
Attachments
- May 3, 2014
- 62,708
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40