Went shopping for a new pump for my cartridge setup. Came home with a new pump and sand filter combo. zeolite pool sand ruined my tfp water.

[jaxhusky]

Hi all, I am on my third pump for the pool due to salt damage. I have been a cartridge convert for years but got a better del from the pool store on a pump and sand filter combo than buying a new pump yesterday.
Had some issues hooking the new pump to the xtream 1500 cart due to pump output position. The xtream always leaks a bit no matter how many times we replace the o ring which contributed to premature pump failures.
By the time we decided to use the sand filter, the pool store had closed so we went to Lowe’s for sand.
The pool sand at Lowe’s was the chlorox brand which I now realize is zeolite. I didn’t reach out to tfp to research the sand as it was getting dark and I was out of pool owner patience. I only backwashed briefly and then completely clouded my TFP water with clouds of brown that turned green as I topped up my chlorine…..

This morning, I considered dumping everything and running to ace hardware for some HTH sand, but I am first trying to use my cartridge as a second filter to capture the wayward zeolite dust. I also vacuumed to waste this morning which was a pleasant option that cart owners don’t often employ. Water looks about 80% better than last night, but it still isn’t sparkling clear water yet especially compared to the hot tub water that is TFP beautiful Any suggestions for getting the pool back to TFP clear?

 

[PoolStored]

Hey!

Being one of the few Zeo users, I understand your plight.

For anyone else that may find this thread, Zeo comes from 4 mines. The size can vary. Zeo can break down. When you buy it, you don't know what you are getting. The result is zeo that is too small and will fill your pool with it. Zeo often needs a good ten minutes to half an hour of backwashing when it is new to avoid this exact problem. There are situations where even that doesn't take care of it. Occasionally you get a bad batch of zeo, which is softer than usual, and it is constantly getting crushed and thus continues to put dust into the pool until it is replaced.

I'm lucky, when I bought the house and was "pool stored" the guy said this is what to put in...what did I know, he at least knew to backwash, and apparently I got the big particle stuff. Since then, I've helped dozens of pools with Zeo problems.

I would recommend avoiding the zeo. Take the Zeo out, and fill the filter with sand. I don't think there is a huge improvement with the Zeo over sand.

As to the existing pool, you really have two options.
1) Take the zeo out of the sand filter. You don't want it adding more. Replace with sand, then, as you are doing, filter with the cartridge. It may or may not work depending on the size of the Zeo particles.
2) You have a small pool. You might contemplate just replacing the water.

 

[mknauss]

I am on my third pump for the pool due to salt damage

Sorry you are having issues.
Just to clarify, salt does not damage pool equipment when used at levels appropriate for the creation of chlorine.
Low pH destroys pool equipment.

 

[jaxhusky]

To clarify, Salt damaged both the original Hayward and the second pentair pumps from water dripping on the pump housing due to the leaky Hayward cartridge housing. The pumps were directly connected to the cartridge in the past.
You can see the rust on the cartridge base where the pumps disintegrated. My pool factory “saltwater 8000” pool is also rusting from the salt water where the dogs would shake off after swimming.

 

[jaxhusky]

 

[jaxhusky]

Water clarity is much better after filtering and backwashing. Can’t vacuum right now due to heavy rain and standing water