Do I need DE?

[CarlD]

DE is Diotomaceous Earth (even if I spelled it wrong). It's a very fine filtering medium, usually used in pools with DE filters. But lately we have found that 1 cup added to a sand filter can help it filter much finer particles.

Sand filters sometimes cannot get the finest stuff--but the DE seems to help that. It sounds like you have a lot of dead algae and either the system isn't sucking it in from parts of the pool or your sand filter isn't filtering it. Are you sure you are using filter sand? Are you sure your filter is running correctly? All should be checked..

[sw_stupid]

I assume it is filter sand. I don't know I've never had any trouble. I do think that is what I see sitting on the bottom of the pool, in the cracks every morning - my pump runs at night. I just figured it is okay for some of the sand to come through, it gets sucked up by the pool sweep. I just thought of something - maybe I need to run the pump more. It is on a 12 hour timer right now. Should I turn off the SWG while bleach shocking? If so, why?
Thanks again,
Brad

[CarlD]

If you are blowing sand through, then I'm wondering if your pump is mis-matched to your filter and is too powerful. Your filter MUST have a greater capacity than your pump--or you get stuff blowing through. Most people have bigger pumps than they need.

If your pump is too big, you can get an impeller replacement that lowers the GPM of the pump.

[Poolidiot]

Carl,
How do you know if the pump is to big?