Cloudy Water

[chrisandtim]

Do I just put DE in the skimmer to do that test? Is there a way to buy a small bag of DE? I used to have a DE filter & all I remember are those large bags of it.

[Watermom]

I'm not sure what to tell you about the sizes of DE bags available. Somebody else will probably know.

But, here are directions for trying the DE. Adding DE to a Sand Filter

[PoolDoc]

This is the smallest and cheapest delivered unit I can find:
Kem-Tek 342 Diatomaceous Earth Filter Aid 12 lbs @ Amazon => $19

Shipping is free, if you have Amazon Prime OR if you order $25 worth of stuff ($6 more). I have found 10# boxes for less at Home Depot locally, but sometimes they've had it, and sometimes they didn't. If you DO get it, it lasts indefinitely, and will help remove fine particles from the water IF it doesn't go through the filter. (It will also make your filter stop up faster!).

[chrisandtim]

Thanks.

Before I go the DE route, any other suggestions from anyone?

And I wanted to explain my hesitation on messing with the impeller, etc. - I just do not think this is the cause of the problem. If this were the issue, wouldn't it have been a problem before? The water was cloudy before I turned on the pump & filter so I just do not think this is causing the problem.

[aylad]

You asked for suggestions, so we gave you several.....the filter is the main suspect here. We're trying to help you troubleshoot it. But, it's your pool!

Janet

[chrisandtim]

Thanks Janet. From your first answer it sounded like you had some other suggestions before going the DE route? You had also asked for pump & filter info:

Hayward 1.5 HP Hayward HP Power-Flo economy pump for above ground pools
Filter is a W. Cooper Industries Ranger Series Sand Filter Model RS1815 & the multiport valve model number is TM-12-L. (needs new pressure gauge)

From the paperwork I have the valve size on this model is 1 1/2", tank diameter is 18" & the turnover rate is 12,760 gallons per 8 hours. My pool has 11,000 gallons of water.

[PoolDoc]

+ The impeller thing is a long term fix . . . for later, not now.

+ Your pump is too big; your filter is too small. This is SNAFU for AG pool installations: it's not your fault, but it is (now) your problem.

+ Your cloudy water is (probably) algae; you've made the situation much worse by adding clarifier and floc, and then forcing it through the undersized filter with the oversized pump, breaking the floc particles (if they existed). Now the floc and clarifier are acting to KEEP the goo in the water, instead of helping you get it out. With these additions, you have moved from state SNAFU to state FUBAR. (This is why we usually don't recommend those products -- people do the "some is good; more must be better" thing, and end up where you are.)

+ Your water won't clear, unless you can filter. It appears that you can't filter, but we're not sure. That's why we suggested the DE test.

+ You have three options that we know of:
1. you can drain and refill -- of course, this can destroy in-ground liner pools, and is risky with above ground pools, unless you know what you are doing.
2. you can test your filter, and fix it if necessary -- that's what the DE will do initially. If your filter is OK, the DE will help filter the fine particles . . . but at the cost of a LOT of backwashing.
3. you can get a new, bigger cartridge or DE filter and clean up your pool rapidly, especially with a LARGE DE filter. Here's an option available on Amazon:

Hayward C12002 Star-Clear 120-Square-Foot 2-Inch FIP Pipe Pool Filter

You can probably clear the pool in less than a week with that -- even with the floc and goo -- but you'll need a valve to throttle back flow: pressure loss will be so low on that filter, that you'll overload up the pump if you don't. After that, your pool will be clearer than you've seen it before.


We really don't have anything else to offer you.

Sorry.

[chrisandtim]

So, got a new pressure gauge, & just did the DE test. 3/4 cup of DE seemed to hold - pressure just increased by 2. Good, right?

1. Will this help filter out what needs to be filtered out?
2. I have bought a smaller pump - 1 HP pump w/2 speed - which the pool store guy said was more appropriate for my filter size. He said this was likely the problem. So, that is my long term solution. What do you think?

Is there something else I should be doing?

[PoolDoc]

just did the DE test. 3/4 cup of DE seemed to hold - pressure just increased by 2. Good, right?

Yes!

Will this help filter out what needs to be filtered out?

Yes, but at the cost of very frequent backwashes. Let the pressure increase 6 - 8 pounds before you backwash.

I have bought a smaller pump - 1 HP pump w/2 speed - which the pool store guy said was more appropriate for my filter size. He said this was likely the problem.

Excellent idea, in general. I don't recall what filter you have -- it really, really helps if you'll post your pool info in your signature, so we can just look up and review what YOUR pool is like. (Actually, I just added -- check and correct it, if you don't mind.)

However, the floc and clarifier in excess can be a problem. There's another possibility that I've just begun discussing with a number of the more technical people on the forum: that the sand filter not only FAILS to filter the algae, but that pushing the dead algae THRU the filter fractures the pieces to the point that they become unfilterable, not only with sand, but also with DE and cartridges. I'll try to update you on this, as we work on a reaching a conclusion and response.