Should I change my filter sand?

[BigDave]

Looks like HD does sell Quikrete pool sand although the particle size range (0.85-0.425 mm) exceeds the manufacturer's recommendation for my filter (.45mm - .55mm) at both ends.

[PoolDoc]

Thanks Dave;

@ CaptainHowdy: my bad; I should have checked. I doubt that Quikrete would call it pool sand, and bag something else, so I'm satisfied it *is* pool filter sand.
Time to back up, and go at it again.

Sand filters tend to fail to filter for (2) reasons:

1. Wrong sand (which we've ruled out.)
2. Too little sand, which should be checked.
3. Pump too big for filter, resulting in dirt being pushed THROUGH the filter.

Can you -- or have you already -- verified that the sand is at the proper level in the filter?

Assuming that your answer is "yes!", there are two further steps you can take:

1. Send us the make/model of both pump (not electric motor ON pump) and filter, so we can match them up.
2. Do the DE test. Get a small bag (or large -- it's not that expensive) bag of DE. Put 2 cups of DE filter powder in the skimmer while the pump is on, and the skimmer operating. Check the pool return: if DE shoots back into the pool, your filter is not working properly. If it does NOT, then your filter is working, and the DE will help filter whatever's clouding your pool. However it will also make the filter stop up much more quickly. If you like, you can add more after each backwash, till the water is clear.

[CaptainHowdy]

Thanks guys....I had concern after reading online reviews for that sand, several people had problems. The pump I bought last week (I am still concerned why the old one failed after less than 4 years) It got very hot and only hummed at the end. It's a Milennium 2 HP, 2 speed. I have a 24 foot above ground pool...the filter is a 22 inch milennium ball. I thought about painting it yellow and making it a minion, lol. Yes, in fact, when I put the sand in back in August 2012 I put water at the bottom of the filter, and put in 4 bags of sand....it was filled to the widest point of the filter, not to the top, per the instructions of the pool store. What is a DE test?

[Watermom]

The DE test is what PoolDoc described in step 2 of his post above. It checks to see if your filter is working correctly. If, after adding the DE, you see it shooting out of the return jet, you know that you have a filter that is not working properly.

[CaptainHowdy]

I get that, I just have no bloody idea what DE is, lol.

[Watermom]

DE is Diatomaceous Earth and is dust made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is the filter media that is used in DE filters. Many of us who have sand filters use it to help filter out the really tiny dust that the sand won't catch. And, we also suggest throwing a handful in when there is a question of whether a sand filter is working properly or not. You can buy it at a pool store and maybe at Lowe's or someplace like that.

Adding DE to a Sand Filter

[CaptainHowdy]

Gracias