What a nightmare this must have been!
I didn't know about starting a newly refilled sand filter in backwash mode. I, too, learned from your mistake. It's good that the clarifier worked and you have your nice clear water back.
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
What a nightmare this must have been!
I didn't know about starting a newly refilled sand filter in backwash mode. I, too, learned from your mistake. It's good that the clarifier worked and you have your nice clear water back.
Oval 12.5K gal AGP; Hayward 19" sand filter; Pentair Dyn 1 HP 2sp pump on timer
[URL="http://www.ellerbach.com/Pool/"]My Pool Pages[/URL]
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
Chlorine is great at clearing up a pool of organic debris including dead algae, but some types of chemicals (or particles like fine sand) don't get oxidized well from chlorine and are better dealt with by using a clarifier or flocculant. If you go a week with shock levels of chlorine with little visible improvement and very little drop in chlorine overnight, then it's usually a sign that chlorine isn't going to work to clear the pool.
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
Dont feel bad!
Had my liner installed, plumbed the filter up myself. Even backwashed the fresh sand like you're supposed to.
Fired up the filter and let it go 24/7 for a few days, yet the water looked like yours.....fine floating particles that werent algae, more like sand. I couldnt figure it out for the life of me.
Standing next to the pump/filter one day, I realized.....I had plumbed the multiport backwards!! Talk about a "DUH" moment. Re-plumbed it correctly, and just like you the stuff still wouldnt filter out.
Threw in some clarifier before leaving for work one day. Came home after work and the water was crystal clear. I hate using floc/clarifier, but Im also impatient so sometimes Ill give in and use it to help clear up the pool faster (like this years opening). $9.00 for enough for 2 uses, I guess thats not really getting pool stored is it?
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
No, I don't consider that pool-stored!
Janet
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
You can use Polyquat as your floc as well. It's more expensive but it helps prevent algae starting if your chlorine level drops--that's its main job.
Carl
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
A minor clarification...
PolyQuat is not only an algaecide, but is also a clarifier and was initially sold as such until the manufacturer figured out it was also a good algaecide and more profitable sold as such. It is a polymer with a net positive charge so attracts particles with a negative charge (including algae cells) and can consolidate and get caught in the filter which can then get cleaned or backwashed.
It isn't technically a flocculant which is usually something that consolidates into much larger and heavier particles that settle to the bottom of the pool if you turn off the pump and then need to vacuum to waste.
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
I always defer to Richard in these matters, but you'll notice that it DOES help clump particles so the filter can trap them--I think this is BETTER than having them fall to the floor of the pool.
And, BTW, I've never used or needed a flocculent in this pool going on 8 years. I did use it once in my old pool, a little Intex, and only because I had messed up by following pool store instructions!
Carl
Re: Ok, my lesson learned the hard way.......
Learn something new everyday!Originally Posted by chem geek
I had polyquat just sitting in my pool chem cabinet, would have saved me the drive to get floc.
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