wrote:

now you need a flocauting(?) addtive also called clarifier) ....causes
little particles to attach to each other & make big particles that the
filter can grab.

DE Filter Questions

I think I need Clarifier...? I have Triton Nautilus DE Filter. When i
"recharged" it by pouring DE into skimmer I saw cloudy water being
pumped back into pool for a few minutes then it stopped. Is it normal
to see clouds jetting from inlets while adding DE into the skimmer?

The water is clear and chemicals all balanced. I can see the bottom of
the deep end.

So I decided to vaccuum and again I see clouds pumping into pool as if
not filtering these particles.

Next I open up the filter because I was convinced something wasn't
right. I gently hosed off the elements and checked them for holes or


rips. They check out fine. So I then made sure that each element was
seated and put it all back together.

Once again I mix up 6 coffee cans full of DE into a pail, add water to
make a slurry and poured it into the skimmer. And again I see clouds
begin jetting from the inlets but they stop after a minute.

Hours later the pool is again clear and I can see the bottom but the
particles from the clouds have accumulated on the bottom.

Will Clarifier clump these particles into size that will catch them in
the filter?

I am afraaid that if I vaccuum they will just circulate back into the
pool like an endless cycle.

Any and all DE Filter owners your comments are welcome!!! Please Help!


SInce you question is about a DE filter it would be best to start
another thread rather than to piggy-back this one.

I do not currently own a home wil a pool or a Spa (yahoo!) but I have
YEARS of experience owning / working them.


First of all, let me say, you are doing all the right things.

The mesh size of the nylon fabric on the filter grids will allow some
DE to pass until the DE builds up on the grids to form the filtering
layer

take a look at http://www.poolandspa.com/page799.htm

typically clarifiers / flocculating agents are not needed in DE systems
(we never used them). Spas with cartirdge filters are anotehr story,
used them all the time to good effect.


When a DE filter is recharged correctly & settles down, you will get no
recirculating particles upon vacuuming.

Cloudy water from the return lines means particles getting thru the
filter; (damaged mesh, hole, seam failure, leak at junction with
filter tree, ???)

but you looked for that, so?????

could also be poor DE distribtuon over the filter grids, but you're
doing it correctly by premixing the DE.

we used to cheat & just dump it in the skimmer & depend on the pump to
mix it

we gave the filter a couple turns to distribute the DE & everything was
fine

some how stuff is getting by your filter & IMO a clarifier is not the
answer; you've got some sort of internal leak path.

let us know how it all works out

cheers
Bob