I run the filter, it clogs up in less than six hours, I backwash, put
more DE into the filter...repeat...repeat...

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...

Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?

Bill

"Bill" wrote in message news
I run the filter, it clogs up in less than six hours, I backwash, put
more DE into the filter...repeat...repeat...

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...

Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?

If there's that much algae in the pool, the solution is to
shock it with chlorine and an algaecide, wait a few days
for all the crud to settle, then do a "vacuum to waste"
cleaning (which doesn't go through your filter). Many
pool service companies offer this as a one-time service.

On Sun, 22 May 2005 18:35:08 GMT, "Rick" wrote:

"Bill" wrote in message news
I run the filter, it clogs up in less than six hours, I backwash, put
more DE into the filter...repeat...repeat...

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...

Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?

If there's that much algae in the pool, the solution is to
shock it with chlorine and an algaecide, wait a few days
for all the crud to settle, then do a "vacuum to waste"
cleaning (which doesn't go through your filter). Many
pool service companies offer this as a one-time service.

============================
My thoughts exactly.... My pool is between 30 and 40 years old...and I
have only used sand as a filtering media ..but reducing the amount of
DE only decreases the filters efficiency... you can accomplish that by
just turning the filter to re circulate...and bypassing the filter
media entirely..

And to be honest... Algae is not normally large enough to clog a
filter within hours ... I do not even think algae can even be
filtered... particle size is pretty small...

BUT old nospam hit it on the head... shock the pool ... I mean shock
the sucker...two or even 3 evenings in a row IF needed... then the
following morning shut the filter down..let it settle for a day...and
vacuum to waste ...

Bob Griffiths

Use a clarifier (flocculant) also. Causes the smaller particles to clump
together into bigger particles and settle out faster.

"Bob G." wrote in message
...
On Sun, 22 May 2005 18:35:08 GMT, "Rick" wrote:

"Bill" wrote in message
news
I run the filter, it clogs up in less than six hours, I backwash, put
more DE into the filter...repeat...repeat...

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...

Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?

If there's that much algae in the pool, the solution is to
shock it with chlorine and an algaecide, wait a few days
for all the crud to settle, then do a "vacuum to waste"
cleaning (which doesn't go through your filter). Many
pool service companies offer this as a one-time service.

============================
My thoughts exactly.... My pool is between 30 and 40 years old...and I
have only used sand as a filtering media ..but reducing the amount of
DE only decreases the filters efficiency... you can accomplish that by
just turning the filter to re circulate...and bypassing the filter
media entirely..

And to be honest... Algae is not normally large enough to clog a
filter within hours ... I do not even think algae can even be
filtered... particle size is pretty small...

BUT old nospam hit it on the head... shock the pool ... I mean shock
the sucker...two or even 3 evenings in a row IF needed... then the
following morning shut the filter down..let it settle for a day...and
vacuum to waste ...

Bob Griffiths

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I
only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer
before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...
=== That's because it's not filtering as well. A high
concentration of algae shouldn't depend on the filter
to clear it, anyway.


Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in
the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt
the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water
cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?
=== Well, if it's a Hayward, which I have and I think
you mentioned, check out the paperwork: Specifically
you should NEVER run without earth for more than a
minute or two. RTFM.


If there's that much algae in the pool, the solution
is to
shock it with chlorine and an algaecide, wait a few
days
for all the crud to settle, then do a "vacuum to
waste"
cleaning (which doesn't go through your filter).
Many
pool service companies offer this as a one-time
service.

=== And that is exactly the way to do it. Repeat as
needed, and tend DAILY, at least once, possibly twice a
day, until the algae clears.


============================
My thoughts exactly.... My pool is between 30 and 40
years old...and I
have only used sand as a filtering media ..but
reducing the amount of
DE only decreases the filters efficiency... you can
accomplish that by
just turning the filter to re circulate...and
bypassing the filter
media entirely..

And to be honest... Algae is not normally large
enough to clog a
filter within hours ... I do not even think algae can
even be
filtered... particle size is pretty small...
=== YES, algae CAN plug a filter "within hours". Most
of the time, when first opening our pool each year, we
start the pump, shock, and vacuum. Usually before the
first hour is over the pressure has begun to rise, and
it's tiem to bump it before two hours are up. Second
time takes about 5 hours, and after that it's several
days, then it goes to weekly or sometimes two weeks,
depending on the weather and use it gets. Once in a
great while we'll get a midsummer algae explosion,
where we repeat that process, and we're on our way
again.
The "filter" itself isn't what filters the water.
It's the DE ON the filter surface that filters the
water. DE's advantage, in fact, over sand, is that it
will catch more more algae.
Using NO earth in a filter designed for it, will
collect minerals etc. on the filter itself, effectively
blocking off the holes until it will no longer let
water through. And if you turn the filter off
periodically, as many tend to do, those holes will plug
up almost overnight. Then you're out buying new
fingers, pleats, sheets, whatever your media are
called.

BUT old nospam hit it on the head... shock the pool
... I mean shock
the sucker...two or even 3 evenings in a row IF
needed... then the
following morning shut the filter down..let it settle
for a day...and
vacuum to waste ...

Bob Griffiths
=== It's not a good idea to shock three times in a
row. IF you do it right, if two won't handle it, there
are likely other problems with the water and/or the
filter system.
Too much shock all at once can turn the ph index
upside down, and it's a devil to get straightened back
out! You'll reach a point where adding more acid or
ash, whatever form you buy them in, the ph will go the
wrong way on you. That's an excellent indication of an
over-shocked pool. Chlorine stabilizers help immensely
too, if you're using chlorine. I never had much
satisfaction from bromides, et al.

Lots of info on the net about this stuff; just google
for it. Lots more there than I've mentioned and much
more experience than I have.

Pop

"Pop" wrote in message ...

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I
only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer
before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...
=== That's because it's not filtering as well. A high
concentration of algae shouldn't depend on the filter
to clear it, anyway.


Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in
the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt
the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water
cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?
=== Well, if it's a Hayward, which I have and I think
you mentioned, check out the paperwork: Specifically
you should NEVER run without earth for more than a
minute or two. RTFM.

I heard from my pool cleaner friend and he gave the
following steps:

1. Shock the pool with chlorine (1 gal. for every 10,000
gallons of water, PLUS 1 gal). So for a 30,000 gal. pool
add a total of 4 gallons. Pour it around the edge of the
entire pool so it's well distributed.

2. While running the filter continuously, brush pool walls
and floor with a stiff 18" brush. This will get the algae
into suspension so the chlorine can kill it.

3. 24 hours later, vacuum to waste the bottom of pool
to remove dead algae and debris.

4. Next day, take apart filter and clean grids thoroughly.
Add new DE to skimmer to recoat grids. If filter grids
are shot, DE will simply come back into the pool when
it's added. So add just a small amount of DE initially to
be sure it holds.

5. Adjust acid to adjust PH if necessary.

On Sun, 22 May 2005 17:31:32 GMT, Bill
wrote:

I run the filter, it clogs up in less than six hours, I backwash, put
more DE into the filter...repeat...repeat...

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...

Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?

Bill


Thanks for all the advice guys! It's cleared enough that I can see
through the algae filled water to the bottom in the shallow end now!
It seems that with 25% percent of the recommended DE applied to my
filter I can run about 24 hours and still feel a little water pressure
coming out the return line into my pool.

I know one thing for sure...next fall I will get a new cover to go
over my nice clean pool water and I won't put that leaf net over it
all winter again!

Regards,
Bill

On Sun, 22 May 2005 17:31:32 GMT, Bill
wrote:

I run the filter, it clogs up in less than six hours, I backwash, put
more DE into the filter...repeat...repeat...

I have found that with my Hayward DE filter, if I only put 25% of the
recommended DE into the filter it runs much longer before it becomes
clogged indicating it's time to backwash...

Question: Should I run the filter without any DE in the filter until I
get all the Algae out of the water? Will it hurt the filter to run it
without DE in it? How do I get the pool water cleaned up without
backwashing four times a day?

Bill

Well...I found out why I was having to backwash so often! It seems the
cup I dip the diatomacious earth (DE) with holds one pound. The wife
wrote a "6" on the cup with a magic marker...when I read the number on
the cup it looked like a "9" to me...so I have been putting 50% too
much DE in my filter every time I backwash!

The Hayward owner's manual says 6 pounds of DE...I should read that
thing more often...

Bill