I have an above ground pool (24' round) with a Polaris 65 cleaner.
Pool looks great and water is crystal clear. However, every time I
"unhook" the polaris from the pool wall outlet, there come a great
"brown" cloud. This has been doing this all summer.

I have a sand filter and thought it may be broken internally, but it
is only 1 year old and does filter the pool correctly. I have tried
backwashing for 5 minutes past clear and then rinsing 5 minutes past
clear. It doesn't seem to make a difference. Once backwashing and
rinsing are done, I unhook the polaris and bingo....here comes the
cloud.

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae". No help. Looks like the same amount to me.

It seems that the polaris is somehow creating a stagnant water area in
the top of my filter valving and it doesn't shoot out even though the
polaris seems to be running strong. What would cause the brown cloud
to not come through the polaris. It only comes out when unhooked. It
is just annoying to have a "sparkling" pool and then see a huge cloud
shot into the center of it.

writes:

I have an above ground pool (24' round) with a Polaris 65 cleaner.
Pool looks great and water is crystal clear. However, every time I
"unhook" the polaris from the pool wall outlet, there come a great
"brown" cloud. This has been doing this all summer.

I have a sand filter and thought it may be broken internally, but it
is only 1 year old and does filter the pool correctly. I have tried
backwashing for 5 minutes past clear and then rinsing 5 minutes past
clear. It doesn't seem to make a difference. Once backwashing and
rinsing are done, I unhook the polaris and bingo....here comes the
cloud.

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae". No help. Looks like the same amount to me.

It seems that the polaris is somehow creating a stagnant water area in
the top of my filter valving and it doesn't shoot out even though the
polaris seems to be running strong. What would cause the brown cloud
to not come through the polaris. It only comes out when unhooked. It
is just annoying to have a "sparkling" pool and then see a huge cloud
shot into the center of it.

Not sure but are you emptying the basket at the pump?
After vacuuming, leave everything attached, turn off the pump,
empty the basket of the stuff the cleaner picked up then
reattach everything and turn the filter back on.

A brown cloud coming out of the filter is usually a sign
the filter hasn't been back washed. Shouldn't really
happen with a clean pool.

I stopped using the pool cleaner years ago, more trouble than
its worth.

On Oct 6, 7:11 pm, Dan Espen wrote:
writes:
I have an above ground pool (24' round) with a Polaris 65 cleaner.
Pool looks great and water is crystal clear. However, every time I
"unhook" the polaris from the pool wall outlet, there come a great
"brown" cloud. This has been doing this all summer.

I have a sand filter and thought it may be broken internally, but it
is only 1 year old and does filter the pool correctly. I have tried
backwashing for 5 minutes past clear and then rinsing 5 minutes past
clear. It doesn't seem to make a difference. Once backwashing and
rinsing are done, I unhook the polaris and bingo....here comes the
cloud.

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae". No help. Looks like the same amount to me.

It seems that the polaris is somehow creating a stagnant water area in
the top of my filter valving and it doesn't shoot out even though the
polaris seems to be running strong. What would cause the brown cloud
to not come through the polaris. It only comes out when unhooked. It
is just annoying to have a "sparkling" pool and then see a huge cloud
shot into the center of it.

Not sure but are you emptying the basket at the pump?
After vacuuming, leave everything attached, turn off the pump,
empty the basket of the stuff the cleaner picked up then
reattach everything and turn the filter back on.

A brown cloud coming out of the filter is usually a sign
the filter hasn't been back washed. Shouldn't really
happen with a clean pool.

I stopped using the pool cleaner years ago, more trouble than
its worth.



Yes. Everything is cleaned at one time. Something really weird must
be going on. First I use polaris, then clean baskets, back wash,
rinse until clear. Then decide to unhook polaris and this huge cloud
comes out. Its like this stuff is so small that even the DE powder
doesn't catch it. But for some reason doesn't leave when backwashing
and rinsing....... Also the cloud won't come UNTIL the polaris is
unhooked. It must be some kind of pressure problem that isn't
allowing the dirt/algae to come out until it is unhooked. Could the
sand filter somehow be "tunnelled"?? Would this cause something?

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae".

If your sand filter is broken, sand will trickle out and collect in the
strainer in the Polaris booster line where you disconnect. Water will
still flow through the line past the sand (like it does in the filter), but
disconnecting will flush out the sand into the pool. This "little sand
filter" will also trap dirt. This would be consistent with your "brown
cloud" description; you're sort of "backwashing" (flushing) this dirty
little sand filter into your pool. Adding DE to the (regular) sand filter
will not stop this sand leakage, as it is happening at the bottom, not the
top, of the sand filter.

You could collect the "brown cloud" into a garbage bag and decant it for
sand, to diagnose a sand leak. Or empty your sand filter and inspect the
strainers.

Richard J Kinch writes:

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae".

If your sand filter is broken,

Forgot to comment about the DE in the sand filter.
Never done that and I'm pretty sure that's a bad idea.

Don't know if it would cause the problem you see.

wrote in message
ps.com...
I have an above ground pool (24' round) with a Polaris 65 cleaner.
Pool looks great and water is crystal clear. However, every time I
"unhook" the polaris from the pool wall outlet, there come a great
"brown" cloud. This has been doing this all summer.

I have a sand filter and thought it may be broken internally, but it
is only 1 year old and does filter the pool correctly. I have tried
backwashing for 5 minutes past clear and then rinsing 5 minutes past
clear. It doesn't seem to make a difference. Once backwashing and
rinsing are done, I unhook the polaris and bingo....here comes the
cloud.

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae". No help. Looks like the same amount to me.

It seems that the polaris is somehow creating a stagnant water area in
the top of my filter valving and it doesn't shoot out even though the
polaris seems to be running strong. What would cause the brown cloud
to not come through the polaris. It only comes out when unhooked. It
is just annoying to have a "sparkling" pool and then see a huge cloud
shot into the center of it.


Could you just disconnect the thing while you are filtering to waste. It sounds
like the cleaner is restricting the water flow.

Bob

On Oct 9, 6:21 pm, "Bob F" wrote:
wrote in message

ps.com...



I have an above groundpool(24' round) with aPolaris65 cleaner.
Poollooks great and water is crystal clear. However, every time I
"unhook" thepolarisfrom thepoolwall outlet, there come a great
"brown" cloud. This has been doing this all summer.

I have a sand filter and thought it may be broken internally, but it
is only 1 year old and does filter thepoolcorrectly. I have tried
backwashing for 5 minutes past clear and then rinsing 5 minutes past
clear. It doesn't seem to make a difference. Once backwashing and
rinsing are done, I unhook thepolarisand bingo....here comes the
cloud.

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae". No help. Looks like the same amount to me.

It seems that thepolarisis somehow creating a stagnant water area in
the top of my filter valving and it doesn't shoot out even though the
polarisseems to be running strong. What would cause the brown cloud
to not come through thepolaris. It only comes out when unhooked. It
is just annoying to have a "sparkling"pooland then see a huge cloud
shot into the center of it.

Could you just disconnect the thing while you are filtering to waste. It sounds
like the cleaner is restricting the water flow.

Bob

Just took the filter apart and dumped the sand. The Sand was only 2
years old and seems to still have a lot of sharp edges. However, I
did notice alot of greenish "clumps" of what I expect to be body oils
or algae. It has a pasty consistency and had some brush bristles in
them. Is it normal for these clumps to be there after only 2 years
(about 7 months total use here in Missouri). Or is this a sign that
my pump/filter is under or oversized since not being able to backwash
these out? thanks for all the help.

writes:

On Oct 9, 6:21 pm, "Bob F" wrote:
wrote in message

ps.com...



I have an above groundpool(24' round) with aPolaris65 cleaner.
Poollooks great and water is crystal clear. However, every time I
"unhook" thepolarisfrom thepoolwall outlet, there come a great
"brown" cloud. This has been doing this all summer.

I have a sand filter and thought it may be broken internally, but it
is only 1 year old and does filter thepoolcorrectly. I have tried
backwashing for 5 minutes past clear and then rinsing 5 minutes past
clear. It doesn't seem to make a difference. Once backwashing and
rinsing are done, I unhook thepolarisand bingo....here comes the
cloud.

I even added DE powder to my sand filter to see if it was just missing
some "algae". No help. Looks like the same amount to me.

It seems that thepolarisis somehow creating a stagnant water area in
the top of my filter valving and it doesn't shoot out even though the
polarisseems to be running strong. What would cause the brown cloud
to not come through thepolaris. It only comes out when unhooked. It
is just annoying to have a "sparkling"pooland then see a huge cloud
shot into the center of it.

Could you just disconnect the thing while you are filtering to waste. It sounds
like the cleaner is restricting the water flow.

Bob

Just took the filter apart and dumped the sand. The Sand was only 2
years old and seems to still have a lot of sharp edges. However, I
did notice alot of greenish "clumps" of what I expect to be body oils
or algae. It has a pasty consistency and had some brush bristles in
them. Is it normal for these clumps to be there after only 2 years
(about 7 months total use here in Missouri). Or is this a sign that
my pump/filter is under or oversized since not being able to backwash
these out? thanks for all the help.

Those clumps are normal and you will see them after one year.
I think they are oils as you suggest. They collect at the top and
ideally will get backflushed but as you see some remain.

I usually open the filter in the spring, let the sand dry and scoop
them out. I don't think they do any harm if you leave them.