Pool Sand filter

[DWBOX2000]

My pool has been green and cloudy since I started running the pump two weeks ago. I think I have two things going on, first my pump propeller is slowly chewing itself up. It still is working but the flow seems down.

Now I have not changed the sand in the filter in like 5 years nor opened it up. I know when I back wash, I always lose just a couple spoon fills of sand. Anyhow, the pump runs and the pressure has been at about 5 PSI, was always at 10 until it got to 20 where I would back wash. I definitely getting algae pumping back into pool. Not a ton but enough to make issues.

Do people add sand to filters or just replace all of it? How often is the sand replaced?

These 1st world problems are horrible.

Thanks.

[WPOZZZ]

I add sand as needed

[ckcarr]

Sand is cheap. Didn't do it this year but I pour the old sand out and smooth on my base under the pool (since I take it down every October). Then add new.

I also am using a salt system for the first time this year, fortunate that I have had the equipment for a few years but never opened the box. But since chlorine was unobtainable, going from $19 to $100 for five pounds it was time to try it. Not sure how it will turn out throughout the summer... I hear it's more maintenance free.

All the pool related stuff is sky high in price this year...

[DWBOX2000]

It's not the cost of the sand, it's the labor. Dragging 250lbs of sand around in not something I enjoy doing. Maybe I just add some and try that out.
Thanks.

I switched to chlorine last year. My electrical board fried and the pool guys wanted $1000 for the part. Maybe should have done that. Grew up with Chlorine so I am much more familiar with it. Don't mind the chlorine smell.

[stevej37]

This stuff works great for me. The turtles like sand...but not chlorine.

[red-beard]

No. No algaecide in pools. It causes more problems (metals) than it solves.

If your pump is not working, then you will get low pressure, sand or not. Get a new pump ASAP.

https://www.doheny.com/

Not sure where you are located, but I highly recommend a 2 speed pump or Variable Speed Pump.

#2. Go to https://www.troublefreepool.com/forums/

It is the "Pelican parts" of Pools. They can help you go from Green to Clean. They don't sell anything, it is non-profit and run by pool owners sharing how to run a pool.

[red-beard]

Second non-issue at this point, you should back-wash at 25% over clean. If 10 psi is clean, backwash at 12.5 psi.

[GH85Carrera]

We use a UV light in the flow of the water to sterilize the water and keep our kio pond water clear. We still get surface alga that the fish and the zillion tadpoles are munching on. The fish eat the tadpoles and get fat.

I don't know if UV lights are useful for a pool or not. It works great on our pond.

[DWBOX2000]

So it sounds like I have a couple things going on. I need sand and more importantly a new pump. I'll work on this tomorrow.

My biggest per peeve with the pool is my wife insists on this elephant cover. She is afraid my 19 and 22 year olds will fall in. Anyhow, crap gets underneath it over the course of the winter and I swear the water gets green before I even take it off. My friends that go old school tarp and bubble remove to crystal clear water (or close to).

I'll figure it out, I always do. Thanks all.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

We use a UV light in the flow of the water to sterilize the water and keep our kio pond water clear. We still get surface alga that the fish and the zillion tadpoles are munching on. The fish eat the tadpoles and get fat.

I don't know if UV lights are useful for a pool or not. It works great on our pond.

No. You just need chlorine, stabilizer and some acid for adjustment. And generally, nothing else.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

I'll figure it out, I always do. Thanks all.

Go to Troublefreepools

You will not regret it...

And I look "familiar" there...

[MAS956]

To add to the above, invest in a water test kit - either Taylor or the test kits they sell on troublefreepools. Don't rely on test strips and avoid the "free" testing service from the likes of Leslie's, etc. - anything BUT free or accurate, for that matter. Learn your pool water chemistry and keep your water properly balanced. No more green pool.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

No. No algaecide in pools. It causes more problems (metals) than it solves.

I was never able to get rid of green water without algaecide. I use it regularly. I do have a sacrificial anode in the system.
But I have an above ground pool that is essentially in storage 7 months out of the year.

[Bill Douglas]

I had a green slimy water problem for years in my pond until I used https://apifishcare.com/product/pond-zyme-sludge-destroyer

For me; it was the only thing that worked.

[red-beard]

https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2018/12/12/slam-shock-level-and-maintain/

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I was never able to get rid of green water without algaecide. I use it regularly. I do have a sacrificial anode in the system.
But I have an above ground pool that is essentially in storage 7 months out of the year.

I had a mustard algae issue for years. It turned out I had stabilizer lock from using the devils pool candy aka 3 inch pool tablets. Maybe for the northern pools that are half drained every year and only run a few month, they MIGHT work. But the best way to chlorinate a pool is liquid chlorine.

I finally switched to TFP method last year after getting my CYA level right. Haven't had an issue. After the 4 hottest months, I installed a Salt Water Chlorine Generator. I was stupid for not doing that when I installed the pool, 14 years ago.

One of my friends in upstate NY just installed an AGP. I walked her through getting a SWG and a variable speed pump to save electricity. Once they get everything dialed in, they will only need to adjust pH once a week.

On a Green Pool, SLAM. Shock Level and maintain. I see people turn swamps into crystal clear water.

Here is one of the adventures

https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/first-test-results-help-with-raising-cya.212055/

[WPOZZZ]

Wow! That is an incredible transformation! I had crystal clear water in my ponds for decades. Then most of my koi died and the ducks have been living in the ponds, pooping all over the place. My filter takes about 600 lbs of large grain roofing sand. I used to buy them in the 100 lb bags, but they became harder to handle as I got older. So, I have been using pea gravel in 50 lb bags. My water is green since my koi all died. One day I'll get motivated to get it nice and clear again.

What I do with the sand is use a stopper valve at the end of the hose. Open it up and use the pressure to break down the gravel clumps. With all the algae and the fish and duck crap, it gets nasty in the filter. I get into there up to my shoulders and it cleans out the gravel pretty good. Backwash and go through all the cycles before doing it again. That water is pretty black/brown coming out of the drain pipe.

[LJ851]

Originally Posted by red-beard

#2. Go to https://www.troublefreepool.com/forums/

It is the "Pelican parts" of Pools. They can help you go from Green to Clean. They don't sell anything, it is non-profit and run by pool owners sharing how to run a pool.

Thanks for this red-beard, I’ve struggled a bit with algae the last few years and the local pool store I use isn’t a lot of help. I’ve joined with the same user name over there.

[fred cook]

About 7 or 8 years ago, I changed my pool from using chlorine tablets to salt. Best thing I ever did for the pool. It makes for much easier pool maintenance. With a sand filter, my pool store recommends changing the sand every 5-6 years. Later, when I updated by pool cleaner hardware, I replaced the main pump also. This spring, I had just a hint of green (algae) that adding a couple of bags of shock took care of. The biggest ongoing problem we have with our pool is that we live in a farming community and there is a lot of dust in the air that seems to find it's way into the pool. Our pool is about 20 years old now and needs to have a fresh coat of cool deck applied. Oh, well, it's only money!

[cabmandone]

RB's representin! Any pool owner doing their own pool maintenance should know that site. If you become a member, make sure you get the recommended test kit. You'll find pretty quickly that "I got my numbers from the pool store" is a frowned upon sentence. You'll also find that folks aren't found of tossing a whole bunch of stuff in their pools that most pool stores push. "BBB method" Read it, Learn it, Live it. I've never opened my pool to a green mess... because I close my pool the way TFP recommends closing a pool and it's covered all winter long.