Filter Problems

[Sharkster]

I have an above ground pool with a 1/2 HP pump and filter filled with Zeolite.  The pool clarity is excellent but for some reason I cannot shift some fine dirt from the pool.  After hoovering the dirt, the pool stays clean for a few hours but then the dirt appears in the pool again.  I think the dirt if fine mud or sand particles.  Is there likely a problem with my filter?  It is in its 3rd season with the same Zeolite.

Also, when the pressure builds up on the filter due to debris, I can turn off the pump and then turn it on again and the pressure drops back to what it would be when it has just been backwashed.

[Théière]

Can you vacuum to waste on your filter setup. I would vac the dirt to waste so it doesn't re circulate.

 

[Sharkster]

There is that option, but it takes about 30 minutes to vacuum up the dirt and that would be a lot of water.  If that is the only way, I will give it a try.  Thanks.

[Théière]

That must be a lot of dirt, for 30 minutes vacuuming

[Sharkster]

It is not too much dirt, but you have to move very slowly since it is very fine and is easily washed into the water if you are not careful (meaning you can no longer vacuum it up).

[Janey]

I had that problem with my above ground pool for years and got fed up of spending a fortune on chemicals. So I did what someone recommended on here, dumped the sand filter and pump that came with the pool, bought a new more powerfull one and it,s SO much more easier to clean. The pool hoover wizzes round in a couple of minutes, with the old pump it would take forever to go round the pool once. I think you might have Mustard Algae, that,s what I worked it out to be, bought the products for it and much improved. Mustard Algae is sand like, just comes over in the air/rain etc. But hardly a problem at all now with the new pump/filter.

Janey

[Théière]

It could well be mustard (yellow) aglae but vacuuming to waste is an easy way to rule it out, if it is vacuumed out of the pool and then some more is observed then It is probably a mustard algae attack. It takes a lot more chlorine to erradicate mustard algae than the green so the choc level needs to be higher and held higher with regular chlorine additions until the algae has gone.

[Janey]

Yes sorry Théière, I forgot to say that I do hoover it to waste when I see it. I still get it but I shock the pool as you said, I now use a really concentrated form of Anti Algues, I keep on top of that and the chlorine, maybe adding a bit more than someone else does but it must be working as the water is crystal clear and sparkling.

[Sharkster]

Thanks for the tips.  The rain in my area, Herault is generally very dirty and there is often a sandy residue on my car after rain. 

[Janey]

We get that too in the Gard Sharkster, it,s sand from the Sahara desert.

Janey

[Sharkster]

That is what I thought too.

[Théière]

Well that's good news because mustard algae can be a swine.

It sounds as if you don't have a floor drain which would pretty much take out the problem.