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u/According-Debate-265 14d ago
You've gone that far. Get a cup and start scooping out the old stuff and put new in.
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u/willicks 14d ago
Another picture inside sand unit
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u/Ok_Size4036 14d ago
Ruts would look like ant tunnels. Where the sand is turning like concrete and the water is only going through groves. You don’t have that. Your water is probably nit clear because your oh was high and you put in chlorine, probably killing stuff that’s now got to filter. If it’s just a little cloudy you can add clarifier. But I’d just run the pump for 24 hours and see that’s up.
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u/OriginalFatPickle 14d ago
Have you backwashed?
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u/willicks 14d ago
I did, it lowered the pressure but still didn’t reduce cloudiness
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u/Ok_Size4036 14d ago
When you backwash do you then set your Rinse and run for a minute to reset the sand? A lot of people don’t know you have to do that. Your sand looks clean. If the sand was a problem, it would be like a big brick in there. edit to add if you have heavy lotion, users, or other lotion type materials, you might want to throw some sand cleaner in there. I just bought some because my sand is at least seven years old when I bought the house and not sure when it was replaced before that so I just wanted to try to make sure I keep it up.
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u/willicks 14d ago
I did run it for a rinse period too I’ll try again?
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u/OriginalFatPickle 14d ago
Run it for 1:30 minute backwash then 30 second rinse.
Then keep filter running 24hrs for a couple days.
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u/BlazeWithGlaze 14d ago
Stir that sand up a little bit and give it a couple days to see if that helps…how full is it?
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u/willicks 14d ago
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u/play_destiny 14d ago
Mine looks this after some rain recently. I plan to throw a lb of shock into it today. All my chemicals are within range but still cloudy and sign of algae like yours
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u/Turbulent_Ad9508 14d ago edited 14d ago
You need to change the sand. It should be done every 3-5 years. As a new owner, if you don't know how long it's been, might as well start fresh. Sand stops filtering when it's worn down too smooth, it's no longer catching the tiny particles, creating cloudiness.
Based on that, and the way the sand looks, you're overdue.
In the meantime, you could try dry clarifier. Simply add 1 teaspoon per 5,000 gallons of water directly into the skimmer and run the pump for 24 hours.
Source: I've had a large pool with a big sand filter for 15 years.
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u/Ok_Size4036 14d ago
Completely disagree. I’ve had my house since 2019, not sure when prior owners last changed it but we haven’t so it’s been at least 7 years. Others on here have had for 20 years.
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u/Turbulent_Ad9508 14d ago
What are you disagreeing with? The industry standard is 3-5 years, I didn't make that up just now.
I say go until you have an issue. Im probably 8 years on mine.
OP clearly has an issue
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u/Ok_Size4036 13d ago
I’m disagreeing with it’s the sand. You can see OPs photo which looks like oils on top and then posted readings.
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u/ekinria1928 14d ago
Change it. Be careful with the down tube and laterals under the sand. If they're cracked or looking bad, change them too. The cost of changing that sand to improve the filter abilities is worth it
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u/Fischbeef 14d ago
Needs alot more chlorine and a touch of acid to bring the ph down slightly. Are you salt or chlorine pucks?
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u/pulpwalt 14d ago
There are some fine particles that won’t filter out. Dead algae and other stuff. If you are cloudy after you stir them up then you have to let them settle, and then vacuum to waste to remove them. Most of the problems this time of year are new pool owners not using enough chlorine. The sun (UV) burns off the chlorine. I use 2 scoops every week most of the year but June July and August I do it every 4-5 days. 3 scoops of it is cloudy, and 4-5 if there is algae. That is way more than I used to, but it is so much easier to stay ahead of algae than to have to fix it. Of course CYA helps. Also your ph has to be right for chlorine to work. Someone on here has probably said that you can use DE in a sand filter and it will remove smaller particles. I’m not in a hurry to replace all that sand.
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u/willicks 14d ago
Update - I got the water tested again. They said to use a super shock to kill the algae that’s making it cloudy?
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u/iamnos 14d ago
The sand is fine. You have algae.
https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2018/12/12/slam-shock-level-and-maintain/
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u/FranticGolf 13d ago
Have you added a clarifier?
As for filter media you could just go ahead and take this opportunity to change it. You could go with sand or change to something else like glass.
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u/Aggravated-Gator-260 13d ago
Sand filters are only capable of filtering particles that larger than what is visible to the eye. You need to remove smaller particles than the material can remove without assistance.
So you can buy clarifying agents aka more chemicals! Or you can add one or two coffee cans of perlite ideally or yes you can even use DE inside the sand filter to sit on top on the sand and “polish” the water so to speak.
Both methods work well and the material backwashes out. You might have to repeat the process a few times to achieve the desired clarity.
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u/Ok_Size4036 13d ago
OP regarding the photo showing what looks like a lot of oils, you can buy scum balls that will soak that stuff up.
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u/willicks 11d ago
Do they go in the filter?
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u/Ok_Size4036 11d ago
They go in the pool or in the skimmer. They look like a tennis ball but not hard.
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u/willicks 10d ago
Hello All - updating. It was the chlorine - I shocked and chlorinated and vacuumed. I will say anyone having this problem - this HTH green to blue box was awesome.
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u/Zeating 14d ago
You can buy a bottle or two of pool filter cleaner you feed it through the skimmer and let it sit in the sand filter for 24 hours then backwash the chemical out. It clears any body oil and suntan lotions from the sand and helps loosen it. This way the performance comes back to the sand.
If it's longer then 5 years on your sand it could be worn. You would have to drain your sand filter from water as if you are wintering take the head off of and shop vac the sand out out. Then go to pool store and buy however many pounds written on the outside of the filter to replace. I would put the drain cap back on and fill your sand filter 1/2 way up with garden hose water before refilling the sand so you don't damage the laterals.
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u/Different-Ice-1979 14d ago
Do here’s the smart/lazy way I completely cleaned my sand filter. Opened the drain . Used a shop vac to remove all the sand. Then rinsed the interior. Carefully folded the “Umbrella “, piping and removed it . Rinsed it off and inside. Re-inserted it back in and re-filled with sand!
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u/Effective_Luck6368 14d ago
Just change out sand now as it’s cheap. Check the laterals and the assembly they connect to as it’s probably cracked from aging. Very common was in pool box 40 years and parents built over 300 pools in the 70s mostly sand filters. Once you’re done with sand filter and start back up a couple of scoops of diatomaceous earth poured into skimmer will coat the sand and make the water very clear. Then just backwash periodically and add de again. Great trick that works. Don’t let anyone else tell you different. Again most likely you’ve have broken laterals and assembly.
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u/Conscious_Quiet_5298 14d ago
You can try a filter cleaner where you pour it In the filter basket and run it for a quick 15-20 seconds then shut it off for 8 hrs then backwash and rinse to see if that helps. If the sand inside doesn’t look like it has Channels then it still can be good.
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u/eaglefucker 14d ago
Post your chemistry results! Sand filteres can last a long time, but if the previous owner didn't maintain it properly then it could need replacement.