Why have a pool filter?

[crashz]

Eddie - I'd keep the filters if you could. Or downsize them to reduce the footprint. For all of the reasons above, but also to keep the water clear with a minimum amount of chemicals. It will work with the chemicals that you use and the combo should reduce what you need compared to without the filter.

I run a diatomaceous earth (DE) filter in our in-ground pool and it significantly reduces cloudiness and acts as a "polish". My parents had cartridge filters and relatives have had sand filters and all worked well to keep the water clean, but I've never seen anything like a DE filter. Right now, my pool looks like 30K gallons of spring water.

But I had a learning curve with this thing. First year we made a lot of mistakes. First of which, I thought the DE filter sections were simple filters by themselves. So when we opened (the pool was closed for years) we vacuumed, removed the soilds, and shocked it. I ran that pump system for a week, dumped tons of chemical in and could not get it to clear. The water looked like green tea. So gross. Got some education, DE, and immediately it cleared within 8-10 hours.

 

[RalphVa]

If you use one of the perforated "safety" covers for your pool and all sorts of fine gook accumulates over the late fall, winter and early spring, you'll understand what a filter does when I performs a miracle and clears all that crap up. Well, first, you vacuum the stuff off the bottom on waste discharge to get the worst stuff. Then in 3 or 4 days, the water can be crystal clear, particularly if you either use a clarifier (makes the stuff float so it collects in the skimmer) or a flocculent (makes the stuff sink and accumulate so you can vacuum it up). Been doing this for 20 years here in Va.

On our NJ pool that we had for 20 years (it's still there according to Google Earth now 50 years later), we'd use an impervious cover and could have it swimmable in the same day we removed the cover because no crud got accumulated. Then the sand filter kept new stuff out.

Ralph

 

[txdon]

This was on the Austin news today as the water becomes warmer: "Dogs can become sick, and possibly die, after ingesting the algae or licking the algae on their fur. Symptoms include: . . . ."
Toxic algae found at Red Bud Isle, Festival Beach | kvue.com

 

[bunyip]

Haven't had a pool for about 20 years now but I recall being told that ideally you should turn over the water 2-3 times a day, our pool was 70,000 litres and we ran a 1.5hp pump fpr 8 hours a day during the summer, chlorine with stabilisers and salt, backwashed once a week or more if we had a big crowd in, our record was 30 o0ne day and the amount of hair in the skimmer was unbelievable, we also had a 'Kreepy Krawly' auto cleaner that found it's way around the floor and walls and did a good job of cleaning up bits that settled like dust and sand etc, replaced the sand at 5 years just as a precaution but could probably just have topped it up a bit but it was not expensive.
Never had a cartridge filter so cannot comment on those.

 

[kenmac]

I use to have an inground pool ..30,000 gallons of water 2 HP pump and motor.Had a pretty large sand filter.
I always used chlorine to keep my water stable.
As has been said, the sand filter traps all those body fluids, sunscreen oils, etc, the skimmer can't even think about catching

Since moving to the farm and selling the city home. I have a 30' round pool. It has a smaller pump and smaller sand filter.
This sand filter still traps the finer things.
All you have to do is back wash and you'll see in the site glass all the gunk the skimmer basket misses

 

[buickanddeere]

Chlorine does not work if there are particles of organic matter in the water .

 

[riptides]

Chlorine does not work if there are particles of organic matter in the water .

How so? Chlorine breaks down organics. That's why they recommend super chlorination or shock treatments.

 

[MossRoad]

Chlorine does not work if there are particles of organic matter in the water .

?????

 

[Industrial Toys]

As for the filter as it relates to my hot tub which at this time of year we keep cool to go for a mid day soak and debriefing session. It's comforting to know something is catching all that skin, hair and other bits and pieces that human beings tend to leave behind. It can be downrght disgusting when I wash it out periodically.

I noticed the eater turning cloudy last weekend and have to consult my notes on what to do. Generally just use bromine. At first I concerned myself with all the chemicals, and constant testing but found it wasn't really necessary. If the meat stays on the bones, tht's all that matters.

 

[dodge man]

You want the chlorine to keep the water germ free so to speak. It will cause organic matter to settle out of the water but that uses up the chlorine so to speak. The filter will catch a lot of this stuff and allow the chlorine to do its job.

One thing you are fighting with a pool is that it acts like a clarifier. If you have been to a water or wastewater treatment plant they have clarifiers. This is usually round and just slows the water down and allows solids to settle out, just like a pool. That is why an intake on the bottom of a pool helps so much, to pull anything settling out into the filter. It is also the reason you need vacuum a pool, to catch the stuff on the bottom. No filter and this stuff just keeps recirculating.