This is a bit off topic but still in context. Recently I switched to cellulose for my DE filter. I've always had to backwash very frequently in past using when using DE because of too small a filter, 36 sq ft, for the amount of stuff that gets deposited in my pool, although it is almost entirely silt/mud/sand that makes it to the filter. (I'm up-sizing filter very soon).
This may be coincidence, as the puppies aren't in and out of pool as much, and we've had lots of rain so blowing silt is cut way down, but for weeks now I have been dumping the cellulose, 6 scoops, into skimmer all at once, as per instructions on bag, with main drain open too. It would take a long time for the cellulose to make it to the filter and and actually would create a "filter" in the skimmer. If I didn't help it by sniffing some of it around every few minutes it would take a few hours for all of it to make it out of the skimmer. I don't think it was evenly coating the filter, though, as I went way beyond the period where instruction said "filter will have shorter run time cycles for a period after switching to cellulose". Until this last backwash I was having to backwash 2-3 times a week because of very fast increase in psi AND I wasn't seeing better filtration as it seemed that I had a lot more fine particulates in water, most easily seen at night with light on, than before when I was using DE.
This last time I added one scoop, let it totally leave skimmer, add one more, etc,. I've now gone three days with only an increase of 1 psi, running the filter 24 hours all three days. And the water hasn't been this clear in ages.
So, in the case of cellulose, in particular, to get even coating the media has to be allowed to thoroughly mix/blend with water, by what ever measure, before it gets to the filter otherwise it probably won't coat evenly.
I, too, think that with DE the main factor is having the DE thoroughly blended with water prior to entering the filter is the main issue, no matter which way it is achieved. I've used the dump-dry-into-skimmer, with main drain open, for 23 years and never had any issues, other than making sure the pump pot has no debris in it when adding the DE (only had that happen once at very first but learned my lesson). I've maintained exceptionally clear water, even with the vast amounts of silt, with only a few exceptions (out of the ordinary circumstances), for 23 years and have always used the dump-dry-into-skimmer method. Even with my way over-sized pump, my grids last as long as "expected" too.
BTW.... the only "choked" pipe I've ever had was due to small rocks mixed with silt and organic debris, getting into main drain when the drain cover was off (don't ask
), one winter when I had to leave country, abruptly, for a month, in late December, a critical time to keep muck out of pool, and had to shut down pool, not properly closed, in the middle of doing some work on it. Of course I returned to a developing swamp with several feet of leaves, mud, other objects blown in, a couple of dead rats (discovered when I did spring clean up). It took me a couple of years to finally get the semi-blockage cleared, and that whole issue was not related to DE. BTW... my pumping station is below level so there is a great deal of water pressure to station even from the main drain.
I'm no expert, by any means, but I do know
my pool and have done all the maintenance, and most "fixes" on it for decades.
gg=alice
I now remember reading your post about that (and just reread). The Pentair Quad is a pretty new release, I think Spring 09, but not positive. There are other filters with similar design using cartridge and DE, aren't there? Just want to make sure there is some in-field experience with similar designs. In my opinion, I think the price of the Quad 60 is pretty reasonable. The warehouse knocks $75 off the price if you pick it up locally. Of course I'll have to pay taxes, but still less than most other prices plus shipping I've seen on internet.
who have worked under there. And I will wear one of my hard-hats as the decking support is steel, with some L bars in critical places. More people, than I like to report have gashed open their heads under there. Once was enough for me but some people are too hard headed (but not enough to prevent injury) to listen to me. 