Trouble Shooting

Review our FAQs below, or for additional product information see Printable Files.

Situation: Water is grey due to Ruby Sand dust

Cause: Water not added to filter during installation or not backwashed properly or long enough

Fix:

  1. Take top off filter
  2. Thoroughly wet the entire bed by using garden hose as a water lance
  3. Wet and fluff up the bed down to the laterals
  4. Take care not to damage the laterals
  5. Close filter
  6. Backwash for two minutes
  7. Return filter to Filter Mode

A return to crystal clear water depends upon several factors. With a high turnover rate pool and the use of clarifiers and frequent vacuuming to waste if the system allows, the pool water can be clear in about two day.

With a moderate turnover rate pool and vacuuming to waste, about five days will be needed for good clarity. The filter will be running full time, and the filter should not be backwashed unless the pressure increases ten pounds. During the first two days there will be little visual improvement in pool clarity. After two days, clarity improvement can be seen in the pool step area.

Situation: Good flow from jets, but water does not clear

Cause: Filter channeling

Fix:

  1. Take top off filter
  2. Thoroughly wet the entire bed by using garden hose as a water lance
  3.  Fluff up the bed down to the laterals
  4. Take care not to damage the laterals.
  5. Close filter
  6.  Backwash for one minute
  7.  Return filter to Filter Mode

When the filter has been turned off for a long time say over the winter, ZeoSand, like sand, can become packed or compressed.

Situation: Green water and pool chemistry is perfect

Cause: Algae

Fix: Shock

This is an algae problem—one of the pool owner’s biggest frustrations. Ruby Sand’s color is permanent and does not wash off, and Ruby Sand does not cause algae.

Your pool professional has the experience to help fix the algae problem. Nearly every pool chemical or sanitizer supplier has a section of their website devoted to killing algae. All of these companies recommend shocking with a high chlorine level high for many hours and with the filter pump running. The Pool Water Chemistry publication by the Department of Environmental Health of North Carolina State University has a good pool chemistry overview and is available in our PRINTABLE FILES section.

Situation: Pool water slow is to clear up

Cause: Poor water circulation

Fix:

  1. Adjust and maintain the chlorine to the high end of the normal level.
  2. Adjust jets to hit all sections of pool

The rate of turbidity removal depends upon the turnover rate (pool volume divided by flow rate through the filter). Since the filtered water exiting the filter mixes with unfiltered water, many turnovers are needed before all of the water has been filtered. With good mixing of the recirculating pool water, about five turnovers are needed to see a dramatic improvement in clarity. Running the pump full time will clear the pool faster.

For the pool water geeks, the turnover rate efficiency and first order kinetics can be used to describe how quickly the turbidity will be removed for a pool with good circulation. In essence, the kinetics tell us that there is no shortcut to having about five turnovers to achieve a substantial improvement in clarity. The often quoted Gage and Bidwell Law of Dilution from 1926 gives a pretty accurate picture of percent of water filtered at higher turnover rates. The first order kinetics model gives a more accurate picture of turnovers versus water filtered for a poll with good circulation.


ZEO Ruby Sand Natural Zeolite Filter Media

TURNOVERS VERSUS WATER FILTERED

TURNOVERS
WATER FILTERED (%)
1
63.21
2
86.46
3
95.02
4
98.17
5
99.33
6
99.75
7
99.91
8
99.97
9
99.99
© ZEO, Inc. Ruby Sand Natural Zeolite Filter Media

For pools with poor water circulation areas, more turnovers will be required for high percentages of water filtered and clear water. The filter efficiency of pools with poor circulation can be dramatically improved by adjusting the jets to better circulate the water in the ‘dead’ areas.