Has anyone tried FiberClear instead of DE for their pool filter?
This is a cellulose based product that is supposed to filter better than DE. I picked up a bag to try. Mainly I was curious to see if it did anything to eliminate the fine particles that always settle on my white steps. I was curious if it was some DE that gets through the filter. So, I thought I'd see what happens with this stuff.
So far, not impressed. First, when you feed it into the skimmer, it doesn't go in nearly as easily as DE. It hangs around in the basket strainer longer before it goes down. So, I get it all in, and then about
1/2 hour later, find out the pressure has dropped to near zero. The basket strainer on the pump was plugged up with the fiber stuff. To be fair, the pool is just opened and there was also a lot of tree pollen stuff that was in the basket that helped trap this stuff. Looks like 90% of it made it into the filter.Then after another hour or so, noticed the Polaris was kaput. The little strainer on it's water line was plugged with the fiber stuff. After another hour, pressure on the pump is down near zero, pump basket strainer clogged again. This time mostly with tree pollen stuff, but also some more of the fiber stuff. Which is odd, because it means there must have been some in the other skimmers, pipes, somewhere that made it to the pump a second time.
Anyway, I think I know enough not to buy this stuff anymore. I think it's also more expensive, though I haven't done the math. The bag costs more, but you also put in less when backwashing. But I was wondering if anyone else has tried it and also just a FYI as to my experience.