How Much D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth) do I Add?

Adding the right amount of D.E. (Diatomaceous Earth) can be challenging as the measurement guides can vary from bag to bag. Adding too much or too little can effect filter performance and water quality. Note: You DO NOT use D.E. in a Cartridge filter - it will clog it up.

The simplest way to add the correct amount is with a D.E. scoop. I use the DE Ez Scoop (1 Lb) by Aladdin (300). You can find as exact clone of this scoop at Leslie's pool supplies. This takes all the guesswork out of adding D.E. to your pool.

In the video you will see my D.E. amount recommendation but you can also use the one on the Aladdin cup itself which is one scoop per 5 sq. ft. of filter area. I was trained by an old time pool guy who had over 40 years of experience and the measurements I use were passed down to me by him and I have been using the same D.E. measurements for over 15 years now. I have cleaned over 3,000 filters with the majority until recently being D.E. filters (Cartridge filters are becoming more popular and make up a good percentage of the filters I clean now). So you will have good results using either.
The D.E. bag or box also has some other tips like adding a cup of D.E. before a big party. You can do this without harm but I just make sure my D.E. filters opened up and cleaned every six months with occasional backwashing in the Summer after heavy use or when the gauge goes up 10 psi from the clean pressure (example: If the gauge reads 20 psi after cleaning and two months later goes up to 30 psi I will backwash the filter). Anytime the gauge is at 30 psi or over it is time to backwash in most cases (some filters however just run high due to the return line plumbing). But in most cases the pressure gauge is a good way to tell if you need to backwash your filter.

Backwashing tip: If you open up the valve to backwash your filter and nothing but clear water comes out then it is time to take it apart and clean it. That means the D.E. has compacted and turned to a clay like consistency and won't come off the grids in backwash mode.

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[charleshand]

Thank you for sharing your experience and make a short and concise and well edited video. Thank you too for respecting our time and not wasting our time with superfluous and repetitive shots of nothing important.

[SPL]

D.E. works great & is the best filter element out there. I never use the fiber stuff - there is just no need for it. D.E. is environmentally friendly although most cities don't like it going into the street and then the drains out to the Ocean (they will fine you up to $10, 000). It needs to go directly into the sewer. Conspiracy theory: it saves them money as they don't need to charge their filtration as much as they get your used D.E. for free...I hose it off into the grass w/ no ill effects.

[BSHEEP]

Just wanted to tell you that your videos have been a tremendous help to me over the last couple of years. I got tired of paying big money to have guys come out and do very little. I still have some learning to do but when I am in doubt I can usually find what I am looking for here. Thank you for giving your experience out so freely. Semper Fi

[michaelkrug]

Thank you for sharing all of your 'pool how-to' videos. Saves a lot of time and it is very much appreciated.

[SPL]

I grew up in NJ but now live in Southern California so that won't help you much ;). The rule of thumb is that if there is more than two inches of dirt on the bottom the pool needs to be drained (which is rare but sounds like your situation). What type of pool filter do you have and how much stuff is still on the bottom? Also how is your chlorine reading?

[pgluckydog]

I have the sta-rite DE filter and have learned after season 1 of new ownership to stay on the light side of the DE additive.   For the first year I was putting the exact amount in lbs. of recommended and I was having all kinds of issues with pump variable speed pump trying to prime properly and basically the DE filter had too much DE and was working too hard.   Trying to learn and understand the DE filter I took apart and cleaned the filter 3 times last year, the final time for end of season winter storage.   Every time I noticed an absurd amount of sludge and more than adequate coating of the filter.   You expect some of the DE to drop to the bottom inside the filter when water is drained from it, but not the amount I had.  And it is just nasty stuff.  I had to shovel it out of the street this year because where I was cleaning the filter - it didn't wash away and was like concrete this year.  So, now - this year I am doing a couple scoops less and getting great filtration and pump and everything is working as it should.  

[zachhoffman]

I'm new to the pool life, and enjoying it!  As far as the maintenance and care of my pool, i'm finding your videos invaluable!  So, thank you!   Question about DE: if DE is such a carcinogen, do cities regulate where you can backwash?  When I backwashed onto the street the other day I noticed DE residue in the street and was concerned about the kids who play there.  Now maybe there wasn't that much, but I live in Phoenix, and there are almost 2 million pools here.  Doing the math...   would you be concerned?

[heineken]

All filter manufacturers as well as DE suppliers advise dissolving the DE in a pool-water filled bucket prior to adding it to the skimmer. This will prevent clumping and clogging of the grid elements.

[imachefmang]

Alright you wanted to thank you, you're just one of those people that's very easy to listen to. Lol. I got to the back washing portion of this and BAM, you answered my question. I've been dealing with a pool where I think even though I have a new air pump, the guy had been kind of screwing me over that was doing the servicing and he just wore it out too quickly by just not addressing the manifold that he broke and some other things, but anyway, I've been learning how this all works and trying to get it down and it looks as though I have an impeller shaft seal that's leaking and causing some air. Watching you gave me the confidence to not take ppl on their works, alone, and figuring out how it all works. & then repairing it myself! Thanks!

[SPL]

I've heard the same think about Cartridge filters too. I just don't think it works. The grids for a D.E. are made specifically for the D.E. and I don't think it will do anything in the sand filter since the Lateral in the filter just doesn't look like it can be coated with the D.E. I don't see how it will work.

[SPL]

That sounds about right - I think they made two large models a VA- 38 and A VA-52 so eight scoops falls right in the middle of both sizes. The VA-38 IS 38 sq ft and the VA-52 is 52 sq ft is a filter. There was no 45 model...

[SPL]

The only model that requires less is a Quad DE filter. If it as FNS Plus add the amount I show in the video. I have new filters on my route and nothing has changed.

[SPL]

It's the fiberglass filter top. I wear long sleeves and it still get's in my skin. I try not to hug it too much ;)

[SPL]

It shouldn't. I am actually working on a Sand Filter video and one we we check for leaks in by adding D.E. to it. If the Lateral is cracked the D.E. will return to the pool. How much D.E. are we talking about - say for a large sand filter with 300-400 lbs of sand? I would like to try it.

[SPL]

Not sure what the number means - no one to ask as everyone who designed that filter is 6 ft under. From my experience you will be fine with eight scoops. Maybe you want to start to think about replacing that filter with a nice new modern cartridge filter. I bet that Anthony filter will bring about $50 at the scrap metal place ;) And you can sell your grids on Ebay for more $

[DW-tqie]

I found an easy way to reinstall DE filter pads that needs to be shared. I don’t do videos so perhaps you can add this to one of yours. I was one of those who struggled with getting my Hayward filter pads realigned after taking them off the manifold. There was always one or two that would leak DE back into the pool on completion. I thought one or more may have torn but it turned out the filter pads weren’t seated properly to the manifold. I found it by running the pump in the backwash mode (cover off) and seeing water leaking from several of the connections. After disassembling I turned the manifold upside down, started with the short pad and worked clockwise outside to inside making sure all pads were well seated into the manifold and there correct spacers. The hardest part was getting the long bolt back into the manifold hole and it wasn’t that bad. All in all this was a much easier task than working from the normal position and no leaks or DE back into my pool. As a side note, I almost purchased a new filter set at $100 plus.

[SPL]

The Pentair FNS Plus Manual states 6 lbs. of D.E. or 12 1 lbs. coffee cans so it is correct (pg.5 ). Not sure where Leslie's get's their 7.5 lbs. number from. That is about 15 1 lbs. coffee cans... I suggest the Aladdin Scoop as the most accurate way to add D.E. to your filter.

[SPL]

If your theory is correct and 6 lbs = 6 scoops, then if you have a 10 lb bag of D.E. - after taking out 6 scoops you should be able to weigh the bag on a scale and it will be 4 lbs in total weight after the 6 scoops. But that is not the case. Since D.E. is a fluffy powder it actually would take a 2 lbs coffee can to equal 1 actual pound of D.E.. So the 1lb pound Aladdin scoop would be 1/2 lb of D.E in each scoop. After taking 12 scoops out of a 10lb bag it will weigh 4 lbs. Confusing as heck ;)

[AvalonMorley]

Thanks so much for your videos. They're really helping as I try to keep this old pool alive, & fight the green & the mosquitoes. Being forced to learn mostly on my own, as I can't seem to get service folks to call me back. It's busy time f. that sector, I suppose. I want to get good at this stuff, & maybe even transition to a household chemicals regime eventually, but right now, I need guidance (or maybe it's hand-holding), even w. the help of your excellent videos. Anyway, thanks.

[SPL]

Ironically I have an account that was getting the fiberglass pool re-glazed and they wrapped the filter in kitchen plastic wrap to protect it. I left the plastic wrap on the top and it kept me from getting fiberglass shards in my arms when I cleaned it ;)