bribri wrote:I think he probably meant phosphates rather then nitrates, but maybe not.
Also, i think the fiber clear and perlite are different products. From what I have read, fiber clear is cellulose, and perlite is silica volcanic rock. So mixing perlite with water is required, but not fiber clear.
Also, seems a lot of people are having problems with clogging, but commented they added products specifically stated to not add. algicides, water clarifiers and phosphate removers all work by basically congeilling (sp?) the particles into a mass that DE can filter. This "goo" will clog the fiber clear completely, as it is a much finer filter than DE.
I also think you should start with half the recommend amount, and gradually add a bit more until you need to backwash. And the scoop size for fiberclear is not the same size as usually used for DE. So that may be some of the problem.
Did I say perlite? I meant aquaperl which is our brand. Algaecides do not floc particles together, most are made primarily of soap, and just kill the algae. Phosphate removers will drastically raise the pressure inside a filter, however, that is why they specifically instruct you to backwash PRIOR to adding it so there is no dirt particles to restrict the water flow. Aquaperl & Fiber clear do require some sort of mixing, whether it be from pre-mixing in a bucket, or turning your skimmer & main drain or vac port on 50-50%, if this is not done, it will clump resulting in uneven distribution and further problems. Regarding amounts, the general rule is if you added 4 scoops of D.E., you would add 2 scoops of the other (relatively). Regarding the possible nitrate/phosphate confusion, many pool stores are known for BS-ing you into buying products. It really wouldn't surprise me if they did tell him to add a bunch of random chemicals to "remove" nitrates though the only way to remove them is through dillution. The best thing to do is get a really good test kit such as the taylor K-2005 or K-2006, test the water yourself, use
http://www.poolcalculator.com and purchase your chemicals KNOWING what you want.