louie9999

bluerdg - THANKS for the thoughtful and complete reply! I appreciate the effort. I have a pleated paper cartridge type filter (it looks like a giant oil filter, about a foot in diameter and about 2 feet long). It has the gaskets, etc built right in. I replaced the entire cartride (about $130) and it changed nothing. Thanks for you interest and concern.

Hi All - I have an above ground vinyl 18' x 33' x 54" pool thats about 6 years old. Chlorine, 1 HP, paper filter ("Splash Pack") located in central New Jersey. Almost from the first year I've had what appears to be a super-fine "dust" that settles ONLY on the bottom of the pool. Seems to be dark brown and/or dark gray. Does not stain/settle on the walls. Doesn't seem to appear until the pump is run and it coalesces from the circular motion. Pool is absolutely crystal clear with no greenish color, etc. All chemistry is spot on. The stuff seems to "pile up" a little, and if just very, very lightly disturbed it seems to dissipate/dissappear. I've actually "captured" some in a jar by diving with a container and googles. Let it settle out for a day, poured bleach in it, and nothing happened. I originaly thought it might be pollen/air pollution but I've gotten this all-year round. I've also checked with a few other pool owners on the block and they don't appear to have the problem. It's intensity varies, but it never goes away. Can't really tie it in to weather/air/water temperature, though I've tried. Get it almost immediately after opening the pool and then thru the whole year. Mid-summer is no worse or better than early/late in the year. I've tried Polyquat and even 20 gallons of bleach at season's end to no avail. I've tried vacuuming to waste. I constantly clean the filter. I've replaced the filer. Tried just about every chemical know to man. Some have suggested black algae but it never stains or sticks .... same goes for mustard algae. And it seems impervious to chemicals. HELP!!! This is driving me crazy!