Swimming pools blog

We are in our second summer of pool ownership. Last year when I was
asking questions left and right of the pool place, I was pretty sure
the pool guy told me to fill 6 one-pound coffee cans with D.E. at
the beginning of the season to first coat my filter.
The problem is that on my filter it says use 6 lbs of D.E. If I
carefully (i.e. with mask and away from wind) weigh a one-pound
coffee can of D.E. minus the weight of the can it weighs approx.
half a pound. D.E. of course is much lighter than coffee.
According to my weight calculation I should have added about 12 cans
full instead of 6. It worked great last year so maybe it isn’t that
important that I used less.
My question is after back-washing do you again load it with the 6
lbs. or do you use a lesser amount assuming some stayed on the
filter??
Also, we use the Chlorine granuals, I believe they say Refresh.

Again, I thought he told me to add a scoop or two slowly through the
skimmer but on the container directions it says to mix with water
and broadcast over the water. I guess this is my year for “reading
the directions”. The vinyl lining right by our skimming is wrinkled
and was that way when we bought the place (older liner). The guy
who opened our pool last year said it was because someone had used
chlorine tablets/pucks and left them in the skimmer…maybe I
shouldn’t be putting the granuals in the skimmer either?? What
method do others use with the granuals?
Thanks,
Sue