What's the best low-cost solution?

[Onslow]

I have the pool listed in my sig. It came with a vacuum hose, a pole and some nets, and that's about it. I have a fair amount of dead algae to get off the floor and would like to be able to vacuum it up. I can spend some money, just not a gazillion dollars on a Mr. Roboto. Please advise what I might be able to do with a pump and filter solution. I would like to maybe get a vacuum head but does that mean the water flies out to waste when I'm running it?

Alternative suggestions welcome. Thanks!!

 

[woodyp]

I'd sure try the inexpensive vacuum head first. You can always use one any way. Just vacuum in normal filter position and then backwash.

 

[Bama Rambler]

I'd do what Woody suggests. Just vacuum to filter then backwash it out good. I always vacuum to filter, it wastes too much water vacuuming to waste. The only time I vacuum to waste is after one of our torrential rains and I need to dump the water anyway.

 

[Onslow]

Thanks both. I checked out a couple of youtubes about the steps for sending to filter. Apparently it's the most traditional of approaches - duh, you gotta learn at some point! I thnk I was just concerned that the filter was strictly designed for light cleaning. I'll keep an eye on the pressure guage.

Do I need to rinse after backwash? I have a feeling that, at first, I will be repeating the cleaning phase many times to get the initial debris out.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Yep, rinse every time after a backwash.

 

[maggiem]

So how's Daisy doing? LOL
No advice here because we are looking for a cleaner too but, I LOVE ONSLOW!! Ha, still one of our family's all time fave shows and characters

 

[Onslow]

I LOVE ONSLOW!! Ha, still one of our family's all time fave shows and characters

Oh, nice!

 

[Richard320]

I bought a cheap vacuum head at Lowes, along with the hose, and found a sink tailpiece that works to couple the hose directly to my suction port in the bottom of the skimmer. It's worked fine for a year.

 

[robl45]

yea, but if its algae, you likely gonna throw the filter out after one time, and algae will clog almost instantly. i'm using a poolbuster to try to get algae off the bottom, bag is clogged in 30 secs, rinse and repeat.

I put a brand new filter in just filtering and it clogged in less than 6 hours.

 

[JetsonPoolBoy]

You can get a cheap robot or even a Pool Blaster so that your filter isn't affected.