Hello -
We recently bought a house and a pool came with it! The previous owners did not open the pool this spring - so it's been left to us. We suspect that they did not do a great job in closing the pool last fall. The pool is an above ground model, about 14,400 gallons and has a DE filter. I'm at work - so don't have any other details. I can get them tonight if needed. It's about 20 years old.
On Saturday 6/22 we pulled the cover back to a green pool with some leaves on the bottom and a little bit of algae on the sides. Using what the previous owners had left, we vacuumed the pool (after realizing we were clogging the filter we started vacuuming to waste late Saturday) three times. Also on Saturday, we added 2 chlorine tabs to the chlorinator and add two bags of Utlima TKO to the pool. After discovering this forum on Sunday, I have doubts that was our best course of action. We have cleaned the filter twice now - and added more DE to the pool near the skimmer each time.
Late yesterday, the pool looked pretty good - blue with a very minimal amount of debris (think a couple of twigs and a few leaves) on the bottom. However, this morning we had brown "silt" on the bottom in some areas.
I'm ordering a TF-100 test kit today. I do have test strips at hand.
1.) How should I proceed tonight without the test kit? Is adding more bleach (Clorox style) recommended tonight?
2.) While I'm stabilizing the pool, how often/long should the pump be run?
3.) Once the pool is "normal" how often/long should the pump be run?
I've read numerous articles/posts on the forum and appreciate all the information - I've already learned a lot.
Thanks!
We recently bought a house and a pool came with it! The previous owners did not open the pool this spring - so it's been left to us. We suspect that they did not do a great job in closing the pool last fall. The pool is an above ground model, about 14,400 gallons and has a DE filter. I'm at work - so don't have any other details. I can get them tonight if needed. It's about 20 years old.
On Saturday 6/22 we pulled the cover back to a green pool with some leaves on the bottom and a little bit of algae on the sides. Using what the previous owners had left, we vacuumed the pool (after realizing we were clogging the filter we started vacuuming to waste late Saturday) three times. Also on Saturday, we added 2 chlorine tabs to the chlorinator and add two bags of Utlima TKO to the pool. After discovering this forum on Sunday, I have doubts that was our best course of action. We have cleaned the filter twice now - and added more DE to the pool near the skimmer each time.
Late yesterday, the pool looked pretty good - blue with a very minimal amount of debris (think a couple of twigs and a few leaves) on the bottom. However, this morning we had brown "silt" on the bottom in some areas.
I'm ordering a TF-100 test kit today. I do have test strips at hand.
1.) How should I proceed tonight without the test kit? Is adding more bleach (Clorox style) recommended tonight?
2.) While I'm stabilizing the pool, how often/long should the pump be run?
3.) Once the pool is "normal" how often/long should the pump be run?
I've read numerous articles/posts on the forum and appreciate all the information - I've already learned a lot.
Thanks!