Gunite, 9000g, cartridge filter, 2" piping
I have what I think would be a not-too-uncommon problem, but my search doesn't yield any pertinent posts that address it. I'm inheriting a pool that has been abandoned for 1+ years. I'm going to SLAM it, but that only addresses the chemistry; my problem is the accumulated, for lack of a better term, sludge on the bottom.
I can't see the pool bottom (about 5' deep), but the horizontal surfaces, steps and swim-out, are covered with a layer of black "something". There were a lot of live tadpoles, so one guess is that they are what is accumulated. Regardless, I need to get them out.
I don't want to send it through the filter because it will clog after just a few seconds. I hate to even run them through the pump to waste for fear of damaging the pump impeller - justified concern? Between the vacuum head and pump, there is an inline basket and the pump basket: I think I need to remove those because they will instantly clog.
Complicating things is that I don't have a 6-way valve (like I'm accustomed to), so I don't have an easy way to divert to "waste". It has a hose bib that will go to waste but I can't block the 2" pipe to the filter so, following the path of least resistance, most if the sludge will go through the filter (or empty filter container if I pull the cartridge).
Ideas? Thank you.
I have what I think would be a not-too-uncommon problem, but my search doesn't yield any pertinent posts that address it. I'm inheriting a pool that has been abandoned for 1+ years. I'm going to SLAM it, but that only addresses the chemistry; my problem is the accumulated, for lack of a better term, sludge on the bottom.
I can't see the pool bottom (about 5' deep), but the horizontal surfaces, steps and swim-out, are covered with a layer of black "something". There were a lot of live tadpoles, so one guess is that they are what is accumulated. Regardless, I need to get them out.
I don't want to send it through the filter because it will clog after just a few seconds. I hate to even run them through the pump to waste for fear of damaging the pump impeller - justified concern? Between the vacuum head and pump, there is an inline basket and the pump basket: I think I need to remove those because they will instantly clog.
Complicating things is that I don't have a 6-way valve (like I'm accustomed to), so I don't have an easy way to divert to "waste". It has a hose bib that will go to waste but I can't block the 2" pipe to the filter so, following the path of least resistance, most if the sludge will go through the filter (or empty filter container if I pull the cartridge).
Ideas? Thank you.
