Mid Slam…

[LMW Ky Girl]

Hello all! I have a few questions after reading several threads here. Last year was our first year taking care of our above ground pool. I did not do the research I should’ve about caring for/maintaining a pool prior to installing. We did not winterize properly and upon opening this year, I have done the research from TFP. I purchased the Taylor K-2006 test kit. I will admit I have not logged all the test that I’ve done. I took notes to keep track but haven’t entered into my log.

Log story short, we had left our steps in the pool and just removed them at the beginning of our SLAM process. We have pressure washed them and bleached them. I read on someone’s thread that they should be hollow and need to scrub the inside. Our steps are filled with sand… could the algae live inside them still? I don’t want to risk contaminating the pool when we put the steps back in.

I guess my second question is I have what I believe is dead algae floating on the surface and it’s too small to be skimmed out by our hand skimmer. It also seems as the pool filter isn’t getting rid of it either… any suggestions?

We have an above ground vinyl pool with a 2HP sand filter. We have approx 15k gallons ( I rounded up).

 

[YippeeSkippy]

As you continue on with your SLAM process the filter will get saturated with dead algae. When the pressure in the filter rises 25% over its clean pressure that is the time you want to clean the filter. Can you backwash your filter?

 

[heikejohn]

If water can get inside the steps where the sand is..... Yes, you will get algae. There won't be any circulation getting to those areas.

Can you get the sand out?

We filled some PVC pipes with gravel and put endcaps on both sides. 3 of those are holding down our steps. Or you can fill empty bleach bottles with gravel and use that as weights. After removing the label and tightening the tops.

 

[Mdragger88]

Definitely remove the sand & bleach that out & scrub it- its probably algae city- u got any pics of the steps? We can help you figure out a way to weigh them down. Also many types need more holes added to them so they don’t have stagnant areas.
To catch the floating stuff - be sure your return(s) is pointed away from the skimmer in the opposite direction and down just a touch (right below the surface of the water) so u get the “toilet bowl effect “ & that your weir door is installed in your skimmer so it sucks debris in properly with the water level a little over 1/2 way up the skimmer plate. You can also try a skimmer sock or hairnet to help catch the fine stuff. Be sure to check it often & also backwash when pressure rises 25% over clean pressure like @YippeeSkippy said.

 

[LMW Ky Girl]

As you continue on with your SLAM process the filter will get saturated with dead algae. When the pressure in the filter rises 25% over its clean pressure that is the time you want to clean the filter. Can you backwash your filter?

We have back washed everytime the pressure gets up. I haven’t had to backwash for the last couple of days though.

 

[LMW Ky Girl]

If water can get inside the steps where the sand is..... Yes, you will get algae. There won't be any circulation getting to those areas.

Can you get the sand out?

We filled some PVC pipes with gravel and put endcaps on both sides. 3 of those are holding down our steps. Or you can fill empty bleach bottles with gravel and use that as weights. After removing the label and tightening the tops.

My husband said it would be really difficult to take the step apart. The way they are made, the sand is only in the sides and rails of the steps. The back and bottom of the steps… there is basically nothing there to be able to fill anything to sit on top of them. Would the algae not die outside of the water? We took them out Monday and I don’t plan to put them back until my SLAM process is complete.

 

[LMW Ky Girl]

Definitely remove the sand & bleach that out & scrub it- its probably algae city- u got any pics of the steps? We can help you figure out a way to weigh them down. Also many types need more holes added to them so they don’t have stagnant areas.
To catch the floating stuff - be sure your return(s) is pointed away from the skimmer in the opposite direction and down just a touch (right below the surface of the water) so u get the “toilet bowl effect “ & that your weir door is installed in your skimmer so it sucks debris in properly with the water level a little over 1/2 way up the skimmer plate. You can also try a skimmer sock or hairnet to help catch the fine stuff. Be sure to check it often & also backwash when pressure rises 25% over clean pressure like @YippeeSkippy said.

I will get a picture of the steps and post. I have skimmer socks coming. I think the water is high enough for it to skim properly. The return is pointed in the opposite direction of the skimmer and pointed down slightly.

 

[Mdragger88]

Here are some ideas

560532A2-9A76-466A-A72D-32B214DD927B.jpeg

• Mdragger88
• Jul 27, 2021

EA14A0FE-77E5-46E7-9BCB-0DFA7B10328C.jpeg

• Mdragger88
• Jul 27, 2021

Having weights also makes the steps easier to remove because u can just slide the steps out & remove the weights then pull them out of the pool separately.
I have sealed bleach bottles filled with concrete hanging from the inside of mine with a rope.
Are those little circles on the sides where u put the sand?
If so - remove them & spray water in there to get the sand out
You may need to drill more holes at the bottom of each “path” so it will flow out unless there are caps that I can’t see.
Then just leave all the caps out so u can inspect in there regularly & squirt a little bleach in there every now & then along with spraying the hose down in there.
I think @kellyfair has steps like that so lets see what she does.

 

[LMW Ky Girl]

Here are some ideas

560532A2-9A76-466A-A72D-32B214DD927B.jpeg

• Mdragger88
• Jul 27, 2021

EA14A0FE-77E5-46E7-9BCB-0DFA7B10328C.jpeg

• Mdragger88
• Jul 27, 2021

Having weights also makes the steps easier to remove because u can just slide the steps out & remove the weights then pull them out of the pool separately.
I have sealed bleach bottles filled with concrete hanging from the inside of mine with a rope.
Are those little circles on the sides where u put the sand?
If so - remove them & spray water in there to get the sand out
You may need to drill more holes at the bottom of each “path” so it will flow out unless there are caps that I can’t see.
Then just leave all the caps out so u can inspect in there regularly & squirt a little bleach in there every now & then along with spraying the hose down in there.
I think @kellyfair has steps like that so lets see what she does.

Thank you!