New guy, brown pool

mm3846 · Jun 12, 2017

Hey all

Great site here, looking forward to another DIY to add to under my belt. Read through the whole FAQ and all that, although I did go and have my pool water tested and bought some chemicals and added some to the pool store to get started before I found this site. I lived with my in-laws for a couple years and they have a nice salt water pool with spa and heat so I'm familiar with how everything works, maintenance, etc. I get the whole TFP process, and I plan on doing that going forward once I get through the chemicals I bought. I bought this house over winter, and the pool was IMMACULATE despite being in a wooded area when we looked at it the end of last summer... new pump, new filter, liner in great shape, etc. Opened it up, and woof, what a surprise.

Been scrubbing and running the vac as much as possible. My DE filter clogged up good and was still maxing out at 30psi after 10 minutes of running so I took it apart and cleaned it (It needed it bad!) added more DE and that is going again well now, I know it'll prob need another cleaning. Got this printout from the pool place-

I added the alkalinity increaser already. I saw the SLAM method and I'd be all over that except I'm leaving on a work trip tomorrow late morning until saturday and my wife won't be able to do anything too complicated... she can add chemicals and clean but all the testing and stuff is too much with her work schedule, the dog, etc. I'm going to put the pump on the timer so if the filter gets to full it isn't running 24/7 to blow my pump motor.

my question to you guys is, what can I do this afternoon until tomorrow morning to get this going on the right track and keep it cleaning (albeit slowly) until I can take care of it for real this weekend? I do have chlorine tabs leftover from the last homeowner that I can just put in and let that do it's thing slowly for now. Should I get bleach and start the SLAM process? I'm going to see if my local hardware store has test kits, otherwise I'll order online and have it for when I get back.

Richard320 · Jun 12, 2017

mm3846 said:
Hey all

Great site here, looking forward to another DIY to add to under my belt. Read through the whole FAQ and all that, although I did go and have my pool water tested and bought some chemicals and added some to the pool store to get started before I found this site. I lived with my in-laws for a couple years and they have a nice salt water pool with spa and heat so I'm familiar with how everything works, maintenance, etc. I get the whole TFP process, and I plan on doing that going forward once I get through the chemicals I bought. I bought this house over winter, and the pool was IMMACULATE despite being in a wooded area when we looked at it the end of last summer... new pump, new filter, liner in great shape, etc. Opened it up, and woof, what a surprise.

Been scrubbing and running the vac as much as possible. My DE filter clogged up good and was still maxing out at 30psi after 10 minutes of running so I took it apart and cleaned it (It needed it bad!) added more DE and that is going again well now, I know it'll prob need another cleaning. Got this printout from the pool place-

I added the alkalinity increaser already. I saw the SLAM method and I'd be all over that except I'm leaving on a work trip tomorrow late morning until saturday and my wife won't be able to do anything too complicated... she can add chemicals and clean but all the testing and stuff is too much with her work schedule, the dog, etc. I'm going to put the pump on the timer so if the filter gets to full it isn't running 24/7 to blow my pump motor.

my question to you guys is, what can I do this afternoon until tomorrow morning to get this going on the right track and keep it cleaning (albeit slowly) until I can take care of it for real this weekend? I do have chlorine tabs leftover from the last homeowner that I can just put in and let that do it's thing slowly for now. Should I get bleach and start the SLAM process? I'm going to see if my local hardware store has test kits, otherwise I'll order online and have it for when I get back.

Don't add any dry forms of chlorine, especially not dichlor or trichlor. They'll just raise the CYA level which will inhibit any FC in them from killing algae. If you want to add chlorine, bleach is best. It's almost a waste, though, to add it and start killing things and then leave it to recover. Any bleach you add today will have died in vain if nobody keeps it up.

If you can set the filter to recirculate instead of filter, the water won't clear but it will keep it circulating and prevent filter clogging.

mm3846 · Jun 12, 2017

Richard320 said:
Don't add any dry forms of chlorine, especially not dichlor or trichlor. They'll just raise the CYA level which will inhibit any FC in them from killing algae. If you want to add chlorine, bleach is best. It's almost a waste, though, to add it and start killing things and then leave it to recover. Any bleach you add today will have died in vain if nobody keeps it up.

If you can set the filter to recirculate instead of filter, the water won't clear but it will keep it circulating and prevent filter clogging.

How about if I have my wife dump a gallon of bleach in a day? Thanks for the info on the recirc, I didn't know that was a thing. That way I don't end up with a mosquito nest.

Richard320 · Jun 12, 2017

mm3846 said:
How about if I have my wife dump a gallon of bleach in a day? Thanks for the info on the recirc, I didn't know that was a thing. That way I don't end up with a mosquito nest.

You may not have that option, not all filters do. If you have the rotary dial type valve, you can.

One full 121 oz jug of standard 8.25% bleach will only raise your pool's FC by 3. I suppose if you buy a bunch of bleach and start on the SLAM today and get it to at least the milky grey-blue stage before you leave, a jug a day will hold things until you get back.

You'll have to add something for sure, just to keep the pool from turning into a mosquito breeding ground.

mm3846 · Jun 12, 2017

Yes, I have that valve. I'll see if I can pick up a test kit somewhere and start the SLAM today. Home depot/walmart or pool store prob has them right?

Richard320 · Jun 12, 2017

mm3846 said:
Yes, I have that valve. I'll see if I can pick up a test kit somewhere and start the SLAM today. Home depot/walmart or pool store prob has them right?

The kit you want might be available at the pool store. Wouldn't count on it. You won't find that at a big box store. It will be a Taylor K-2006 or K-2006C (larger bottles). Don't let them talk you into a K-2005. Not the same.

If you have to order, then go for a TF100 with the XL option at TFTestkits.net

rdeputy · Jun 12, 2017

When my pool got like that found If I dumped to waste for the first portion of each vacuuming it's easier to replace the water than clean the filter every 30 minutes

mm3846 · Jun 12, 2017

Richard320 said:
The kit you want might be available at the pool store. Wouldn't count on it. You won't find that at a big box store. It will be a Taylor K-2006 or K-2006C (larger bottles). Don't let them talk you into a K-2005. Not the same.

If you have to order, then go for a TF100 with the XL option at TFTestkits.net

Yea, I'll order that

rdeputy said:
When my pool got like that found If I dumped to waste for the first portion of each vacuuming it's easier to replace the water than clean the filter every 30 minutes

My vac is self contained, which is nice

mm3846 · Jun 12, 2017

Started the SLAM, pool clearing up already. Will continue to update, thanks so far.