I would deep clean the sand instead of changing it out. Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter Keep adding the bleach daily until your test kit arrives.
Pool Closed
- Thread starter Jayrice1
- Start date
No, sand does not go bad. That is why I'm suggesting deep cleaning it after your all cleared up. The extra bit of clogged material that is increasing your pressure may make filtering dead algae out of the water go a little quicker.
Becoming discouraged no test kit yet, adding bleach, can't check cya levels, water color not changing. It just a milky cloudy mess
DeanP66
0
Don't get discouraged, you're on the right track. You're just waiting for your test kit so you won't be flying blind. Take a pic of the pool and post it so we can see your progress. Also, I agree with the previous posters that said to deep clean your sand filter. If you start the SLAM with a clean filter, it will optimize your SLAM. That dreaded algae clogs up filters quickly. You'll probably have to do it more than once in addition to the backwashing.
Current pool color. I left filter off for 8 hours with cleaner. Backwasher this morning
DeanP66
0
Yeah, that's definitely milky white. Once you get the test kit, run all tests again so we know that we can trust the results from a good kit. If the CYA is indeed 0, add enough stabilizer to bring it up to 30 PPM and SLAM away. You want to add enough bleach to bring FC up to 12 PPM and maintain it there SEVERAL times a day by adding more bleach after retesting the water. You also want to brush your pool walls and floor to suspend any algae in the water so your filter can filter it out while your pump is running.
I get that it been be frustrating waiting, but after 10 years of disuse this won't be an overnight process. You've got to get that test kit.
Check out this thread to see how much progress you can make in a few days once you have the tools to do it right
First time pool owner
For now, just make sure you've scope out as much debris as you can and clean the filter if you need want, and do a good vacuum to waste.
As a side note, if you have an aquarium with an ammonia test kit, test the pool for ammonia. If you don't, don't buy one, but that would be something we could work on while waiting. The solution to ammonia is chlorine (bleach) so it will get taken care of either way.
Check out this thread to see how much progress you can make in a few days once you have the tools to do it right
First time pool owner
For now, just make sure you've scope out as much debris as you can and clean the filter if you need want, and do a good vacuum to waste.
As a side note, if you have an aquarium with an ammonia test kit, test the pool for ammonia. If you don't, don't buy one, but that would be something we could work on while waiting. The solution to ammonia is chlorine (bleach) so it will get taken care of either way.
If it is the ammonia test kit it is liquid. Its very simple to use, just add drops and wait for a color change.
Hey we have a sand filter it says no less than 6 inches from the top but ours is seven does that make a difference
It could, although I don't know how much difference being 1" low will make. You could get some more 20 grade silica sand and top it off.
CJadamec
TFP Expert
1 inch won't matter much at this point. After you get your pool clear and sparkly deep clean the filter again and top it off with sand.
Ammonia very quickly uses up chlorine. It's likely every drop of chlorine you've put in up until now has been going to reduce your ammonia.
Add one gallon of bleach, wait an hour with the pump on to mix, brush the pool, retest ammonia, then add another gallon. Keep repeating hourly until you have no ammonia.
Your ammonia level is quite low now, so it shouldn't take long to get to zero.
*I can't see how many gallons your pool is... If less than 10000 gallons do 1/2 gallon of bleach at a time*
Add one gallon of bleach, wait an hour with the pump on to mix, brush the pool, retest ammonia, then add another gallon. Keep repeating hourly until you have no ammonia.
Your ammonia level is quite low now, so it shouldn't take long to get to zero.
*I can't see how many gallons your pool is... If less than 10000 gallons do 1/2 gallon of bleach at a time*
The pool store based on there measurements says the pool is 16,030 but when I use the measurements using poolmath its 17030
Yellow with no hints of green is zero ammonia. Any green tinting at all shows presence of ammonia. Either way bleach, patience and persistence will take care of things.