Help! I've spent over 900$ in three weeks and still can't swim!

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Day 5 of my SLAM. It's going good. Today I can almost see the bottom, so I got almost all the clumps of pine needles and leaves out. (By the way, I hate having pine trees in my yard) Have kept my shock level at 16. But my question is....the next few days we are suppose to get a lot of rain....do I need to do or test anything else or just continue my SLAM as I am, just testing the FC?
 
Rain has little effect on pool water chemistry. Only issue is you will get wet testing and adding liquid chlorine.
 
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I really need some encouragement. I'm trying to be patient with this SLAM but I want to get in and use my pool so bad. I've been working really hard and just want to reap the benefits of all my hard work. I have read the SLAM instructions like 10 times just to make sure I'm doing everything just right. I read where you can add DE to speed up the process....is that something I should do?
 
amraney said:
I really need some encouragement. I'm trying to be patient with this SLAM but I want to get in and use my pool so bad. I've been working really hard and just want to reap the benefits of all my hard work. I have read the SLAM instructions like 10 times just to make sure I'm doing everything just right. I read where you can add DE to speed up the process....is that something I should do?
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Tell us where you are in the process. How does the water look? How much FC are you losing in what time period? Is the filter still loading up? Do you get anything when you vacuum? Can you even see to vacuum?

Adding DE too early in the process will just cause the filter to load up in a hurry and force you to backwash frequently. But when everything is dead and all the stuff big enough to see with the naked eye is gone and it's just a matter of waiting, then it may be time to improve the filtering.
 
T
Richard320 said:
Tell us where you are in the process. How does the water look? How much FC are you losing in what time period? Is the filter still loading up? Do you get anything when you vacuum? Can you even see to vacuum?

Adding DE too early in the process will just cause the filter to load up in a hurry and force you to backwash frequently. But when everything is dead and all the stuff big enough to see with the naked eye is gone and it's just a matter of waiting, then it may be time to improve the filtering.
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The water is blue just cloudy....you can't see the bottom. When I vacuum you can see the vacuum head slightly but just at the very start then it just gets really cloudy again. I'm not pulling alot of leaves or anything out of the pool and most of the time my skimmer basket has very little in it. Over night I don't lose any FC every morning it's right at 16 and my last check is about 9 or 10pm. From this morning until noon...i had not lost any. And from noon to just now I lost 4.5. Today was the most I've lost, most the time i lose about 3- 3.5 in the afternoon and it's been pretty steady like that the last few days. During the evening I'll test about twice and from 5-10 I'll maybe lose 1 -1.5 if that. I sweep it every day that I don't vacuum also. And my presure is staying down where it normally goes...but backwash if it get up to 10.
 
mknauss said:
I think Richard will agree but it should be time you can use the DE method to filter better. You must dedicate time to do it. The filter can and most likely will pack off quickly and you will need to backwash.
Read Add DE to a Sand Filter - Trouble Free Pool
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It says not to get gardening DE...I'm only familiar with the gardening kind...so what do I need to look for and any idea what stores might carry it?
 

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It should be labeled DE for pools. Some Walmarts and / or Home Depot's carry it. All pool stores should.

Sad part is you do not need much. And normally it is sold in large amounts. Any friends you know that might have a DE filter?
 
Yeah...no one I know has a DE filter. So I'll look at the pool store...i have a credit there anyways. Also I've noticed my pump basket isn't filling up all the way with water like it use to. I see bubbles coming out the return now alot. The water level sits just below the lid now...but my water level in pool is good. I've read on other people's forums about maybe a leak or maybe bleeding the air line and I don't think I have one of those. I'm not sure though....how would I fix this? And would it be causing any problems with my water being cloudy?
 
Have you tried aiming the returns downward to make sure the pool water gets mixed up on the bottom too?

Pump basket getting air means a leak somewhere on the suction side, between the pool and the pump, typically.
 
zea3 said:
How high up on the skimmer opening is the water level? It should be at least 1/2 way up the opening. Also, how long has it been since the filter was backwashed?
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It is right at half way up...i try and keep it right where the middle line markers are. And I backwashed Sunday.
 

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