Draining and bringing down the waterline?

You may have been over pressuring the separation tank if it was full, sending DE back into the pool. Inspect the bag carefully when cleaning it out for any rips, tears etc.
 
@Lake Placid - Just to be clear, this doesn't happen when the MPV is turned to "filter" AFAICT.
Correct because the separation tank is not in the water return circuit in filter mode. The nut you’re describing is likely the air relief valve. Can you open and close it with your fingers?
 
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@Lake Placid @PoolStored
I'm sorry but I'm still trying to understand what are the right steps for me to reduce the waterline in the future given my set up.
I'm not being trite or rude, so please don't take it that way. As I indicated early in this thread, get a cheap sump pump. Can be used to drain the pool easily, if your pump goes out you can use it to keep water circulating and allow you to add chlorine while pump is being fixed...lots of uses.

THAT being said, you are correct, if you understand your equipment, you can use it to drain.
And what exactly should I do now given that I probably let the water run without the pump running in the "waste mode" of the MPV, with both the valves of the waste line open for about 30-40 mins at least. I've now shut them off as a precaution until I figure out what's the right thing to do.
I'm not sure exactly where you are in the process. Let's go back to here:

So I understand. You have the MPV turned to waste. You have the ORANGE T handled valve open. Water is coming out of the red handled spigot, with the pump off? In that case, the red handled spigot is open and the water is running downhill from the DE Filter, which is full of water, so that makes sense. Just close the red handled spigot and water should not come out anymore.

Yes, pump should be on if you want to drain.

Can you take a picture of the "NUT" that is spraying water? Have you emptied the DE separator?


Orange T handle open, correct?
Water coming out of the red handled spigot and that spigot is open, correct?
After the separator, the line goes to a check valve, then where does the PVC go? That is not in your media.
When you say "waste mode" of the MPV, with both the valves of the waste line open for about 30-40 mins at least. Which valves are you referencing?
 
Yes I can, and based on the link you sent earlier it def is the air relief valve
The valve will bleed water if there is over pressure or open when you run to backwash or waste. Clean the separation tank, open the orange valve and gate valve and you should be fine to drain. Open the air valve when you do this until it spits water, then close the air valve.
 
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@PoolStored -

I believe you are correct with the sump pump, that would have been simpler, and I'll go for that option right now as well if it's easier. Fwiw I do not understand this equipment yet, and it's going to take some time to understand it.

The pic here shows what's open, the black hose is taking the water away from the spigot. This is what ran without any pump for 30 mins or so.
 
I'm not being trite or rude, so please don't take it that way. As I indicated early in this thread, get a cheap sump pump. Can be used to drain the pool easily, if your pump goes out you can use it to keep water circulating and allow you to add chlorine while pump is being fixed...lots of uses.

THAT being said, you are correct, if you understand your equipment, you can use it to drain.

I'm not sure exactly where you are in the process. Let's go back to here:


Orange T handle open, correct?
Water coming out of the red handled spigot and that spigot is open, correct?
After the separator, the line goes to a check valve, then where does the PVC go? That is not in your media.
When you say "waste mode" of the MPV, with both the valves of the waste line open for about 30-40 mins at least. Which valves are you referencing?
Back to the pool. That’s why there is a separation tank in the circuit.
 
Back to the pool. That’s why there is a separation tank in the circuit.
Nope. The separation tank is on the WASTE line. It is to separate the DE from the waste water when you backwash.

The spigot allows you to bypass the separator, if you are filtering to waste and you don't need to use the separator.
 
The pic here shows what's open, the black hose is taking the water away from the spigot. This is what ran without any pump for 30 mins or so.
Did your water level go down in the pool?

Please take a picture of the line coming out of the separator, through the check valve and where it goes behind the wood electrical panel. Also where does the black line from the spigot go?
 
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@PoolStored
>Did your water level go down in the pool?
If it did it's not that visible, it almost seems to be the same, even though the spigot had water running throughout the 30-40 mins.

>Please take a picture of the line coming out of the separator, through the check valve and where it goes behind the wood electrical panel.
I'll try and take more pictures in the morning, but I went out and tried to follow the lines behind there The line goes around to the SWG, and the heater, and then comes back from the heater to the MPV in RECIR port. It is also connected to the booster pump, and the pipe of the booster pump is going underground.

I'll be able to confirm all of this in the morning since it was pretty dark, but I believe this to be correct.

@PoolStored
I'll be going to my local home depot for the 10 gallons of liquid chlorine. Do I need any other chemicals, or any other that I should routinely keep around in the house for the future?
 
>Please take a picture of the line coming out of the separator, through the check valve and where it goes behind the wood electrical panel.
I'll try and take more pictures in the morning, but I went out and tried to follow the lines behind there The line goes around to the SWG, and the heater, and then comes back from the heater to the MPV in RECIR port. It is also connected to the booster pump, and the pipe of the booster pump is going underground.
Pictures are worth $1000. There are two ways your "Waste" line from the multi-port through the separation tank could be routed. One, back to the pool, or two to the sewer line. I'm trying to figure out which it is. In Westchester, any waste water that goes to sewer must go through a separation tank. I'm trying to figure out where it goes. If it goes back to the pool, the ONLY way that you can get your equipment to drain water from the pool is through the spigot and black hose. Until we figure out where it is going, we won't know if you can use anything other than the black line to drain. We will get you figured out. There is likely no harm in the 30-40 minutes of draining, you likely just setup a siphon and it drained some water. You can turn off pump if on, close the orange T handle, change your multiport back to filter and turn your pump on. Do you know how to get the air out of your DE Filter?
I'll be able to confirm all of this in the morning since it was pretty dark, but I believe this to be correct.

@PoolStored
I'll be going to my local home depot for the 10 gallons of liquid chlorine. Do I need any other chemicals, or any other that I should routinely keep around in the house for the future?
Liquid Chlorine - Check
Dry Stabilizer (for when we get your SWCG back online, so you can raise your CYA).
Muriatic Acid (to reduce pH when/if it rises).
Calcium Chloride, you will want higher than 110 CH in your gunite pool, at least up to 350. 1 40 lb bag should get you there. Make sure that it is 100% Calcium Chloride (Hint, get the name on the bag like "snow joe" and search google for "snow joe SDS" the SDS will tell you if it has high purity. This is the ONE item that I don't trust from HD/Lowes etc. Many here have had luck and do well, but I found my local pool store was competitively priced and I didn't want any of the impurities. YMMV.
 
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One more question if I may. Is your equipment above or below your pool?

If you can, get pictures of all pipes going into and out of the ground and follow all the pipes, including the heater. THANKS!
 
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Last thing, before we roll up the sidewalks. You have lots going on. New pool, confusion on the plumbing, water going everywhere, valves that seem not to work, DE potentially in the pool, SWCG on the fritz. And, all you want to do is SWIM!!! I get it, we've all been there.

Don't stress (I know, right?). Let's take it one issue at a time, solve them, move to the next. I can tell you with certainty, we got you. May take a bit of time and effort, but NONE of these issues are insurmountable. And, I can also GUARANTEE you there are an ARMY of guides, mods and experts that are watching this thread, if for no other reason than to eat their popcorn and watch the magic happen...or find one misstep on one of those helping you, or if they see something we are missing, they will absolutely chime in.

I can also tell you that most of us spend VERY little time on our pools and WAAAY more time in them (or here helping others). I guarantee, in very short period of time, it will be like riding a bike. You will know exactly what you are doing and why. You will be the MASTER of your pool. At that point, you will add your pool pics here-->How Clear is TFP Clear?
 
> How Clear is TFP Clear?
OMG even the vacuum's look clean here :p. My 2 day old vacuum has all kinds of leaf stems in it's ports that I have to dig out.

As for the time it's taking it's fine, I really do appreciate the effort you and others on this thread are putting in. I'd love to learn and contribute as well, and I do admit it's extremely overwhelming. We leave for Australia for 2 weeks on Aug 1, and the only thing I want sorted out is to leave this pool in a functioning state before leaving (which gives me 1 week). I don't even care about being able to swim for now. I was previously under the impression - Step 1. Get the pool open, 2. Get the Vacuum, 3. Pour in chemicals 4. Swim... def does seem a lot more than that to it now.

> One more question if I may. Is your equipment above or below your pool?

This used to be an above ground pool that the last owner converted to in-ground pool, so we basically have a patio, and steps up to another patio which has this pool. The equipment is all in the lower patio and the pool is inground at the higher patio. Hope that answers your question.
 
> How Clear is TFP Clear?
OMG even the vacuum's look clean here :p. My 2 day old vacuum has all kinds of leaf stems in it's ports that I have to dig out.
TFP Clear. Crazy, right? I'm still amazed at my pool and get comments all the time! What cleaner/vacuum do you have? This relevant to your plumbing. Did you get a robot or do you have a pressure cleaner?
As for the time it's taking it's fine, I really do appreciate the effort you and others on this thread are putting in. I'd love to learn and contribute as well, and I do admit it's extremely overwhelming. We leave for Australia for 2 weeks on Aug 1, and the only thing I want sorted out is to leave this pool in a functioning state before leaving (which gives me 1 week). I don't even care about being able to swim for now
I actually laugh now. It was overwhelming to me, now it is like chewing gum. As to the VACA, SOUNDS GREAT!!! 1 week is tight, but even if we don't get through SLAM, we can likely get you setup so it is no worse when you come back. Do you have anyone here that can help and add chlorine if necessary? We'll work on that objective! Do you, by chance, work from home? This would REALLY help our success! BTW, you are doing GREAT!
> One more question if I may. Is your equipment above or below your pool?

This used to be an above ground pool that the last owner converted to in-ground pool, so we basically have a patio, and steps up to another patio which has this pool. The equipment is all in the lower patio and the pool is inground at the higher patio. Hope that answers your question.
Didn't answer the question. Draw a horizontal line through the skimmers of your pool. Now, draw a horizontal line through your filter. Is the horizontal line through the skimmers above or below the line through your filter? Better yet, can you take pictures of the pool with the pad in the background, or pad with pool in the background?
 
View attachment 440133
This probably gives a better idea of the pool, on the far right there is a hedge the pool equipment is through there.
Great thanks for this! That means your mpv is below your skimmers. I’ll wait for answer to last question before we get to next step.

Did they leave you any DE?

And where does the black line go?
 

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