First time pool startup

[Shtutty]

Hey guys,

I’m thinking of opening up my pool myself this year. We already have the cover off. Here’s where my question is and why I’m hesitant. Last year we ended off the season with some serious algae problem due to a poor filter. We got a brand new sand filter this year. But the pool is just gross and very green. My question is, should I have an issue filtering this algea water through my new filter or should I hire someone to pump out and clean the water that way…. Naturally I’ll pump in shock and chlorine to balance it all out, but I’ll still need to cycle this green water through the new filter.

Thanks!

 

[Bperry]

Hey guys,

I’m thinking of opening up my pool myself this year. We already have the cover off. Here’s where my question is and why I’m hesitant. Last year we ended off the season with some serious algae problem due to a poor filter. We got a brand new sand filter this year. But the pool is just gross and very green. My question is, should I have an issue filtering this algea water through my new filter or should I hire someone to pump out and clean the water that way…. Naturally I’ll pump in shock and chlorine to balance it all out, but I’ll still need to cycle this green water through the new filter.

Thanks!

Hey welcome,

First need to clear up a misunderstanding. algae in the water is 100% caused by inadequate chlorination. The filter just filter dirt and other stuff along with dead algae. But to allow it to filter out dead algae, the algae needs to be dead first.

If you have green algae now, you need to follow what TFP calls the SLAM process. Read up on it in the pool school and ask any questions needed. The SLAM process is way better than just dumping in a bunch of chemicals and hoping for the best.

But yes, you can open your pool yourself and everyone here would enjoying helping you do it. So go for it, it’s way easier than it sounds.

 

[Shtutty]

Hey welcome,

First need to clear up a misunderstanding. algae in the water is 100% caused by inadequate chlorination. The filter just filter dirt and other stuff along with dead algae. But to allow it to filter out dead algae, the algae needs to be dead first.

If you have green algae now, you need to follow what TFP calls the SLAM process. Read up on it in the pool school and ask any questions needed. The SLAM process is way better than just dumping in a bunch of chemicals and hoping for the best.

But yes, you can open your pool yourself and everyone here would enjoying helping you do it. So go for it, it’s way easier than it sounds.

Yup I know about SLAM! Okay good to know. Great help thanks. So basically I would just brush down the walls of the pool. Then SLAM. Should I also run my robot since I don’t have anything else to clean the bottom of the pool?

 

[PoolStored]

Should I also run my robot since I don’t have anything else to clean the bottom of the pool?

Depends...what is on the bottom of the pool? If it is a large amount of leaves and debris, no. You should get those out with a net or other device. If it is just dead algae, yes.

 

[Bperry]

Yup I know about SLAM! Okay good to know. Great help thanks. So basically I would just brush down the walls of the pool. Then SLAM. Should I also run my robot since I don’t have anything else to clean the bottom of the pool?

If you have leaves and other junk in the water, best to get those out with a leaf rake/net. Some people recommend not running the robot in SLAM water but I figure if it’s safe for people it should be safe for robots. I wouldn’t even wait on the brushing to start the SLAM though. If you don’t have a recommended test kit, I’d get one of those on order ASAP and then add 5ppm chlorine to the water until the kit arrives. Then post a full set of test results to figure out how to start your SLAM.

 

[Shtutty]

Depends...what is on the bottom of the pool? If it is a large amount of leaves and debris, no. You should get those out with a net or other device. If it is just dead algae, yes.

Unfortunately I can’t see the bottom haha. Should I run the robot before SLAM to get rid of any possible debris?

 

[Shtutty]

If you have leaves and other junk in the water, best to get those out with a leaf rake/net. Some people recommend not running the robot in SLAM water but I figure if it’s safe for people it should be safe for robots. I wouldn’t even wait on the brushing to start the SLAM though. If you don’t have a recommended test kit, I’d get one of those on order ASAP and then add 5ppm chlorine to the water until the kit arrives. Then post a full set of test results to figure out how to start your SLAM.

Shall I maybe run robot first, to make sure all is off the bottom (as I can’t really see the bottom at this time)

 

[Shtutty]

If you have leaves and other junk in the water, best to get those out with a leaf rake/net. Some people recommend not running the robot in SLAM water but I figure if it’s safe for people it should be safe for robots. I wouldn’t even wait on the brushing to start the SLAM though. If you don’t have a recommended test kit, I’d get one of those on order ASAP and then add 5ppm chlorine to the water until the kit arrives. Then post a full set of test results to figure out how to start your SLAM.

Re- recommended kits. I saw about the Taylor K in this forum. Is there another one that’s better?

 

[PoolStored]

Re- recommended kits. I saw about the Taylor K in this forum. Is there another one that’s better?

Link-->Test Kits Compared

Shall I maybe run robot first, to make sure all is off the bottom (as I can’t really see the bottom at this time)

Do not run the robot until you are sure you don't have a bunch of leaves and debris on the bottom. Get a net and start fishing first.

 

[Homebrewale]

I prefer to manually vacuum instead of using the robot. You probably already have a pole. You can buy a vacuum head, vacuum hose and skimmer hose adapter to start manually vacuuming. You can also buy a bunch of skimmer socks or hairnets to catch some of the crud in the skimmer before it gets to your sand filter.

 

[Shtutty]

I prefer to manually vacuum instead of using the robot. You probably already have a pole. You can buy a vacuum head, vacuum hose and skimmer hose adapter to start manually vacuuming. You can also buy a bunch of skimmer socks or hairnets to catch some of the crud in the skimmer before it gets to your sand filter.

Thank you! A question about the pool cover. I have a big mesh cover with a mesh bag. Can I fold and put away the pool cover wet? It’s huge so I don’t see a way I can dry this. Thanks!

 

[Shtutty]

Link-->Test Kits Compared

Do not run the robot until you are sure you don't have a bunch of leaves and debris on the bottom. Get a net and start fishing first.

Got it thank you! A question about the pool cover. I have a big mesh cover with a mesh bag. Can I fold and put away the pool cover wet? It’s huge so I don’t see a way I can dry this. Thanks!

 

[PoolStored]

Got it thank you! A question about the pool cover. I have a big mesh cover with a mesh bag. Can I fold and put away the pool cover wet? It’s huge so I don’t see a way I can dry this. Thanks!

That is what I do. You can even let it sit on the pool deck (in the bag) in the sun for the day to let it dry a bit.

 

[Shtutty]

Link-->Test Kits Compared

Do not run the robot until you are sure you don't have a bunch of leaves and debris on the bottom. Get a net and start fishing first.

Do I need the $22 slam option add on if I buy the Tf-100 kit?

 

[clambert1273]

Do I need the $22 slam option add on if I buy the Tf-100 kit?

If you are gonna slam then I would highly recommend it.

 

[Shtutty]

If you are gonna slam then I would highly recommend it.

Thank you. What should I do while I wait for the kit? 5ppm chlorine? Just opened the pool. Filling it up now to read the skimmers. Here’s a photo of a before reference .

 

[clambert1273]

Thank you. What should I do while I wait for the kit? 5ppm chlorine? Just opened the pool. Filling it up now to read the skimmers. Here’s a photo of a before reference .

Lol you should read my current thread of my slam but yes Marty would say just add 5ppm of chlorine until kit comes

 

[Shtutty]

Lol you should read my current thread of my slam but yes Marty would say just add 5ppm of chlorine until kit comes

Can you link me to that thread?? Can’t find it

 

[clambert1273]

Can you link me to that thread?? Can’t find it

Sure thing

I was a bad girl!

Good morning my fellow pool nerds! I was a bad girl over winter :( Normally it isn't too bad and I start pulling pool out of hibernation when everyone changes time in March but this year AZ weather was broken and it stayed cold for quite a while. Well cold for me anyway so I got started much...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Shtutty]

If you are gonna slam then I would highly recommend it.

Okay I just purchased the kit. Currently filling up the pool (it’s not at skimmer level yet). So when I’m able to actually turn the pool on, while I wait for this test kit. Just throw in up to 5ppm of chlorine? Tabs? Powder?