Howdy y'all -- short-time lurker, first-time poster.
So we're basically some country bumpkins with a 27000 gallon 16x48 CMU semi-in-ground (50% above grade/50% below grade) "tank" we built some 20 years ago. It has a 16ft long "infinity edge" and a constant flow of about 1-2gpm of coarsely filtered (100 mesh/150 micron) water from a nearby creek (everything is gravity fed). The constant flow is used to maintain temperature (we have many days over 100f in the summer) and also because the pool weeps a certain amount and will start to drop if we turn off the water completely (probably on the order of 0.5gpm/700gal per day or thereabouts)
Up until this year we used chlorine tablets and the floating dispensers to maintain a certain amount of clarity, and also would vacuum using a flexible pool hose thrown over the edge to siphon. After reading things here; we added CYA (at about 30ppm, but it's constantly dropping), I've switched to using liquid chlorine (10%) and so far have had good success with that, however recently we were away for a week and started to get some algae on the bottom / cloudiness. Working on getting that back under control, but also would be nice to be able to maintain things for a week or so without having to be here.
Have been thinking about adding a pump/sand filter (we are off grid and could run a 1-1.5hp pump for 6-8 hours/day nearly every day of the summer). The "tank" was built with a traditional pool drain at one end, and multiple 1-1/4" pvc stubs around the pool at different heights. There are no strainers as such, and none of the stubs are plumbed anywhere, but could be if necessary. We don't have any tall trees near the tank, so large debris is not typical.
If we add a pump, I gather we could also add a SWG which is also of interest.
I'm wondering what, if anything, would work best in our somewhat unique situation? Where is the intersection between effectiveness, cost and complexity?
Incoming water
Temp: 60f or thereabouts when it gets to the pool, guessing it's closer to 50-55f at the source, can confirm if necessary.
PH: 8 or thereabouts (acid demand 2 drops)
Alkalinity: 120ppm
Calcium: 100ppm
Any thoughts appreciated!
So we're basically some country bumpkins with a 27000 gallon 16x48 CMU semi-in-ground (50% above grade/50% below grade) "tank" we built some 20 years ago. It has a 16ft long "infinity edge" and a constant flow of about 1-2gpm of coarsely filtered (100 mesh/150 micron) water from a nearby creek (everything is gravity fed). The constant flow is used to maintain temperature (we have many days over 100f in the summer) and also because the pool weeps a certain amount and will start to drop if we turn off the water completely (probably on the order of 0.5gpm/700gal per day or thereabouts)
Up until this year we used chlorine tablets and the floating dispensers to maintain a certain amount of clarity, and also would vacuum using a flexible pool hose thrown over the edge to siphon. After reading things here; we added CYA (at about 30ppm, but it's constantly dropping), I've switched to using liquid chlorine (10%) and so far have had good success with that, however recently we were away for a week and started to get some algae on the bottom / cloudiness. Working on getting that back under control, but also would be nice to be able to maintain things for a week or so without having to be here.
Have been thinking about adding a pump/sand filter (we are off grid and could run a 1-1.5hp pump for 6-8 hours/day nearly every day of the summer). The "tank" was built with a traditional pool drain at one end, and multiple 1-1/4" pvc stubs around the pool at different heights. There are no strainers as such, and none of the stubs are plumbed anywhere, but could be if necessary. We don't have any tall trees near the tank, so large debris is not typical.
If we add a pump, I gather we could also add a SWG which is also of interest.
I'm wondering what, if anything, would work best in our somewhat unique situation? Where is the intersection between effectiveness, cost and complexity?
Incoming water
Temp: 60f or thereabouts when it gets to the pool, guessing it's closer to 50-55f at the source, can confirm if necessary.
PH: 8 or thereabouts (acid demand 2 drops)
Alkalinity: 120ppm
Calcium: 100ppm
Any thoughts appreciated!
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