After much reading I performed the ammonia test and I lost 85% or 8.5ppm in 30 min and have 1.5 CC. 28k gallon in ground vinyl liner. Am I best to drain completely and start over or do I dump a likely hefty amount of chlorine via multiple rounds? I should note, I live in the country and have my own well so water cost is not a concern. I would also note that most of last season my pool was clear but never could quite get that sparkling water.
Treat or drain?
- Thread starter Tkkaring
- Start date
You need to leave 12 to 18 inches in the shallow end so the liner doesn't shift. Once there, match the drain and fill the best you can from opposite ends and let it run a while to get even more out. Once refilled, the battle will be easier than it would have been.
See the no drain exchange in the link below for calculations for less mixing during that part
www.troublefreepool.com
See the no drain exchange in the link below for calculations for less mixing during that part
Draining - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Thank you for the quick reply and the solid advice. One last question....I have a variable rate pump....could I turn it way down, pump out of the main drain and fill with my hose into shallow end? I know the link you sent says to have pump off so likely use an independent pump. I have a 7hp well pump that has some serious pressure so if I can get the inflow and outflow close would that suffice? Thanks again.
So you risk the expensive pool pump if it loses prime and burns up. All pumps will lose prime at a certain water level, but if you're out there babysitting it, you can shut off the pump if it happens and switch to a submersible. The pump will likely hold prime past the point it cannot prime. Many times at closing i wanted to lower it a bit more and couldn't repirme the pump to keep going. So don't shut it off unless you know you're done draining. (Providing it's flowing great still)
While I drained 2 ft of my swamp with the pool pump, I brushed like a mad man to the main drains getting as much sediment as I could out to waste. In hindsight with more knowledge i could have stayed low and exchanged water but the battle was still better with only refilling.
While I drained 2 ft of my swamp with the pool pump, I brushed like a mad man to the main drains getting as much sediment as I could out to waste. In hindsight with more knowledge i could have stayed low and exchanged water but the battle was still better with only refilling.
Ok, thanks again Newdude. Lastly, once I am full again do I just need to test CYA and FC and start the SLAM process? When I built this pool in 2017 I took a sample to pool store to get going with what they told me so not sure on a fresh start.
Yup. Once you're refilling I'd hold the FC at 10 because that's slam for 0 CYA and you won't have any less than that. Lol.
You may have some left front last year and the fill water is 0 so in the end it will be on the low side, or even 0.
You may need to do the 30 min ammonia test/adds at first. Once it mostly holds 30 mins, switch to 2 hour tests until they mostly hold. Then 3 hours. And so on.
