Lord only knows what lurks in the bottom. Maybe the rough stuff you describe is debris of some kind. Praying it isn't a tear. I really think junk in the bottom is holding back your progress. Still cheering you on man...keep it up.
Swamp to pool conversion
- Thread starter shortdogOH
- Start date
Okay well some good and bad news. Went on the premise of the leaf rake being a rake (oops!) and attached with tape to my makeshift pole. Was careful with it, and pulled out the meshing of my mini leaf rake on pass one. On pass two I pulled out the skimmer plate. There was no pass 3. So mission accomplished and possible damage limited.
Prior to which I had began repair of the plumbing waste line. As mentioned earlier is just barely passes a few inches under the fence and when wasting, water runs back under the fence, that coupled with the few tears in the waste line, it gets pretty messy when I backflush, let alone trying to vac to waste. Update: got all the PVC connected and cut away the damaged vinyl, but was unable to reattach the hose to the connector that goes on the end of the PVC. So still a big mess when I run to waste. Update 2: was able to attach the hose later in the evening with the use of some hot water and a bit of thinking.
Ended up just vacing to filter, more sand removed, enough I had to stop midway and empty and clean the pump strainer. Got a small rock, and 3 AA batteries (Pretty corroded on the + side), which worries me as they normally come in pairs.
FC tested at 8, which is a bit low for what I need. Hope that does not hinder my progress much. Water looked less gray, I think it is time to get an updated picture. Visiblity near the same, though I thought I could see the bottom of the deep for a second. The lighting must have been just right, but it had to be just an illusion because when I got in I could only see for a few feet, and the deep is near 9 feet.
Still problem with filter gauge or such, it constantly reads 18 during operation. Goes to 0 when I turn it off, but when I turn the pump on it climbs to 18 every time. Went ahead and backflushed anyway as it has been awhile and I climbed on the fence and could see the water coming out quite murky gray, after about 2 minutes it looked more clear, so i rinsed and restarted the filter process. guage went right back to 18 PSI. ???? I think I will backflush more often, as it seems to need it, regardless of the PSI reading.
[attachment=0:3glzic3c]waste hose.jpg[/attachment:3glzic3c]
Prior to which I had began repair of the plumbing waste line. As mentioned earlier is just barely passes a few inches under the fence and when wasting, water runs back under the fence, that coupled with the few tears in the waste line, it gets pretty messy when I backflush, let alone trying to vac to waste. Update: got all the PVC connected and cut away the damaged vinyl, but was unable to reattach the hose to the connector that goes on the end of the PVC. So still a big mess when I run to waste. Update 2: was able to attach the hose later in the evening with the use of some hot water and a bit of thinking.
Ended up just vacing to filter, more sand removed, enough I had to stop midway and empty and clean the pump strainer. Got a small rock, and 3 AA batteries (Pretty corroded on the + side), which worries me as they normally come in pairs.
FC tested at 8, which is a bit low for what I need. Hope that does not hinder my progress much. Water looked less gray, I think it is time to get an updated picture. Visiblity near the same, though I thought I could see the bottom of the deep for a second. The lighting must have been just right, but it had to be just an illusion because when I got in I could only see for a few feet, and the deep is near 9 feet.
Still problem with filter gauge or such, it constantly reads 18 during operation. Goes to 0 when I turn it off, but when I turn the pump on it climbs to 18 every time. Went ahead and backflushed anyway as it has been awhile and I climbed on the fence and could see the water coming out quite murky gray, after about 2 minutes it looked more clear, so i rinsed and restarted the filter process. guage went right back to 18 PSI. ???? I think I will backflush more often, as it seems to need it, regardless of the PSI reading.
[attachment=0:3glzic3c]waste hose.jpg[/attachment:3glzic3c]
Attachments
How high will your pressure get by the time your filter stops or slows way down in terms of moving water? It is still possible that your gauge is bad. If you are getting suction and decent flow through the filter for the vac process, just keep up doing what you are.
You do need more chlorine than 8 for sure and it will slow your progress at that level. I know you are workin on it, but I just know there is more junk in the bottom eating your chlorine rapidly. Until that is clean, progress will be slow. Stay with it man, you are inching your way along.
You do need more chlorine than 8 for sure and it will slow your progress at that level. I know you are workin on it, but I just know there is more junk in the bottom eating your chlorine rapidly. Until that is clean, progress will be slow. Stay with it man, you are inching your way along.
Thanks for keeping up with me. Weeks ago I got the pressure to just over 30 PSI before backwashing and it went down. I think the gauge is designed for air pressure so maybe it does not hold up in wet applications??
Got the waste hose hooked up and working good. Did a flush and some vac to waste but everything seemed clear. I feel by using vac to waste I am basically draining the pool. Lost about two inches in just a few minutes.
Side note is I caught the extension cord/pump plug on fire. (sorry no pics) I guess that is why you do not use extensions with these things. Fortunately the extension cord took the majority of the damage and was able to get a replacement cord with very minimal pump downtime.
Finished with a quick vac to filter and noticed a bit more sand in the pump strainer, but not much else. FC was back down to 8, so I will try to get that under control again.
Got the waste hose hooked up and working good. Did a flush and some vac to waste but everything seemed clear. I feel by using vac to waste I am basically draining the pool. Lost about two inches in just a few minutes.
Side note is I caught the extension cord/pump plug on fire. (sorry no pics) I guess that is why you do not use extensions with these things. Fortunately the extension cord took the majority of the damage and was able to get a replacement cord with very minimal pump downtime.
Finished with a quick vac to filter and noticed a bit more sand in the pump strainer, but not much else. FC was back down to 8, so I will try to get that under control again.
On the pump label it should say how many amps it pulls. You want to use an extension cord rated for that amount of amps or more.
zea3 said:
Indeed, and I did not think to check that. Been using that same cord for a month with the pump without issue. Did notice a small puff of smoke from one of the openings yesterday. I figured I must have dropped the cord at one point, and some of the dirty scum that forms around the pool equipment (due to poor drainage) must have gotten in the plug end. I also figured it would burn off eventually, and boy did it. I had also hoped to have the power pole fixed by now (along with a list of other things that still need attention)....
Update: Looking a bit more clear. I can almost always see the light cover on the deep end wall. More vacing and I pulled out the fine filter for my portable vac. It is supposely able to remove fine particles including algea. Got a good amount of the black dirt that seems to hang around, I think it must pass that dirt right through the filter for the most part. Had both vacs going at the same time, got sand and a few leaves from he pool vac. Sand and black dust from the hand vac.
Rolling over where the drain is (where I think it is) with the vac is a bit rough, that coupled with the occasional leaves that vac up, makes me think the drain is trapping several leaves in it. Drain flow is good, as good as I think it can be anyway. Is there a good method to dislodge those leaves so I can vac them out?? Short of diving down there?
FC down to 7
CC at 1
pH at 7.0 so adding some fill water.
[attachment=0:mniax16y]811 PM.jpg[/attachment:mniax16y]
Rolling over where the drain is (where I think it is) with the vac is a bit rough, that coupled with the occasional leaves that vac up, makes me think the drain is trapping several leaves in it. Drain flow is good, as good as I think it can be anyway. Is there a good method to dislodge those leaves so I can vac them out?? Short of diving down there?
FC down to 7
CC at 1
pH at 7.0 so adding some fill water.
[attachment=0:mniax16y]811 PM.jpg[/attachment:mniax16y]
Attachments
ShortdogOH, what FC level are you shocking at? FC of 7 is not high enough. Do you know how much CYA is in your pool?
I'm at work and don't have time to read back through this whole thread, so forgive me if I'm overlooking the answers to my questions.
I'm at work and don't have time to read back through this whole thread, so forgive me if I'm overlooking the answers to my questions.
Samantha_in_AL said:
Thanks for the concern. I am targeting 12 FC, but I also work all day, so can only dose in the evening or on my drive in to work. CYA is about 25 last I checked. Been shooting for a 16 or more overnight and hoping that holds. Last night I left it at 19 (7+12) per calculator.
Just checking in for an update. Hope you are making some good progress this weekend.
me too pup. Think I am getting somewhere, though I cannot get a good picture that displays it. I can see the botoom of the shallow end clearly. Not as clear as can be, but visibilty is to the bottom! 
Had a guy over (friend of friend), and he keeps on with the comments. "Haven't drained that thing yet?", etc. Says his brother had the SAME problem and the only fix is to drain it, hmm. I hate to be disrepectful, so I just shrug it off and keep working.
FC last night was 9. So bumped that up as soon as I could. Need to get over there and backwash the filter and get to cleaning, scrubing, and vacing. Gonna be a long day, but hopefully will get some more poisitive results out of it.
Had a guy over (friend of friend), and he keeps on with the comments. "Haven't drained that thing yet?", etc. Says his brother had the SAME problem and the only fix is to drain it, hmm. I hate to be disrepectful, so I just shrug it off and keep working.
FC last night was 9. So bumped that up as soon as I could. Need to get over there and backwash the filter and get to cleaning, scrubing, and vacing. Gonna be a long day, but hopefully will get some more poisitive results out of it.
Hope things are going your way...and hope so soon. You are about to run out of summer!
Running out of time for sure. Still clearing up a bit each day. Water temp down to 82, which sounds pretty good, but it is cold. Heater still MIA, been tempted to roll out the solar cover, but was told not to cover while shocking. Days still warm, so maybe a few days to enjoy once it is clear.
I think I upgraded from a swamp to a green pool now. Next stop will be the sparkling oasis.
I think I upgraded from a swamp to a green pool now. Next stop will be the sparkling oasis.
holy Crud.. never knew it takes this long to convert a pool. I am hopefully going to be a new pool owner as well and this doesnt look FUN!!!
Shortdogs pool is an extreme case plagued with mechanical issues (still) and serious debris. Most swamps are blue cloudy in a week as long as shock levels are maintained.
Shortdog is a trooper... I love how optimistic he is throughout this. I think the corner will be turned soon for him. Comparing the first images he sent to the latest with most of the debris out now, the water looks great! lol
Shortdog is a trooper... I love how optimistic he is throughout this. I think the corner will be turned soon for him. Comparing the first images he sent to the latest with most of the debris out now, the water looks great! lol
In hindsight I am sure I could have made this process go faster. Not having running water or electricity did not help. Having broken pool equipment (that I did not always realize was broken) did not help. Not carefully following directions and forgetting steps/advice did not help either. But I did do my homework, I knew that following the advice here would lead to success (as it has so many times) despite what those closest to me would say. I do NOT wish this process on anyone, but I do feel more comfortable and confident should I have to face this situation again.
In a month I went from a foul mess, with decaying animals and I heard that the city was coming over every so often and dumping pellets to prevent mesquito breading, and it smelled like a sewer - to a cloudy pool of water that I was not afraid to stand next to, and actually got in and did a few laps.
In a month I went from a foul mess, with decaying animals and I heard that the city was coming over every so often and dumping pellets to prevent mesquito breading, and it smelled like a sewer - to a cloudy pool of water that I was not afraid to stand next to, and actually got in and did a few laps.
frogabog said:
Nope, I have a home across town, but I know the people living there.
No debris for awhile, unless you count sand, leaves or fine black dust. The leaves I am pretty sure are lodged in the floor drain and I am occasionally able to dislodge and vac them up. (1 or 2 a day, yesterday I got 5!) These are green leaves (fresh?) not the black decomposed ones I used to get.
The skimmer should be catching the fresh leaves. Drop one in while the pump is running and see where it travels maybe?
frogabog said:
Pump is running 24/7 of course :lol: Good idea, I have to admit the water level did get a bit higher than the skimmer opening with the rain the last few days. The only leaf source that seemed to match was a neighbor tree that overhangs the pool ever so slightly. You are correct though, if they are falling in fresh and they are bouyant for more than 10 minutes, I should see them in the skimmer and I have not, at least for the last few days.