I have what looks like sand at bottom of my above ground pool. It has been there for about 2 weeks. I have been shocking pool and adding liquid bleach and used yellow out. I vacuum and brush and then the water is murky until “sand” settles back down into pool. I know some of it is going through skimmer because my cartridge is brown and I have to change it every 2 to 3 days. I have been watching PH and alkalinity levels as well. My chlorine goes from normal to low overnight. Help
Can’t get rid of what looks like sand at bottom of pool
- Thread starter kvazquez2006
- Start date
I have what looks like sand at bottom of my above ground pool. It has been there for about 2 weeks. I have been shocking pool and adding liquid chlorine and used yellow out. I vacuum and brush and then the water is murky until “sand” settles back down into pool. I know some of it is going through skimmer because my cartridge is brown and I have to change it every 2 to 3 days. I have been watching PH and alkalinity levels as well. They keep going from high to low. My chlorine goes from normal to low overnight. Help
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,015
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The stuff settling is most likely organic material that either settled to the bottom or the effects of algae from an imbalance of FC & CYA. The pH/TA is not the issue, and cleaning the filter over & over probably won't get rid of it. Yellow out and other pool store products will just make matters worse.
Can you post a full set of water test results? That's always step #1. Then we can coach you from there.
Can you post a full set of water test results? That's always step #1. Then we can coach you from there.
I will once the sun comes here in Cali. It is still a little early. I did have a cya problem about 3 weeks ago and had to drain and refill pool. That is when this stuff at bottom of pool appeared. After we refilled
One other thing. I am a fairly new pool owner and use test strips to test water. Should I be using something else?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,015
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Absolutely. Test strips are simply horrible. Local store testing isn't much better. We recommend a couple options. Either a TF-100 (or TF-Pro Series) test kit (link below), or a Taylor K-2006C. IMO, the TF products are a better value, but select whichever one you wish. With either one, you can be sure of reliable at-home testing without anyone else's outside influence to pressure you to try and sell you over-priced junk.
Test Kits
Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared
What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!
www.troublefreepool.com
Total hardness: 1000
Total chlorine: 1
Fee chlorine: 3
PH: 7.2
Total alkalinity: 180
Stabilizer: 0. And I put some in last night
Last night around 6 pm I out shock and stabilizer in my pool. The pump has been running 24/7 for 5 days now. It is still dark here but I can tell the sandy stuff is settled again in pool. Water appears clean but it is still too dark to tell for sure if cloudy. I have a 20’ x 12’ x 48” oval above ground pool. Approximately 5200 gallons of water
Total chlorine: 1
Fee chlorine: 3
PH: 7.2
Total alkalinity: 180
Stabilizer: 0. And I put some in last night
Last night around 6 pm I out shock and stabilizer in my pool. The pump has been running 24/7 for 5 days now. It is still dark here but I can tell the sandy stuff is settled again in pool. Water appears clean but it is still too dark to tell for sure if cloudy. I have a 20’ x 12’ x 48” oval above ground pool. Approximately 5200 gallons of water
And thanks for the information on tests kits. I will buy one. I am tired of looking at Sandy stuff at bottom of pool. And when we get in or use the vacuum it swirls into the water and is there all day
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,015
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
It all starts with the proper test kit. We all started this way, trying the other routes before we realized it was just wasting our time and money. With accurate testing, the clouds open up and see the truth about your water. For now, I would simply recommend two things until you get the proper test kit. Don't try to take any actions based on the test strips. Those two things are:
1 - Add about 4-5 ppm of liquid chlorine to the water each day. Use only liquid chlorine. Use the PoolMath APP (Effects of Adding) to help you with the dosage.
2 - Update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. It will be important later.
www.troublefreepool.com
1 - Add about 4-5 ppm of liquid chlorine to the water each day. Use only liquid chlorine. Use the PoolMath APP (Effects of Adding) to help you with the dosage.
2 - Update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. It will be important later.
Create Your Signature - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
You need to stop using the yellow out and just get your chlorine numbers above the minimum. What are your recent water test results?
Last edited:
Yes, get the good test kit.
If the "sand" poofs up into clouds when disturbed - it is dead algae. Currently you likely are growing more, so an endless cycle of filtering it out, and then more replacing it.
Do as Texas Splash advised right now. When your kit arrives, the critical numbers will be the CYA (stabilizer), Free Chlorine, and Combined Chlorine. For the Cl, use the test involving powders and drops.
Visit your local WalMart and get several gallons of Pool Essentials liquid chlorine. Once we know the numbers, we can guide you on how much to add, and how often to test, to permanently knock it all down. It will be a sustained effort, not a one time event. Read up on the SLAM method in the Pool School here.
If the "sand" poofs up into clouds when disturbed - it is dead algae. Currently you likely are growing more, so an endless cycle of filtering it out, and then more replacing it.
Do as Texas Splash advised right now. When your kit arrives, the critical numbers will be the CYA (stabilizer), Free Chlorine, and Combined Chlorine. For the Cl, use the test involving powders and drops.
Visit your local WalMart and get several gallons of Pool Essentials liquid chlorine. Once we know the numbers, we can guide you on how much to add, and how often to test, to permanently knock it all down. It will be a sustained effort, not a one time event. Read up on the SLAM method in the Pool School here.
Total hardness: 1000
Total chlorine: 1
Fee chlorine: 3
PH: 7.2
Total alkalinity: 180
Stabilizer: 0. And I put some in last night
Currently my stabilizer shows zero with the test strips. Should I do anything. Does getting in the pool help as we are moving everything around when we swim?
Yeah I just read that it is dead algae. But when I vacuum it just seems to make the water cloudy and then after approximately 18 hours it is settled at bottom again.I have a robot vacuum but I think I need a different type to vacuum this up. Any suggestions?
Those number are not possible. Are you still using strips or did you get the test kit?
I'm unfamiliar with your particular pool. In your signature, list the filter and pump you are using too. Pictures of the ways water gets taken to the filter, and comes back would help. Traditionally, a manual vacuum that has a head mounted on a pole, and has a hose from the head to a suction inlet in your pool, is used - just like the vac in your house - move it over the bottom of the pool, sucking up the dead algae to go to the filter (or to waste, if you have that capability). As you have found, it is easy to stir up the dead algae and then it suspends, making things cloudy and taking time to settle out again. Eventually your robot and filter will get it - but others will have to advise on the specifics of what to buy to speed things up.
My pool does not have a return to waste. If I use a vacuum attached to inlet, will the dirty water return to pool? Or does filter catch it? I am new to owning a pool. I know it does not return debris from pool. Today I changed the filter and it was so brown. Also I have a sock on my filter basket I changed that last night and it was also a little brown.
Oh and I have a skimmer attached to hose that takes water to pump. Then it passes through a solar panel, fabco baby bear solar pool heater, and then back to pool