I can plug the top skimmer since my july installer didn't do a ball valve.
Then I assume pour some DE into the skimmer at pump near filter. Here's my setup.
Gunk...
- Thread starter Tnt17tnt
- Start date
Then I assume pour some DE into the skimmer at pump near filter. Here's my setup.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,025
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
While the little bag on that will catch some particles it will mostly let the algae right through. Do you have a manual vac that you can use to vac the accumulation to waste?
The psi at which you should backwash is different for everyone as it is based on your clean pressure. Backwash at 25% over clean pressure- whatever that is for you.
For instance- my clean psi immediately after backwashing is 10.
25% of that is 2.5 so 10+2.5= 12.5 or so is my backwash mark
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,025
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Read the article about the de - you mix it with water (somewhere around a cup of pool grade de - i use a gallon pitcher of water) & pour it into the skimmer slowly until psi rises by 1. Note the amount you used & then you can just automatically mix up that amount each subsequent time.
**In that pic your pump basket is not full - ensure that you remedy that by making sure it is full before turning the pump on by cracking the lid until it fills. Hopefully it’s not still like that.
To ease the cleaning of the pump basket without having a valve there you can use a nerf ball, raquet ball or something similar to block off the water from the skimmer.
Yes. My point was that leaves and whatever else is falling is utterly filthy. It might just be plain old dirt with no way to tell the difference, extending the slam for weeks. Whatever enters the pool will collect in any divots while the pool is circulating. I have 25 of them as I type after brushing last night, living next to a farm being cropped.
I'm not the fun police. Heck. I need the too much fun police to keep me in check most days. But I often had to tell the kids they couldn't jump in the leaves because we had somewhere to be in the next while and not enough time to shower them / change. I could literally shake the dust/dirt off them.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,092
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Backwash. Note your pressure after cleaning. When your pressure rises 25% backwash again. You should use high speed (if you have high speed) to note pressure.
Don't know the difference. You add to the skimmer that goes through the pool wall. Just pour in from the top. Add 1/4 cup at a time until you get a PSI rise. Read and follow the instructions if you decide to go this way.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,025
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Thanks. That's it. I read where someone said pump basket (looks like a skimmer basket but now I know that's the pump basket) but got confused with the skimmer basket.
Clean psi is usually 7-10. Rarely gets over 15. It's hit 18 once.
and I believe when I took that picture of the pump basket I had just used a rubber plug that fits the return into the skimmer and had cleaned out the basket last week when I did the partial drain since water was low and leaves and pine needles were in the pump basket.
It's a fight to open as it is with defying gravity. Then the water shooting out everywhere. Going to install a ball valve soon once winter cover is on
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One more question since I've heard 2 or 3 different things from wife's relatives and online videos.
Manual vaccum to waste procedure.
Hose goes to skimmer adaptor plate on top of the skimmer. Then turn on the filter to waist?
Some say take the hose straight to the skimmer hole port don't worry about adaptor plate. Leave the filter on filter. Since waste will drain the water quicker.
To add my frustration is with the hose and getting the burp process to work and a good suction without the hose coming off the skimmer plate adaptor has been a pain. So the robot and the new cleaner I've done more then the manual vac.
Manual vaccum to waste procedure.
Hose goes to skimmer adaptor plate on top of the skimmer. Then turn on the filter to waist?
Some say take the hose straight to the skimmer hole port don't worry about adaptor plate. Leave the filter on filter. Since waste will drain the water quicker.
To add my frustration is with the hose and getting the burp process to work and a good suction without the hose coming off the skimmer plate adaptor has been a pain. So the robot and the new cleaner I've done more then the manual vac.
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Backwash complete- 3 to 4 minute cycle. Followed by a 30 second rinse. Pressure still Around 13 however.
FC 20.0. CC .5
Turned the pump off briefly and here's where the this "stuff" likes to settle. Bigger spot each time. Other side where a crease or low area is it appears.
Edit- backwash was on waste setting I believe . It's been a long day as 3am came early.
Backwash now complete and pressure is 7-8.
FC 20.0. CC .5
Turned the pump off briefly and here's where the this "stuff" likes to settle. Bigger spot each time. Other side where a crease or low area is it appears.
Edit- backwash was on waste setting I believe . It's been a long day as 3am came early.
Backwash now complete and pressure is 7-8.
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- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,025
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Probably a divot or something there helping it collect-
For the vac I just feed the hose into the pool then keep the end under water, my plate is terrible too!
Having someone keep the hose in the water while you turn the pump off then to waste & back on is helpful. Then quickly connect the vac (either with the adapter or directly in the skimmer hole) & get the little spots quickly so you don’t waste too much water- take the weir door off in advance!
I rarely use the manual vacuum because its a pain!
You could also bypass the whole pump/skimmer drama by siphon vacuuming instead. Its still a bit of water but not as much as using the pump.
Same idea but it can all be done from wherever you want (for me that’s usually inside the pool) - once the hose is full of water & no air bubbles, hold your hand over the end & throw it over the side of the pool , a siphon should begin if you have the discharge end lower than the vac head end. Sometimes it takes a couple tries
For the vac I just feed the hose into the pool then keep the end under water, my plate is terrible too!
Having someone keep the hose in the water while you turn the pump off then to waste & back on is helpful. Then quickly connect the vac (either with the adapter or directly in the skimmer hole) & get the little spots quickly so you don’t waste too much water- take the weir door off in advance!
I rarely use the manual vacuum because its a pain!
You could also bypass the whole pump/skimmer drama by siphon vacuuming instead. Its still a bit of water but not as much as using the pump.
Same idea but it can all be done from wherever you want (for me that’s usually inside the pool) - once the hose is full of water & no air bubbles, hold your hand over the end & throw it over the side of the pool , a siphon should begin if you have the discharge end lower than the vac head end. Sometimes it takes a couple tries
It's definitely easier in the pool for sure. It's so high off the back side and hard to even brush let alone vac from outside. Going to add more decking or a landing area elevated soon for the back half.
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- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,025
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I figured half a deck would be good as it cost $4,000 plus as it was. And if I ever needed to replace anything then leaving it halfway open to take the walls down was the best idea. I didn't think of the 1' grade and I am 6 foot tall so standing down there trying to get the back half brushed and vacuumed sure is a challenge
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,025
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Looks like it’s turning greyer - good sign!Still at 20 at least. Looks like a small brown spot but I will do a manual vac later to waste and hopefully tomorrow nothing shows up.
is there anything you can recommend that I can buy online or at a store to make life easier come late spring and summer time that will do the job better? Whether vac head and hose (my hose doesn't have any swivel either so it doesn't like to stay on the vac head) to skimmer or something entirely different? The $250 Amazon robot (Asper seagull SE) gets a good bit cleaned up but I know it's not a replacement for what needs to be done either.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,025
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Are u sure you’re using the right end of the hose near the vac head? Usually 1 side has a swivel cuff that goes there.
When theres alot of debris a leaf rake is helpful.
Then I just run the bot however many times it takes to get the smaller stuff out.
I haven’t manually vacuumed since I got my robot 3 seasons ago. Before that I had an intex auto cleaner (pressure side) & rarely used the manual vac.
I do brush occasionally. My robot runs every day on a schedule all 7 months of my pool season - more if there’s a weather event that gets alot of debris in the pool.
When theres alot of debris a leaf rake is helpful.
Then I just run the bot however many times it takes to get the smaller stuff out.
I haven’t manually vacuumed since I got my robot 3 seasons ago. Before that I had an intex auto cleaner (pressure side) & rarely used the manual vac.
I do brush occasionally. My robot runs every day on a schedule all 7 months of my pool season - more if there’s a weather event that gets alot of debris in the pool.
Both sides appear the same. I attached a picture
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