HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to turn

Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Would you really? It's tempting trust me. But omg after all the time and effort. Looking back i should have. But, hind sight is always 20 20 and none of us knew it would take this long, be this expensive or time consuming.

I guess i'll just hang in there. As far as swimming. I'm not going under but believe me i'm in that water almost every single day. It was 106 here today. I worked but if i hadn't, my float would be going round and round and round LOL

BTW My weir is broken. I'm almost embarrassed to say that in mixed company, but....it happens.
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Niki. You're working the weekend correct? Not a good time to drain. I know this is all exciting stuff but you seriously need to rethink this. Probably not what you want to hear, and it's just my opinion. If after your weekend shift there is no improvement consider a drain and refill. You can't look at it from the point of view that all the money you spent will have been wasted. That is not a justifiable reason to spend more. You may have made the turn and things will improve over the weekend. If not ask yourself how much it would cost you to drain and refill, and if you think you can continue this process through to the end for less. I feel terrible for you that this has been so lengthy and costly. This is an unusual one and if Monday brings no improvement you need to remind yourself what your goal is. To get your pool cleared up and ready for swimming. Come Monday, the fastest and cheapest route to that may very well be a drain and refill.

GC
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Yes i'm working through Sunday. I agree that would appear to be enough time that if it's gonna clear it will be clear. But will that guarantee a clear pool? Couldn't i just end up with a cloudy pool again? Scares me to death that i will drain it, fill it, and i'll be right back where i am now. Is that not true?
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Nope. That won't happen. You know too much now to ever let that happen. But let's assume for a moment that it would happen. Then it would mean that what you're at now is pointless. And if that were true then how would you ever find out doing it this way? When would you ever stop? Does that make any sense. Reading back over it it barely makes sense to me and I know what I am trying to say!!
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Niki, the question of whether to drain and refil or continue shocking until the pool is clear is you will have to make. I can tell you that as the cya takes effect the chlorine consumption by the sun will go way down. Thus the amount of bleach you will use will be substantially less. Sometimes it has taken 3 weeks for my pool to clear from a swamp. So will your pool clear by Monday - it may or may not. I do know the more you can keep a pool at shock level and brush and vacuume the faster it will clear. And I do know it will clear.
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Yes I agree it will clear. But how often have we all said (including me ) that it will be soon. I am beginning to believe that a drain and refill will be the cheapest and fastest way to a clear pool. I honestly hope I am wrong. I hope by Monday her pool shows significant improvement. If not then I believe it is time to reconsider. She has spent enough time and money.
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

I'm going to be honest and disagree on one point here. Yes, I fully agree looking back that draining the pool once all the leaves were found would have 100% been cheapest and fastest way to get to this point....however at that point a drain and refill wouldn't have worked fully. Keep in mind this wasn't a pool full of algae, it was a baquacil conversion. If she would have simply drained the pool there would still have been baquacil residue hiding in some nooks that will have ate up the chlorine quickly. She's just hit the point where the baquacil is fully out of the pool and is now running a chlorine pool 100%.....at least via the test numbers so far.
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

If it isn't 100 per cent chlorine draining and refill would not solve her problem. Visual improvement will come quickly as long as she can keep it at shock level, brush, and vacuum. This will be difficult to do while she is working.
 

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Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

It's all on the filter at this point. The CYA is in the pool now thus allowing her to keep her FC level at 15 and holding the chlorine some during the day. Any remaining bit's should be killed and filtered out. The sand is fresh, and ready to do it's job as well.

I've seen several conversions so far with sand filters where they get to the point of killing all the baqua and stop with the swap. They run with the idea that the pool is "clean" from the fact they're only testing .5CC or less and pass the OCLT. We all know this isn't the stopping point of shocking. The end point is clear water. As long as the shock level stay's above 15FC and the filter is running 24/7 then yes....it should start to see improvement. Monday maybe a stretch for a "clear" pool.......but the water should show signs of change daily.

How long does your sand filter take to clear up an algae outbreak for your pool once all the living stuff is dead?
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Since the cya was added yesterday and it takes about a week for it to take full effect, she will still be burning more chlorine this weekend than next. It just makes it harder to keep it at shock level this weekend while she is working.
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

I have never had one. But I cleared one last year for a friend in 4 (might have been 5) days. But he did everything I instructed him to. He was on it like a hawk day and night. Then he went BBB. He had a sand filter. His pool was quite green. But far from a swamp.
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Txmat said:
If it isn't 100 per cent chlorine draining and refill would not solve her problem. Visual improvement will come quickly as long as she can keep it at shock level, brush, and vacuum. This will be difficult to do while she is working.

It's 11:30 at night....I've just got off working for the last 13 hours in 100° weather and I've sat here typing for about 5 minutes trying to say just that. Thank you TxMat.....you're reading my mind. :D I'm going to bed now......it's supposed to be worse tomorrow. :(

Night Night all!! :sleep:
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

I hear you Leebo. It hit 106 here yesterday. It's hard to work in this. My car's air does the best it can but it's still so hot you could cook eggs in there.

No change this morning in clarity

FC 15.5
CC .5 (barely almost 0)

The sock appears to have just a little more CYA in it....it's almost gone.

Headed out.

Have a good one all!!!!
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Kinda

She's in the position where 100% of her chlorine will be gone quickly to the sun with zero cya. At the start of the conversion, the baquacil was consuming most well before the sun could. Now however the baquacil is gone and she's fighting the cloudy water. Most likely just dead bodies floating around. At this point, her shock level is 12 with a cya of 30......however I'd keep going at 15. Yes adding cya has lowered the fighting power of the chlorine some, but without it the chlorine will be gone in minutes during the day.

As for the week for the CYA...from my understanding, once the cya is in the pool, it's doing it's job. It starts working right away. The stabilizer may take up to a week however to show up on a test. At times however it will show up quicker.

Hey, which way he go??
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

Hi all. I drive a lot during the day. Like usually around 150 miles each day i work. Gives me a lot of time to think.

Today, as every day, i have been thinking about my pool. I know nothing about pools as i have stated many times and i'm learning as i go. I am, however, a very logical person when it comes to things. So bare with me here on these thoughts, which you all have helped me to understand....

1. My pool is basically clean. I'm thinking nada on the Bacqua and nada on the algae. Which means i am left with dead floating things that my sand has to get out. Which is taking it forever to do if it even ever does....
2. If it were not for the little dead things i would have a sparkly pool. I've changed my sand, i've shocked till i've dropped, i've done it by the book. EXCEPT that my HUGE mistake of not vacuuming and scrubbing the middle put me way back on getting to this point. That was definitely ALL my fault and this taking a long time has a lot to do with that, and i am aware of that.


So i have dead stuff floating and waiting on my filter to get it all. Now, in a perfect world that would be done graciously within a week or so. Not happening. So, here is my idea.

This has been mentioned and it did not come off as having a lot of negative attention. I believe the worst response that was made was something like....it can't hurt, do it if you want to. So, i think i need to flock.

If i get that dead stuff down there where i can vacuum to waste, wouldn't that solve the problem? Being that this floating dead stuff is my problem?

I think i need to flock. Let me know what ya'll think. End of rant. LOL

I stopped today and got flock (can't do it till Monday) and a new pressure gauge. It is now on and my base is 14 presently.

Oh and FC 6
CC 0. It's another scorcher here today. FC held at 6 so far...thinking that CYA is working!!!!
 
Hey Nikki. Long distance dedication for ya. I'm in jolly ol' England for about 12 days.

Just wanted to check in and say keep up the good work :). You're almost there. I can smell it (although that smell might be your bleach shorts :p).

My opinion on drain and fill ... You could always do a partial drain. I'm sure others can chime in and tell me I'm nuts but if you drain say 1/3 of your pool, that's 1/3 less dead stuff floating and it'll take 1/3 the time (to drain and fill). It gives your filter a bit of help and MAY save some time. Just my thoughts and I am likely wrong :p

As for flock... I haven't heads that many success stories about it. I've seen more people say it didn't do anything than people saying it helped. Grain of salt, of course, but that's what I've seen from threads on here.

Anyhoodles ... Keep at er girl. You'll be swimming by the time I get home :)
 
Re: HELP i'm in a complete mess and don't know which way to

The thing we hate about floc is that often stores sell it as a wonder drug. Pools with HORRID chemistry are told "add this and all will be fine." A lazy way out for the stores. In this case however with a clean pool, floc may work, but is also an added expense. Given the fact you've purchased the item, I'd guess you're willing to spend that extra cash. :)

Keep shocking at a 15Fc....keep brushing.....keep vaccumming. It will clear up!
 

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