Help!!

[acroce1986]

Ok so i just started caring for my own pool. I have to say its more work than i imagined lol. How did the pool people get done in 20 minutes what seems to take me 30 minutes a day! Anywho i am having some troubles. It was green when i started. I added two bags of shock. And some PH stuff. All the products im using are “In the Swim” products. Firstly when i hook up my vacuum the pump is immediately only half full of water and the other half air. Secondly, i dont think my filter is working like it is supposed to. I may have broke something. When i cleaned it i pull out the cartridge out and the paper but there was a bunch of sand/dirt in the bottom so i took the hose and tried to blast out the connecting pvc pipes. Did i break something? Am i supposed to back wash? Here is a few pics to help. Also can i just use chlorine tablets and shock instead of liquid chlorine?!?

 

[Newdude]

Hey 86 and Welcome !!!

How are you testing ?

Firstly when i hook up my vacuum the pump is immediately only half full of water and the other half air

Fill the hose with water first. Either in front of a return, or sink the pole/vac head and feed all the hose into the pool straight down before taking only the end and connecting it to the vac port / skimmer / skimmer plate.

When i cleaned it i pull out the cartridge out and the paper but there was a bunch of sand/dirt in the bottom

Heavier debris will sit at the bottom of the filer. Either scoop it out or open the drain plug and wash it out. Do not put it back into the plumbing.

Am i supposed to back wash?

No. That's for sand or DE filters. You're doing good.

Also can i just use chlorine tablets and shock instead of liquid chlorine?!?

No. Every 10 CYA (in the pucks/shock) also raises your FC or SLAM targets. So you'll need more and more FC to accomplish what you're already accomplishing.



Have some reading by clicking the links below

Pool Care Basics
Test Kits Compared
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath
Become a TFP Supporter

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hello!! Welcome to TFP!
I started here with TFP right after I took my first batch of water in to be tested and immediately realized they had no clue what to do. The guy said to add x amount of calcium, and so I returned with water sample #2 and he says "oops, I told you to add too much.." So I knew I had to find a way to do it better and here I am almost 14 yrs later! We can help you learn too, both chemical management and maintenance.

Please read through those links above that Newdude added, and start asking questions here when something doesn't make sense to you. We're happy to help.

It would help us if you could fill out a signature line, sort of like the ones Newdude and I have, telling us all about your pool size in gallons, how you sanitize it, equipment in use, how you test your water, etc. https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/signature
If unsure just post a picture of your entire equipment pad and we'll figure it out.

Glad to have you here!

Maddie

 

[toddclare]

The above replies are from people much more experienced and knowledgeable than I, but I’ll add that I was you two summers ago. Had an above ground and was pool stored: testing with strips or their testing service and buying more and more chemicals and getting worse and worse results as I went along.

Found this site, read and really learned all the above links, built an in-ground pool, and it’s been clear and awesome since I followed this method faithfully. Your time will go down immensely once you get the muscle memory, and you will find you KNOW what to do, as there aren’t really that many things TO do.

Good luck, welcome, and keep at it!