I just found this thread. I wish I had something technically helpful to offer, but I can say if everyone had a friend like you, the world would be a better place. Good luck to you, and I will be following your progress.
Helping a friend: This should be a good one
- Thread starter Mr Bruce
- Start date
- Mar 24, 2014
- 2,455
- Pool Size
- 32000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-55
I've had similar thoughts. This is what I think is going on, play sand varies from relatively large pieces to dust. After blowing WHATEVER into the pool, the real filter sand was able to pick out the larger pieces quickly, but the very very fine stuff can't be caught by the sand alone. It's very fine, so fine it stays suspended for days. The return test would be good to run with DE, I will see if we can do that.
- Mar 24, 2014
- 2,455
- Pool Size
- 32000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-55
Day 8*: Progress
The best news is that I can see a return I haven't been able to see before. I've known it was there, since it is our agreed measuring and adding spot for consistency, but it's a little shocking to actually see it. Then there are the other improvements that are obvious in the pictures. The two clear bottles are "return mostly" water and water far away from returns. You have to look closely, but the return water is clearer.
I am doing lunch and dinner checks all week because my friend is incredibly busy and was going to coast pool wise this week, but I am going to be very aggressive with DE during the day. We will see. edit: CC was 0 for the first time ever.
The best news is that I can see a return I haven't been able to see before. I've known it was there, since it is our agreed measuring and adding spot for consistency, but it's a little shocking to actually see it. Then there are the other improvements that are obvious in the pictures. The two clear bottles are "return mostly" water and water far away from returns. You have to look closely, but the return water is clearer.
I am doing lunch and dinner checks all week because my friend is incredibly busy and was going to coast pool wise this week, but I am going to be very aggressive with DE during the day. We will see. edit: CC was 0 for the first time ever.
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I am seeing more blue color as well!
Just think of what the first set of water cups looked like! WOW! THERE IS PROGRESS!
Wonderful job friend!
Kim
Just think of what the first set of water cups looked like! WOW! THERE IS PROGRESS!
Wonderful job friend!
Kim
- Mar 24, 2014
- 2,455
- Pool Size
- 32000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-55
AND it never did settle out after how long?????? Oh yeah! You ARE making progress.
Kim
Kim
Please post some pictures of the filter & pump equipment. I just looked over all the pictures you've taken & can't see a single ripple from the returns. Maybe the returns are pointed down. Have you reached in & tried to feel how much water is coming through. You could do a comparison with your pool. It's great you're seeing improvement but at this rate it'll be time to close the pool before you see the bottom.
- Mar 24, 2014
- 2,455
- Pool Size
- 32000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-55
The returns are very, very strong. It forms eddies in the stairs. Took a video but then I realized my Youtube username is my full name. If anybody is really curious pm me. But trust me. It basically forms a mild whirlpool in the middle.
I am going by after work to vacuum the deep end blind. It was brushed Monday and that kicked up enough that the pump pressure started going up quickly. Even 2 days later I can tell it's slightly more "dirty" than it was. Tells me there is still some stuff in there, even though we can't get it with leaf rake. The problem with vacuuming to waste is that you have a very small window before the water is below the skimmer and the pump starts to complain. And the refill hose is super weak.
Dropping the FC target back to 13 since CYA is now 30. At lunch FC 11 CC Vodka Tonic with a splash of cran. (very low, probably less than .5)
I don't know why imgur turned these sideways.
7-13 to 7-15
7-10 to 7-15
Yeah, you can see the eddies in todays picture.
I am going by after work to vacuum the deep end blind. It was brushed Monday and that kicked up enough that the pump pressure started going up quickly. Even 2 days later I can tell it's slightly more "dirty" than it was. Tells me there is still some stuff in there, even though we can't get it with leaf rake. The problem with vacuuming to waste is that you have a very small window before the water is below the skimmer and the pump starts to complain. And the refill hose is super weak.
Dropping the FC target back to 13 since CYA is now 30. At lunch FC 11 CC Vodka Tonic with a splash of cran. (very low, probably less than .5)
I don't know why imgur turned these sideways.
7-13 to 7-15
7-10 to 7-15
Yeah, you can see the eddies in todays picture.
DaninFLA
0
im at a loss man, your pool should be getting better. have you considered different filtration? I have read about people putting different kinds of filters in the skimmer baskets, etc to help clear up water.
this may be a situation where FLOC would be good. I have used FLOC in stormwater/construction projects to help clarify/settle out silt in water. might be a good alternative in this situation.
you could also maybe rig up a temporary filter using a vacuum hose and some DIY materials??
im guessing you do not have algae anymore
this may be a situation where FLOC would be good. I have used FLOC in stormwater/construction projects to help clarify/settle out silt in water. might be a good alternative in this situation.
you could also maybe rig up a temporary filter using a vacuum hose and some DIY materials??
im guessing you do not have algae anymore
DaninFLA
0
with the silt issue, dumping isn't going to help a ton, you would have to drain a majority of the water. gotta figure out a way to filter it out. when you find something it should be pretty quick.
Sand Filters are only good to removing 20 to 30 micron particles. If you have silt heavy in clays, they are in the 5 micron range, and all you are doing is circulating silt. I had this problem twice in 3 weeks due to a failed retaining wall. I was able to clear my pool in 4 to 5 days both times, by:
1) Turning off Pump for 8 hours and vacuuming the settlement directly to waste. You will not clear this vacuuming to filter and if you are circulating constantly the silt will remain buoyant.
2) Adding a little bit of FLOC an hour or so prior to shutting off pump. I did this the first episode, but not the second and the water the 2nd time is taking longer to sparkle. BUT, the floc was vacuumed to waste, NOT through the filter.
3) Adding a cup of DE to the sand filter. This also helped remove silt as DE filters down to the 3 micron level.
I didn't read through the entire 8 page thread, so maybe you've done all of these, but just wanted to concisely offer what worked for me in a similar situation.
1) Turning off Pump for 8 hours and vacuuming the settlement directly to waste. You will not clear this vacuuming to filter and if you are circulating constantly the silt will remain buoyant.
2) Adding a little bit of FLOC an hour or so prior to shutting off pump. I did this the first episode, but not the second and the water the 2nd time is taking longer to sparkle. BUT, the floc was vacuumed to waste, NOT through the filter.
3) Adding a cup of DE to the sand filter. This also helped remove silt as DE filters down to the 3 micron level.
I didn't read through the entire 8 page thread, so maybe you've done all of these, but just wanted to concisely offer what worked for me in a similar situation.
DaninFLA
0
totally agree robertmee, sand filter isn't fine enough to filter out that silt. I would definetly agree to do the FLOC and let the pool rest overnight and then very very carefully hook up the vacuum and go really slow and vacuum to waste.
- Mar 24, 2014
- 2,455
- Pool Size
- 32000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-55
Oh my god I'm going to feel so dirty going to the pool store and buying some of their .... things.
Ok, how much floc to add? Scattered around the edges? Straight into skimmer?
Then let that run for an hour. Turn off pump over night. Vacuum to waste tomorrow.
Yes?
Ok, how much floc to add? Scattered around the edges? Straight into skimmer?
Then let that run for an hour. Turn off pump over night. Vacuum to waste tomorrow.
Yes?
You can buy it at Lowes and walmart as well. There should be directions on the bottle.
Kim
Kim
DaninFLA
0
yeah, would go to Walmart or Lowes before I went to a pool store. not sure on dosing, sure it will say on the bottle 
the key is going to be waiting long enough for it to settle. that's really fine silt in there, its not going to be fast. check in 12 hours and see how much has settled. if its considerable amount then vacuum it out. if not, wait longer. I would bump up your FC a bit before you did this, in case you need to leave the pump off longer.
I think it will help. just be careful when you turn your pump back on with the vacuum. I would turn off the bottom drain and have your vacuum in there ready to go and go real slow to vacuum it out.
p.s. I feel dirty recommending FLOC, but in this situation its the correct usage. wouldn't recommend it for getting algae, etc out.
the key is going to be waiting long enough for it to settle. that's really fine silt in there, its not going to be fast. check in 12 hours and see how much has settled. if its considerable amount then vacuum it out. if not, wait longer. I would bump up your FC a bit before you did this, in case you need to leave the pump off longer.
I think it will help. just be careful when you turn your pump back on with the vacuum. I would turn off the bottom drain and have your vacuum in there ready to go and go real slow to vacuum it out.
p.s. I feel dirty recommending FLOC, but in this situation its the correct usage. wouldn't recommend it for getting algae, etc out.
After battling our greenish-black pool for three months (and before I found this site), we got it to a state that looked remarkably like your photos up there. What finally got it clear was flocculant. I can't tell you how much stuff we added over those several weeks. We were/are new pool owners, and the previous home owner had a new liner installed last November, refilled the pool, added nothing to the water and left the pool uncovered all winter. We got the beast in late January. Anyway, like I said, I have no idea what all we threw in there (hubby did most of it), but finally broke down and got a 'pool guy,' who gave me super shock and flocculant to use. Miracle of miracles, the next morning, the pool was crystal clear with a layer of yellow stuff on top. Stuff drifted to the bottom and we vacuumed, then were were good until algae came and I found this site.
Long way to say...our sand filter just couldn't get the water clean. It was just too much. The flocculant worked. I know flocculant is a dirty word around here, but desperate times, as they say... ALSO...important disclaimer: we had tried flocculant twice before that, and it did NOT work. I have no idea why it worked the third time.
Long way to say...our sand filter just couldn't get the water clean. It was just too much. The flocculant worked. I know flocculant is a dirty word around here, but desperate times, as they say... ALSO...important disclaimer: we had tried flocculant twice before that, and it did NOT work. I have no idea why it worked the third time.
- Mar 24, 2014
- 2,455
- Pool Size
- 32000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-55
This would have been good information several weeks ago.
Added 20 oz per instructions to skimmer (without basket) on recirc, will turn off this evening and report tomorrow.
Added 20 oz per instructions to skimmer (without basket) on recirc, will turn off this evening and report tomorrow.
When I did it, I broadcast the entire bottle over the surface of the pool, let the filter run for one hour and then turned it off for the night. Sorry I didn't recommend this to you earlier..I've just always thought that if we'd followed the TFP method from the start, we wouldn't have had to use the floc. I didn't want to give you bad advice. But at this point, I think this is good.