I have a pool at a house where I don't live. We moved away, and I get by the old house about every other week. I've had the pool for several years, and I've never been particularly good at getting it clear in the spring. This year, I wasn't living there in the spring, so my pool treatment suffered. And it got GREEN. I also discovered that there's a thick layer of leaves on the bottom. The pump will run and circulate the water. I've used shock twice, and it did basically nothing. I'm guessing the leaves are overpowering the chlorine, so I decided to try to clean out the leaves before trying again. I've been using my rake, and sweeping it across the bottom (which I can't see). Sometimes, I get nothing, sometimes, I get a huge load of leaves. How do I get this cleaned up? I searched here and Youtube, and found nothing helpful.
How to remove thick layer of leave on bottom of green pool
- Thread starter GearHead36
- Start date
cdadams1223
Silver Supporter
- May 9, 2023
- 212
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
Do you have a testing kit and if so which one? We recommend either the TF-Pro or the K-2006C. Link: Test Kits Compared If you have one of those then do some testing and post your results as follows:
FC- ?
CC- ?
pH- ?
TA- ?
CYA- ?
CH- ?
Also, make sure you read through the following:
Pool Care Basics
SLAM Process
FC/CYA Levels
And if you don't already have it, then download PoolMath and set it up according to the specs of your pool.
FC- ?
CC- ?
pH- ?
TA- ?
CYA- ?
CH- ?
Also, make sure you read through the following:
Pool Care Basics
SLAM Process
FC/CYA Levels
And if you don't already have it, then download PoolMath and set it up according to the specs of your pool.
kul
Bronze Supporter
- Oct 1, 2021
- 1,434
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Would it be reasonable to drain the pool to some extent and then clean/slam and refill?
I have the TF-100 kit. My levels are:
FC-0 The pool is green. Any chlorine gets consumed rather quickly.
CC-0
pH-7.6
TA-70
CYA- 30
I don't typically test for CH. Isn't that for concrete pools? Mine is vinyl.
I've read through the links provided. The only related comment I could find was,
"Make sure the pool is free of leaves and other debris (at least as much as possible)."
But there's no mention of how to do that in my situation.
I've done the SLAM process in years past, but it seemed to take multiple weeks to get the pool clear. I tried some shock from Walmart this year, but it didn't seem to work as well as SLAM'ing.
I use PoolMath. I plan on SLAM'ing, but I think I'm wasting my time until I get most of the organic matter out.
cdadams1223
Silver Supporter
- May 9, 2023
- 212
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
Is it feasible, as @kul stated above, to drain or partially drain your pool? That equally a lot of work as well and there’s great resources on this site re: drains or drain exchanges.
Forgot your pool was vinyl so disregard the request for CH, although, high CH is not good for vinyl or fiberglass pools alike.
As for how to get the junk out, best option to me is using a net to get as much out as possible, maybe brushing the deep end towards the shallow and scooping up what you can there.
With a CYA of 30, you’re perfect to begin a SLAM. Take your pH down to 7.2 and start chunking in LC per your FC/CYA level which is 12ppm. The key, as you know from doing it years ago, is maintaining the FC at SLAM level until you’ve reached the three criteria to be done:
1) CC < .5
2) pass the OCLT with 1ppm or less loss of FC
3) crystal clear water with no sign of algae
Keep your pump running 24/7, brush the entire pool daily, and clean your filter as needed.
Start with a leaf rake. Drag it across the bottom from the opposite side of the pool towards you. Pull it slowly. Pull it out. Move down about 3ft and drag it again. Empty it. Do the length of the pool this way. Go back to your beginning spot on opposite side of the pool and repeat in the 3ft sections you skipped. They should be relatively undisturbed by the drag motion. It's a tough job and needs time to settle. Work in grid pattern until you're getting less and less out and you can then start the SLAM. Once the water starts to clear, you'll be able to see the mounds of leaves you missed.