Looking for advice. For next year...

[Mkleisch]

This is my first opening of my pool after I closed it. It was crystal clear all summer after we fixed it from the previous home owner: Here is my original SLAM Thread https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/138364-First-SLAM

I SLAMed it and waiting until the water temp was less than 60 mid of October in Chicago. The winter cover isn't in the best shape. We repaired all of the large holes, but the mesh is loosing some of its 'coating' and becoming more open in some areas. I assume some fine debris can make its way into the pool through the cover.

I am also assuming the water temp was able to warm up enough to grow algae this spring, due to the crazy temperature swings and heavy rains.

I am looking to learn what I did wrong and can do to avoid a cleanup like this again next year.

Thanks!

 

[joshua5438]

The only thing I do when I close my pool besides waiting for the temps to drop, is add Polyquat 60. I have opened to a clear pool each year that I have done this. What are your test results when opened this year?

 

[PoolGate]

The only thing I do when I close my pool besides waiting for the temps to drop, is add Polyquat 60. I have opened to a clear pool each year that I have done this. What are your test results when opened this year?

+1 this is what I do as well. I also test the water once a month over winter and add probably add 1 gallon of bleach every 2 months and circulate with a small submersible sump pump.

 

[Mkleisch]

I forgot but I did the Poly as well.

FC was 0 CYA was less than 30, Didn't let the water warm.
Ph was less than 7.

There was ice on the pool Jan-Feb when it was frigid here. I'll bet adding the bleach with a pump would be something that I can do easily. I'll make a note for that.

What can I expect the Pool Antifreeze do when I open all of the jets and fire up the pump today?

 

[PoolGate]

I forgot but I did the Poly as well.

FC was 0 CYA was less than 30, Didn't let the water warm.
Ph was less than 7.

There was ice on the pool Jan-Feb when it was frigid here. I'll bet adding the bleach with a pump would be something that I can do easily. I'll make a note for that.

What can I expect the Pool Antifreeze do when I open all of the jets and fire up the pump today?

I just let it circulate. It is non-toxic didn't notice anything at all with it.

 

[Husky25]

Is that photo from before last year's SLAM or is it current? Get first things done first, but I would certainly address that cover issue before you close this fall.

This is a before/after of my pool the Spring immediately following my conversion to the TFP method. I did pretty much nothing to end the prior season. I don't even remember bringing the FC up to SLAM levels.



Granted it is still not as bad as your photo above, but the only difference between the left and right pic is 1 vacuuming (It stirred up all the algae on the bottom and couldn't see the floor), 12 gallons of 12.5% LC and 18 hours of filtering.

To answer your question a little more clearly, Bring your Water up to SLAM levels and make sure your cover actually keeps debris out of the water. There is really no other point of the cover?

The antifreeze from the pipes won't do anything to your water other than mix with it. There is so little of it (3-4 gallons) in relation to the water (10s of 1000s). Antifreeze itself is pretty much a redundancy, so long as you blow out the lines, but it is super inexpensive compared to the alternative, in hammering through concrete and digging up the ground to repair plumbing.

 

[richierich]

What was your FC when you closed the pool? It should be at shock level. Say 16-20 or something like that. I don't add polyquat and I open to a clear pool. I also don't add bleach during the year. I close when water temps are in the 50s and open when they are in the 50s. usually that is first week of November and then open in early april

 

[sandman98]

i don't add polyquat or make any chlorine additions through the winter either. FC around 20 and closed in late october with water temp below 60, opened last week with temps in the high 50s. crystal clear water both years upon opening. i would fix the cover to keep debris out if possible.

 

[Mkleisch]

Unfortunately that was the pic from yesterday.

I SLAMed the pool before i closed it last year. I was using surface water temp to close the pool. I am not really getting any solids out so the cover did a decent job.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Mkleisch]

Getting much better.