New Owner, Old VERY Neglected Pool

[TurbineTester]

Morning Update. I can see the brush and the Polaris in the deep end, really blurry, but I can see them. Backwashed, added DE and didn't need any chlorine. Had a big rain storm last night so had a lot of leaves to rake off the surface. I'm thinking I might try to deep clean the sand again to see what effect it might have.

 

[Saturn94]

Appears in your area the yellow bag is plain, no additives. Use it.

Here’s the SDS sheet for that product that shows the additive (Sodium Hexametaphosphate);

https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/33/337c5b2f-62e9-4ddf-a4fb-f0efdf4f0407.pdf

Checking the OP’s local stores, it’s the same product sold in my area.

I remember this came up before in a thread. I believe JoyfulNoise commented on the effect of adding it. I’ll see if I can locate the thread.

EDIT: Found it What brand/type of salt do you recommend?

 

[IceShadow]

Question for those with experience on this sort of thing: shouldn’t the pool be more blue by now? After this long of high chlorination, I would think it would be a cloudy blue and the cloudiness would be taking the time to clear...

 

[mguzzy]

Yeah.. except he found out later in the game his filter was a mess. After deep cleaning his filter that was sudden progress. Its probably due for another cleaning as he just suggested.

 

[TurbineTester]

Yeah.. except he found out later in the game his filter was a mess. After deep cleaning his filter that was sudden progress. Its probably due for another cleaning as he just suggested.

Not to gross people out but when I turned the filter on backwash with the cap off, it looked like vomit coming out of the top of the sand filter for several minutes. It was absolutely gross. I'm going to do that kind of backwash again this afternoon when we go swimming.

 

[TurbineTester]

Here’s the SDS sheet for that product that shows the additive (Sodium Hexametaphosphate);

https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/33/337c5b2f-62e9-4ddf-a4fb-f0efdf4f0407.pdf

Checking the OP’s local stores, it’s the same product sold in my area.

I remember this came up before in a thread. I believe JoyfulNoise commented on the effect of adding it. I’ll see if I can locate the thread.

EDIT: Found it What brand/type of salt do you recommend?

Quoting from that thread:

Every 40lb bag of salt containing 0.03 wt% SHMP will raise your 25,000 gallon pool’s orthophosphate (PO4) level by 54ppb (parts per billion).

So 10 bags would raise the orthophosphate level in my silarly sized pool ~540 ppb. If I'm maintaining the FC/CYA levels for SWCG pools I don't need to be terribly concerned with that do I? Pool Math says I'll need to add 3 more bags at some point to get to a target of 3000ppm of salt.

 

[TurbineTester]

After church test results and pictures
FC - 11.5
Added 1 quart of LC. No filter backwash needed, leaf raked, cleaned skimmer and brushed a bit.

 

[frogabog]

Are you not tempted to do another deep backwash today? Even if the filter psi doesn't indicate... IDK... after your last experience I think I'd try it personally. While it's said that a dirty filter often can catch smaller particles better, with this pool it may be another boost to do another super flush out.

 

[Chrissykr]

Look on your steps, there might be a strip of some kind with grooves. I get algae in there if I don’t use a toothbrush every few weeks. The same for the skimmer, get a small scrub brush and brush around the edges and inside, check the back of your weir door as well.

 

[TurbineTester]

Are you not tempted to do another deep backwash today? Even if the filter psi doesn't indicate... IDK... after your last experience I think I'd try it personally. While it's said that a dirty filter often can catch smaller particles better, with this pool it may be another boost to do another super flush out.

On the contrary, I am planning on it, I just didn't have time before or right after church, but I'm going to do it when we go back to swim today.

 

[TurbineTester]

Look on your steps, there might be a strip of some kind with grooves. I get algae in there if I don’t use a toothbrush every few weeks. The same for the skimmer, get a small scrub brush and brush around the edges and inside, check the back of your weir door as well.

I've scrubbed in the skimmer, but I do need a smaller brush to get it more thoroughly. I don't have any grooves on the steps, though. And I need to get a weird door for the skimmer opening. Is there a way to find out what would be an exact replacement for an OEM weir?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I've scrubbed in the skimmer, but I do need a smaller brush to get it more thoroughly. I don't have any grooves on the steps, though. And I need to get a weird door for the skimmer opening. Is there a way to find out what would be an exact replacement for an OEM weir?

Take a look at Sunplay or INYOpools online for a replacement weir door.

 

[TurbineTester]

Played in the pool this evening and installed the diving board. Deep cleaned the sand filter again. It definitely needed it again, but it wasn't as gross as it was the first time. Still looked like brown gravy flushing out the top as I stirred up the sand as deep as I could reach while running the pump in backwash. I tried to take a video but didn't actually got record on my phone until it was almost done. I did get some pics. One is a well deserved back buster from my youngest son's attempted front flip.

 

[mguzzy]

Sounds like your at the stage where you are filtering out the dead suspended particulates.. keep-a-rinsin'! There was a marked improvement the last time you deep cleaned the filter.

Edit: ouch... a backflopper!.. the pic of the deepend under the diving board looks better than before!

 

[frogabog]

Also, if you're at the house for a while today try testing and adding every hour. Some of your slowed progress is surely attributed to not being there full time, and people do see much faster progress when they can actually maintain FC at SLAM levels with very frequent testing and adding.

Otherwise it does look so much better! And that poor back, ouch! He'll learn... to flip better :~}

 

[DorsalSpine]

Looking good. It was mentioned earlier but I'll add my $.02. When you are ready to clean the concrete a rotary cleaner is a lot easier than using a wand with your pressure washer. I clean about 2,000 square feet of pavers with the unit I rent. It's quicker and I'm less likely to etch the pavers by getting too aggressive with the wand.

 

[TurbineTester]

Pumps have been running for a solid 18 hours since the second deep clean backwash operation. Not gonna lie...I have high hopes for the lunch time visit.

 

[DorsalSpine]

Keep us posted. We like the pictures.

 

[TurbineTester]

Pics from lunch

 

[CarolD]

I have no advice to offer, but I do LOVE reading through these long threads about taking a pool from yuck to yay. As I read through, I was on the edge of my seat. I'll be watching for your continued progress and I pray you will see a crystal clear blue pool soon!