New Pool Owner - May need help
- Thread starter 1RtBstrd
- Start date
That's the plan. FC held steady at 16 from 2 until 4, then dropped to 14 ppm at the 10 pm test. CC is down to 1, and I'm starting to be able to see the vacuum head on the bottom of the deep end.
Changing out the filter sand tomorrow as what I have is pretty coarse and round and I'm getting a fair amount of smaller grain sand in my strainer sock when I vacuum. Hopefully I don't find any internal damage in the filter.
I'm starting to see the light at the end, I think. Pretty confident that we'll be able to swim next weekend for the boy's graduation party!
Changing out the filter sand tomorrow as what I have is pretty coarse and round and I'm getting a fair amount of smaller grain sand in my strainer sock when I vacuum. Hopefully I don't find any internal damage in the filter.
I'm starting to see the light at the end, I think. Pretty confident that we'll be able to swim next weekend for the boy's graduation party!
Update and questions. Got the new sand in the filter on Friday. FC levels only dropping around 2 ppm overnight and CC is down to 1 ppm. We can now see the main drain today.
Now the question. My liner has pulled out of the track in a few places. I have watched some videos on how to tuck it back in, but I am unable to stretch the vinyl enough to put it back in place. It was like that when we moved in over the winter. Are there any tricks that anyone can share on how to get it back in place? What are the consequences of getting water splashed behind the liner? If I can't get it put back, is it possible to use Flex Tape to seal it this season, as we are thinking of having it redone next year anyway due to age and a few wrinkles on the bottom.
Thanks for any help.
Now the question. My liner has pulled out of the track in a few places. I have watched some videos on how to tuck it back in, but I am unable to stretch the vinyl enough to put it back in place. It was like that when we moved in over the winter. Are there any tricks that anyone can share on how to get it back in place? What are the consequences of getting water splashed behind the liner? If I can't get it put back, is it possible to use Flex Tape to seal it this season, as we are thinking of having it redone next year anyway due to age and a few wrinkles on the bottom.
Thanks for any help.
Figured I should give an update on where I'm at. We passed our OCLT and CC requirements a week ago Friday night, but the water was still slightly cloudy. Figured this was due to the sand filter being slow to clear and went to maintenance mode.
On Wednesday I started to notice the water clouding back up. Tested CC and it was back to 1.5 ppm. Back to performing the SLAM. I've been working 12 hour shifts since Thursday, so maintaining SLAM levels has been spotty.
Here is where I am now.
First one is the transition from shallow to deep end.
Second one is vacuum on the bottom of the deep end.
Third is vacuum on bottom of shallow end.
Passed OCLT and CC overnight last night despite getting about 2 inches of rain and some debris blown in.
Is this clear enough, or should I continue to maintain SLAM levels?
On Wednesday I started to notice the water clouding back up. Tested CC and it was back to 1.5 ppm. Back to performing the SLAM. I've been working 12 hour shifts since Thursday, so maintaining SLAM levels has been spotty.
Here is where I am now.
First one is the transition from shallow to deep end.
Second one is vacuum on the bottom of the deep end.
Third is vacuum on bottom of shallow end.
Passed OCLT and CC overnight last night despite getting about 2 inches of rain and some debris blown in.
Is this clear enough, or should I continue to maintain SLAM levels?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,689
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
For reference - TFP Clear in North Dallas - there is water in there
Your water is not clear. Keep at SLAM level and filter.
Take care.
Your water is not clear. Keep at SLAM level and filter.
Take care.
Well that's not what I wanted to hear, but really want to get this pool in shape and do it right, so we will be continuing the SLAM.
Thanks for the advice and reference. Seems like I still have a long road ahead...
Thanks for the advice and reference. Seems like I still have a long road ahead...
Not long, just requires some more P.O.P. (pool owner patience)! It WILL clear, gotta let everything work and do give it some time!
Just wondering, am I done or is this still not clear enough to drop to maintenance mode? Running this single speed pump 24/7 has really taken a toll on my electric bill. I'm hoping to do another OCLT tonight along with CC in the morning, but based on results from the last few nights, I don't see a reason that I wouldn't pass either of those.
My opinion, that is not “clear”.
This is is my pool brush sitting in 4 FOW at the bottom of my pool.
With your sand filter, adding some DE to the filter may help speed up the clearing process. See this pool school article.
https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/133-add-de-to-a-sand-filter
This is is my pool brush sitting in 4 FOW at the bottom of my pool.
With your sand filter, adding some DE to the filter may help speed up the clearing process. See this pool school article.
https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/133-add-de-to-a-sand-filter
I've been running DE for the last week when I can be around to babysit it. I can't add much, though. My clean filter pressure only runs at 3 psi, so according to the info I've read on here, I should be backwashing by the time I hit 4 psi. For adding DE, I'm supposed to add until I get a 1 psi rise. (See my conundrum here?) I've been putting in 1/4 cup and that's it. Doesn't deflect the needle any that I can tell, but I forgot about it about a week ago, and woke up to 10 psi and minimal flow from the returns. Without the DE I can run for 4 days without having to backwash.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,689
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
If you are passing the OCLT and CC hurdles multiple times, relax and return the pump to normal operation. I would keep the FC at about 10+% of CYA for awhile. See what happens.
Take care.
Take care.
I have been passing for the last several days, but I feel like I'm in the same place I was last time I tried to go to maintenance. I'm not willing to risk losing a week again if the consensus is that the pool is not ready for maintenance.
My concern is that I thought I was done once before due to passing OCLT and CC. Since I've read that sand filters could take a while to clear, I figured the organics were gone and I was done with the SLAM. So I dropped my FC to the high end of the recommended maintenance levels. Almost a week later I noticed the pool start to cloud back up and CC jumped to 1.5, so I resumed the SLAM.
Now I'm back to the same spot and having mixed emotions about where I'm at with the pool. On one hand it's leaps and bounds from where I started, but on the other, it seems to have taken so long to get to where it is. My pump's been running non-stop for the last 6 weeks. (2 weeks on pool store regiment and now 4 weeks for the SLAM) It just seems like this will never end.
My concern is that I thought I was done once before due to passing OCLT and CC. Since I've read that sand filters could take a while to clear, I figured the organics were gone and I was done with the SLAM. So I dropped my FC to the high end of the recommended maintenance levels. Almost a week later I noticed the pool start to cloud back up and CC jumped to 1.5, so I resumed the SLAM.
Now I'm back to the same spot and having mixed emotions about where I'm at with the pool. On one hand it's leaps and bounds from where I started, but on the other, it seems to have taken so long to get to where it is. My pump's been running non-stop for the last 6 weeks. (2 weeks on pool store regiment and now 4 weeks for the SLAM) It just seems like this will never end.
Can you isolate to the main drain? That will help tremendously with clearing the water directly
I have separate isolation valves for the skimmer and MD suctions. By "isolate to the main drain" are you saying close the skimmer or MD valve? I can read that either way.
I meant pull majority of water from main drain, so that more of the "deep" water column (and then presumably heavier cloudiness) can pass through the filter
- - - Updated - - -
Personally, I would try to"draw" more water from the main drain, strictly for filtering proposes
Can you direct the returns down and circulating "around", so that "only" the heaviest particles actually settle to the pool floor?
I have put 90 degree elbows on both of my returns and they are pointed 45 degrees down and parellel with the walls. I think I have a fairly good circular rotation in the pool.
I have resigned myself to the fact that I simply am not done with the SLAM yet, based on the attached photos. For the last 2 nights I have thrown a flashlight in the pool since I don't have pool lights. Both nights showed a green tint to the water, which has diminished in intensity in the last 24 hours. I'm off for the weekend and only working 8 hour days for the following week, so should be able to maintain Cl levels a little better.
I started to brush tonight and noticed a slight white cloud following the brush, so I stopped, backwashed, added DE, then proceeded to vacuum. Started at 3.5 psi and ended with 9 psi. This tells me that I still have organics to fight, I believe.
First photo from last night and second from tonight. Hopefully I don't have too much longer.
I have resigned myself to the fact that I simply am not done with the SLAM yet, based on the attached photos. For the last 2 nights I have thrown a flashlight in the pool since I don't have pool lights. Both nights showed a green tint to the water, which has diminished in intensity in the last 24 hours. I'm off for the weekend and only working 8 hour days for the following week, so should be able to maintain Cl levels a little better.
I started to brush tonight and noticed a slight white cloud following the brush, so I stopped, backwashed, added DE, then proceeded to vacuum. Started at 3.5 psi and ended with 9 psi. This tells me that I still have organics to fight, I believe.
First photo from last night and second from tonight. Hopefully I don't have too much longer.
Here are results from my test today. pH was taken with FC < 10 when I got home.
FC: 15.5 (an hour ago)
CC: 0.5 (an hour ago)
pH: 7.5 (3 hours ago)
TA: 150 (an hour ago)
CH: 300 (an hour ago)
CYA: 40 (an hour ago)
BORATES: 40 (an hour ago)
FC: 15.5 (an hour ago)
CC: 0.5 (an hour ago)
pH: 7.5 (3 hours ago)
TA: 150 (an hour ago)
CH: 300 (an hour ago)
CYA: 40 (an hour ago)
BORATES: 40 (an hour ago)
Figured i should update since everyone seems to enjoy the green to clean pics.
So this is where my water chemistry stands as of now.
FC: 3.0 (27 minutes ago)
CC: 0.0 (27 minutes ago)
pH: 7.2 (27 minutes ago)
TA: 140 (3 days ago)
CH: 250 (3 days ago)
CYA: 40 (3 days ago)
BORATES: 50 (3 days ago)
TEMPERATURE: 78° (3 days ago)
I may be able to get better clarity if I threw DE in the filter, but I'm fairly happy with where we're at now. Have been in maintenance mode for 10 days now. Seems my FC daily usage is about 4 ppm, which I am topping up to 9 each evening and typically it drops to 5 the following evening. Letting the pump run for 10-12 hours overnight.
So far since I have started, CH has dropped from 350 to 250 due to receiving so much rain. When I know it's coming I drop the level the forecasted amount by backwashing and let Mother Nature do her thing.
TA has dropped from 180 to 140 simply due to adding acid to keep pH in check.
Overall, I am very satisfied with my chemistry and water clarity and owe it all to this forum. Thank you all who provided direct guidance, even when it wasn't what I wanted to hear, and to those countless others who had already asked the questions I had and was able to find your previous threads.
This forum has been great. Thank you!
Now for the progression pics. The last 2 are current state.
So this is where my water chemistry stands as of now.
FC: 3.0 (27 minutes ago)
CC: 0.0 (27 minutes ago)
pH: 7.2 (27 minutes ago)
TA: 140 (3 days ago)
CH: 250 (3 days ago)
CYA: 40 (3 days ago)
BORATES: 50 (3 days ago)
TEMPERATURE: 78° (3 days ago)
I may be able to get better clarity if I threw DE in the filter, but I'm fairly happy with where we're at now. Have been in maintenance mode for 10 days now. Seems my FC daily usage is about 4 ppm, which I am topping up to 9 each evening and typically it drops to 5 the following evening. Letting the pump run for 10-12 hours overnight.
So far since I have started, CH has dropped from 350 to 250 due to receiving so much rain. When I know it's coming I drop the level the forecasted amount by backwashing and let Mother Nature do her thing.
TA has dropped from 180 to 140 simply due to adding acid to keep pH in check.
Overall, I am very satisfied with my chemistry and water clarity and owe it all to this forum. Thank you all who provided direct guidance, even when it wasn't what I wanted to hear, and to those countless others who had already asked the questions I had and was able to find your previous threads.
This forum has been great. Thank you!
Now for the progression pics. The last 2 are current state.