New pool owner, maybe getting there, maybe not

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Is it just a bad photo or am I seeing cloudiness in the deep end. The main drain looks a little obscured. You should be able to tell whether there are Philips or standard screws holding the drain down.

 

[wesbaker]

I'm unsure! Here are two pictures. Both are standing at the deep end of the pool looking down. The first photo is at 1x zoom, the second is at 5x.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

You should be able to tell whether there are Philips or standard screws holding the drain down.

Okay...this may be a slight exaggeration, but it does look a bit cloudy to me. Clear water is one of the criteria for passing. You're in the best position to evaluate clarity.

If not, have you tried adding a bit of DE to your sand filter?

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[wesbaker]

Okay...this may be a slight exaggeration, but it does look a bit cloudy to me. Clear water is one of the criteria for passing. You're in the best position to evaluate clarity.

I could probably keep running the SLAM for another day or two. Given the CYA drop I think I have enough chlorine and can always pick up more.

If not, have you tried adding a bit of DE to your sand filter?

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.

www.troublefreepool.com

No, that'd be new to me. Would that expedite the filtering?

 

[wesbaker]

Just did another test, FC is at 16.5 (still at SLAM target for current CYA of 40) and CC is at 0.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

What's the verdict on water clarity? If in doubt (coupled with the dropping algae) it may be best to continue.

No, that'd be new to me. Would that expedite the filtering?

Admittedly, I'm not experienced with sand filters, but that's the idea.

 

[wesbaker]

What's the verdict on water clarity? If in doubt (coupled with the dropping algae) it may be best to continue.

I think the hard part is I don't have a good frame of reference. It's a lot clearer than when I started, but is it clear enough?

 

[wesbaker]

I just reviewed docs from the previous owners of the home and the last time the sand was replaced was in 2018, so it's also time to replace the sand.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Only Please).

How clear should my water be? A very common question. Here is mine on a calm morning where I could finally vacuum. Yes I know, I'm still manually vacuuming. It took me 7 years to finally get an SWG, I'm working on a robot. :) So now let's see your water clarity.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[wesbaker]

To contrast, here’s the water in the shallow end of the pool.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I'm going back to the photos of the deep end. I can barely see the drains. Let's get some other eyes on it...

@Mdragger88 @PoolStored

Today's posts...

New pool owner, maybe getting there, maybe not

Hey there, I'm a new pool owner as of last November and had it opened maybe two weeks ago and I'm at the stage where I think I'm getting there, but maybe I'm not. 18'x32', 3'–8' ft depth, so ~26,700 gallons Intellichlor IC40 SWG, currently set to 40% output Hayward Pro Series Sand Filter 2.6...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PoolStored]

Keep going. Sand filters take the longest time.

Use POOL DE if you can get it, it will help.

No need to replace sand if it cleared the pool this much. Sand lasts billions of years.

 

[wesbaker]

I think I know the answer, but is it safe to swim in right now? My assumption is no given the high pH and FC. My family is getting impatient

 

[PoolStored]

If you can see the bottom, and FC is min or above and SLAM level or below, swim.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

You can swim up to slam level. For you that should be 16 ppm. If you allow FC to drop during the day, you can resume at night or when you're done swimming. The pH test is not valid when FC levels are above 10 ppm. What was your pH when you began the slam?

 

[wesbaker]

What was your pH when you began the slam?

7.8 was the last I saw before the SLAM.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

You should be good to swim. Just let the FC drift down.

 

[Mdragger88]

I'm going back to the photos of the deep end. I can barely see the drains. Let's get some other eyes on it...

@Mdragger88 @PoolStored

Today's posts...

New pool owner, maybe getting there, maybe not

Hey there, I'm a new pool owner as of last November and had it opened maybe two weeks ago and I'm at the stage where I think I'm getting there, but maybe I'm not. 18'x32', 3'–8' ft depth, so ~26,700 gallons Intellichlor IC40 SWG, currently set to 40% output Hayward Pro Series Sand Filter 2.6...

www.troublefreepool.com

I agree- not quitting time just yet.

 

[Mdragger88]

To contrast, here’s the water in the shallow end of the pool.

This is what you want the whole thing to look like. You’re Almost there!

 

[Darin]

yellow dust.

dead algae