Opening a Green Pool - Same Idea as a Clean Pool?

[jasonwbaggett]

Hi everyone!

Because we had a baby born late last summer, I didn't do my due diligence keeping the pool as clean I should have leading up to closing. I kept the bulk of the leaves out but due to some stragglers and no pool cover, the water looks pretty murky and I'm sure there's some amount of debris on the bottom.

General question -- should I just use the same fundamental approach to getting it clean and open?
My tentative plan:
1. Scoop as much goop as possible. Thus far, my net hasn't brought much up, but I can't see the bottom to be sure.
2. Check CYA levels and adjust accordingly.
3. Check ph and adjust accordingly.
4. Get water circulating (not filtering)
5/6. Add bleach/vac to waste <--Should I wait to add bleach until after I've had a chance to vac?
7. Start SLAMming and balancing.

I have bleach, borax, muratic acid, CYA and hopeful optimism. Anything I'm missing or not considering?

 

[borjis]

maybe some baking soda "IF" your TA happens to be low. Thought of that because mine was low when I opened last week.

for 5/6 I would not add bleach until you vac the floor to waste. The less organic matter / solids in the pool, the easier
it will be for the bleach to do its job.

 

[jasonwbaggett]

Thanks, Borjis. I thought that might be the case. I really wanted to get it clear enough to get an idea what I'm vacuuming from the bottom. My vacuum plugs into the skimmer and the only barrier between the gunk and the pump is the pump basket. I'll just be sure to empty it frequently. I should probably invest in vac with a leaf bag or something. Better yet, a pool cover for next year!

 

[kimkats]

You are on the right track! Make sure to take pics daily so you can see the progress!

 

[splashpad]

You get to SLAM Process???

 

[jasonwbaggett]

I will do it! We moved into this house last year and had to replace the liner. I think back then I promised (but failed) to post pictures of the progress because for some reason had trouble posting pics in the "old" forum. So to atone for my sins and clear my conscience, here's pics from back then!

 

[jasonwbaggett]

.... and the rest!

 

[ajw22]

I would start dumping a gallon of bleach a day into the water once you have the pump running until you get serious and begin the SLAM Process. Might as well slow or stop the algae growth.

 

[kimkats]

EWWWWWW that was some nasty water right there! Please tell it is not that bad this time

I would also be adding some chlorine to try to keep the algae back some.

CUTE kid and wife! Love the smiles!

Kim

 

[jasonwbaggett]

Thanks Kim! I married up! I

I promise it's not as bad as it was back then! But it's not great.

I'll start pouring some bleach in there today to put a little dent in it. I actually have to be out of town Monday and Tuesday for work -- so I was planning to start slamming in earnest Tuesday evening.

 

[kimkats]

Will your wife add bleach while you are gone? You could get a good start on it tonight and this weekend so.......If she would add some bleach during the two days you are gone you will not go backwards.

Kim

 

[jasonwbaggett]

Sunday update. Spent yesterday getting water flowing again. Fortunately everything seems to have survived winter.
Starting readings:
CYA - 0
FC - 0
CC - 0
Ph - 8.2+
TA - 60




Added some (maybe too much) muratic acid and 64oz of CYA. CYA is still slowly dissolving in a sock hanging over a return.

Added pantyhose to the skimmer basket.
Added enough 10% bleach to get into shock zone... at its peak the FC was 20. This morning it was down to 13, water went from green to cloudy. Lots of backwashing. Added 256oz of 10% after morning readings. Will check again this early evening. Feels and looks like progress. Thanks for everyone’s help!

 

[kimkats]

What just happened??? Man you are FAST! You must have stayed on that thing big time to have that much progress!! When did you start?

 

[jasonwbaggett]

You really think it looks significantly better? Since Friday evening I’ve added 8 - 128oz jugs. I was all over it yesterday. Still very very cloudy and almost a milky green color. I guess that’s the algae dying? At least it’s not neon green anymore.

In related news I stopped at Leslie’s Pool supplies yesterday to grab CYA (wrongly thought I had some left over). The guy was nice but very intense. Like Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber. He tried selling me on shock and floc, I resisted. But it was seriously almost as hard a sales pitch as a timeshare!

 

[kimkats]

He knows the month is coming to an end and needed to up his sells to get his bonus!

Did you know you can buy CYA from Walmart or Lowes???

Yes it DOES look that much better! It is even starting to trend towards blue!! You did GOOD!

 

[splashpad]

@jasonwbaggett Hoping your pool is still "behaving"!

 

[jasonwbaggett]

Thanks @splashpad! Cant wait to get home this evening after this work conference. I managed to backwash and add some bleach around 4:30 yesterday morning. My wife added some more last night. I’ll keep this thread updated!

 

[kimkats]

I am glad she is helping out after you had such good progress!!

 

[meccanoble]

Looking good man. I havent opened mine up here in Georgia yet but this thread helps plenty. I was going to get the shock for the first attempt to attack but do you guys think its better to do liquid chlorine? I would always use liquid chlorine throughout the year (or until the end when stores stop stocking and have to use the granule version) but thought the heavy duty granule version was needed for the initial intro and liquid from there.

 

[mknauss]

heavy duty granule version

Chlorine is chlorine. Liquid adds water with it, the solid forms add CYA or Calcium with it. We believe you are better off using liquid chlorine. If you need CYA, add it separately, sames goes with calcium.