Pool is a swamp! Only about 18-24” of water...

This was one way it was used:
. . .
May 26 -- woke up to not much change, but I had a plan, so I vacuumed to waste first thing, then put the system on recirculate, left the vacuum hose at the bottom of the deep end and isolated two of my returns with Duda Bags on them, so all water was being drawn from the bottom of the deep end and run through the Duda Bags, bypassing the filter. Kept watching the bottom of the pool and vacuumed to waste maybe once or twice more, but otherwise just moved the vacuum hose around the deep end and kept everything running through the Duda Bags. By that evening, the clarity of the pool was changing by the hour.

May 27 -- woke up to an almost perfectly clear pool!! Vacuumed up a few remnants from the FLOC, then spun the filter back up and got everything moving as normal
. . .

- - - Updated - - -

And here is how to attach the Duda Diesel Fuel Filter Bags (5micron, 4" x 14") to elbows that fit in the return(s)

To that End, RobertScalchi had mentioned his experience with Duda Diesel bags which are used to filter Diesel Fuel and can filter in various levels with 5 microns being one of them.

To that end, I ordered 3 bags (1 as just a back up), 2 90degree Hayward elbows, and got 2 stainless steel hose clamps to secure the bags to the elbow, the elbows screw into my returns.

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Hi...:D Madyogi, FunandSun, and SplashPad. Did I hear my name mentioned?... Lol... Welcome Ladyxtine.

Ladyxtine. I'm going to recommend that you first obtain the TFT test kit, fill the pool and top off with fresh water, then run your tests and establish your CYA level, reference it to the FC/CYA chart applicable, then SLAM the pool accordingly to your corresponding shock level, and keep it there, and check your FC daily. Your pool will turn from Green to Aqua to cloudy blue to clear. The shock level of free chlorine in the water will change the color of the pool. Your filtration system will remove the debris and finely suspended particles such as dead algae in the water... Make sense? Save the CC or combined chlorine test for later as you get closer to clear.That comes first. Proper water balancing. Idealy you want your PH to be 7.2 to have a more effective SLAM, but if its a little bit higher, no biggie.
We won't concern ourselves with TA for now. Make sure to drag the bottom floor as much as you can with the leaf net and brush brush brush.

That said. The duda diesel bag in combination with a skimmer sock or hair net will help you get clear a little bit faster in filtering out dead algae. My pool is similar to your setup and size, but I have a cartridge filter, with a 1.5 hp pump which is overkill for me but helpful because I get so much debris from the woods in my pool.

When you purchase your Duda diesel bag you will have the option of selecting the micron. I have been running 5 Micron on my bag for about 3 years now with a lot of success using it, since the 5 micron mimics DE filtration. When you initially use the bag it's going to load up very quickly. So it is important that you check your pressure every hour. Typically do not want to go any higher than 10 psi over your initial clean operating pressure. When the bag becomes dirty simply you power wash it, or rinse it out in the sink with the spray hose, reattach and run it again.

I rinse my duda diesel 5 micron bag after every use in a 24 hr pump run whether my water is crystal clear or not. Sometimes I get pollen on the water surface that my skimmer sock and duda diesel bag collects. I rinse my bag either by pressure washing it or I rinse it with the hose in my kitchen sink. I run my bag after every rinse until I know for a fact my water is clear when there is little to no buildup in the bag or skimmer sock. Usually my pressure only goes up 1 psi when the bag is attached. However I know what the water feels like leaving the bag through the return jet, even after a good rinsing. There is usually a bit of back pressure on the bag, and the filtered water pushes through slowly. The reason why I searched for this this evening, it's because my bag has been in use for 3 years now, and has still shown its effectiveness. However last night I decided to rinse my bag and then I ran it through the washing machine with my socks and some bleach, then dried it. I noticed that when I reattached it today, there is more than usual significant amount of water flowing through it. I don't know as of yet if this is a result of washing in the bleach, and potentially breaking down the fine fibers in the washing machine, or just because it's that clean, and its going to need some run time to build up some residue to filter more effectively?... I wish I remembered what the water felt like leaving the bag when I first bought it 3 years ago. I'm pretty sure I don't remember there being that much water flow being able to pass through it out of the box.

Will report back on the subject. Might even buy another one at 1 micron just for the heck of it since I am compulsive about water clarity.
 
RobertScalchi that’s a lot of great information.

I have the test kit. Our pump and filter are being delivered tomorrow and hopefully the water by Monday. Duda filter bags coming some time in the next few days.

The goal is to get the pump and filter plumbed on Sunday, then I’m off Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday. So between taking care of other things during those days I will get the water parameters right and starting my SLAM process.

We did have a cartridge filter originally but since the pump went out, decided to just replace everything so we knew what was going on with the pool.

Which makes me wonder if there is a 2nd hand market for our cartridge filter. I will need to research that.

Otherwise, I have been making pretty decent progress killing a good amount of the algae in the pool so at the very least it’s not brown anymore. Now my concern is all the pollen and things which are adding to the algae. Hopefully I can get all of that straightened out sooner than later, because these kids of mine have been bugging me about using the pool.
 
Which makes me wonder if there is a 2nd hand market for our cartridge filter. I will need to research that.
Depending on brand & condition :)

Otherwise, I have been making pretty decent progress killing a good amount of the algae in the pool so at the very least it’s not brown anymore. Now my concern is all the pollen and things which are adding to the algae. Hopefully I can get all of that straightened out sooner than later, because these kids of mine have been bugging me about using the pool.
And since you can't currently filter, the chlorine is doing "double-duty" killing AND oxidizing the algae :)
You are hanging in there great!

Do we have an updated water condition pic? =)
 
I unfortunately have not gotten back out there since Monday due to kid stuff going on. I'm going to take a picture tonight after another kid event. It's been super hot, so i'm pretty sure the algae has re-bloomed a bit.

Another question for all you TFP Mods and others, since we are replacing the pump and filter, I'm wondering if we should replace our skimmer basket and return jets. I believe the original owners likely installed the basic skimmer that was available. Would it be worth replacing with a new/different one?
 

Another question for all you TFP Mods and others, since we are replacing the pump and filter, I'm wondering if we should replace our skimmer basket and return jets. I believe the original owners likely installed the basic skimmer that was available. Would it be worth replacing with a new/different one?
If the skimmer body is intact, it should be fine, if you could locate a return in a different position, that would facilitate better filtration
 
Hi All! I'm finally back!

After all of life's goings on, we have finally finished the plumbing of the pool with a new Pentair Superflo VS pump and a 24" sand filter. The rest of our water is being delivered some time this afternoon. As long as the rain holds off, I will be checking the PH of the pool and see where I am.

Here come the questions. Once I have the PH to an acceptable level, do I need to get all my CYA dissolved before I start the SLAM Process?

I was so sad to see that the pool some what turned into a half green monster due to all the pollen we have been getting this year, as well as me making the mistake of adding a truckload of water to the pool already prior to us being able to get out and do all the plumbing. oops!

Pictures to come tonight of the finished plumbing job. My husband and I were super surprised it took 2 days to get all the pipe dry fit and plumbed in.
 
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