This is my second pool opening since moving into a house that had an existing pool. Last year I timed a new liner installation to occur in the spring which allowed the pool company to take care of the opening. So, this is the first time I personally opened the pool. I knew I was late in opening it and was fearful of what I would find below the safety cover. Here's what I found.
YUK! It was even worse that I had imagined - a green swamp! Fortunately, I've been a reader of TFP since before purchasing the house, so I knew I could take care of it. What I didn't know is how fast it would improve. Here is what it looks like after less than 24 hours.
I thought it would take several days or more to get it looking so good. It's not there yet, but what an improvement. The water is still cloudy, but the bottom in the deep end is now clearly visible. The green swamp has turned blue.
I don't know if a turnaround like this is typical, but I'll tell you what I did. First off I deep cleaned the sand filter. Whether this helped or not, I don't know, but it was needed and I had the multiport off anyway. That only took a little bit of time and effort.
Next I scooped out what leaves I could find and turned on the pump. Then I brushed the entire pool, bottom and sides. The bottom of the deep end wasn't visible, so I just pushed the brush blindly down there.
At this point I took some measurements and then added some bleach to bring the FC up to SLAM level.
pH 7.2
FC 0
CYA not measurable <20
TA 50
Luckily, it was a cloudy day and not that much bleach was need to maintain the SLAM. I continued brushing and vacuuming a few times before dark. I believe I back washed the filter two or three times throughout the day.
This morning I did another brushing, another backwash and added some more bleach.
Today is another cloudy day, so I'll postpone adding CYA until tonight.
That's all so far. I thought that others faced with a green swamp might find this and realize that it might not be a bad as they fear.
YUK! It was even worse that I had imagined - a green swamp! Fortunately, I've been a reader of TFP since before purchasing the house, so I knew I could take care of it. What I didn't know is how fast it would improve. Here is what it looks like after less than 24 hours.
I thought it would take several days or more to get it looking so good. It's not there yet, but what an improvement. The water is still cloudy, but the bottom in the deep end is now clearly visible. The green swamp has turned blue.
I don't know if a turnaround like this is typical, but I'll tell you what I did. First off I deep cleaned the sand filter. Whether this helped or not, I don't know, but it was needed and I had the multiport off anyway. That only took a little bit of time and effort.
Next I scooped out what leaves I could find and turned on the pump. Then I brushed the entire pool, bottom and sides. The bottom of the deep end wasn't visible, so I just pushed the brush blindly down there.
At this point I took some measurements and then added some bleach to bring the FC up to SLAM level.
pH 7.2
FC 0
CYA not measurable <20
TA 50
Luckily, it was a cloudy day and not that much bleach was need to maintain the SLAM. I continued brushing and vacuuming a few times before dark. I believe I back washed the filter two or three times throughout the day.
This morning I did another brushing, another backwash and added some more bleach.
Today is another cloudy day, so I'll postpone adding CYA until tonight.
That's all so far. I thought that others faced with a green swamp might find this and realize that it might not be a bad as they fear.
