Proud owner of a glorious swamp!

[JesseWV]

PSI could go down due to channeling or just being cleaner deep down from so many backwashes. How long does it typically take for pressure to rise from "clean" to 25% higher?

I think it would be a good idea for you to at least take a look at the sand in your filter. Several things could be going on that could reduce filtration:

1. Channeling
2. Insufficient Sand
3. Damaged plumbing

 

[scriptorum]

Day 8 - Hour 5 - FC:14 CC:durn near 0 - 5ml Sample

I've been using 5ml samples lately. 10ml seems like a waste until the pool clears up more. The combined chlorine test didn't even turn pink when I added R-0003. I don't know what this means but I'm going to take it as a good sign.

Water still cloudy, although there's slight improvement. Greater but meager visibility on the third step. IF there's a third step. Bwahaha.

Also the pressure has return to baseline 10 PSI from its sudden drop to 9. So ... that's a thing, right?

Raked, re-socked, and dumped a gallon plus. I'm down to my last gallon, so I guess it's time to go on another bleach hunt. Costco was okay at $9.99/3 pak, but it's a 30 minute drive. I was hoping to find Kirkland bleach or something. It's getting a little bit harder to justify all this bleach, I can tell my significant other is at the point of wondering if I'm spinning my wheels. She just looked in the shed where I've been keeping a vast number of empties and went cross-eyed for a second.

 

[scriptorum]

PSI could go down due to channeling or just being cleaner deep down from so many backwashes. How long does it typically take for pressure to rise from "clean" to 25% higher?

I think it would be a good idea for you to at least take a look at the sand in your filter. Several things could be going on that could reduce filtration:

1. Channeling
2. Insufficient Sand
3. Damaged plumbing

This is a new home, so I've never done a "normal" backwash. During the start of the SLAM I wasn't using socks and it crawled up a 2-3 times a day. After a few days I was only backwashing once a day. A few days ago I started using skimmer socks, and that has appreciably slowed the PSI rise -- the last backwash was 2 days ago -- although a cleaner pool might account for some of this. As I mentioned earlier, the PSI returned to 10 after a few hours.

I'm hesitant to take apart the sand filter for now; I'm on a bit of overload for all the other things I've had to learn: new pool owner, identification of use of plumbing/circ. system, traditional pool maintenance, BBB method, TFP's take on the BBB method, etc. Head 'splosion.

 

[JVTrain]

Look at the first picture of the whole pool you posted compared to now. It's come a LONG way. It really was a swamp.

Seems like you've hit a wall with appearance but zero CCs means you're well on your way to having everything in the pool deaded.

Now you're waiting on your filter to do its job. You could look into doing some testing/fiddling with adding small amounts of DE to the skimmer to speed up the filtration process.

 

[JesseWV]

The fact that your pressure *IS* rising a full 25% in a short time probably means the filter is doing it's job just fine. I understand your hesitation about taking it apart but it's your baby now, get to know it. Not knowing this condition of the filter would drive me crazy. It would also give you a chance to deep clean the sand the way we recommend with a garden hose.

Another member in a similar situation as yours opened their sand filter to find it was only half full of sand with a damaged standpipe. This reduced the filtration greatly.

You're working so hard keeping up with the chemical side, I would hate to see your progress impeded because you don't have adequate filtration.

- - - Updated - - -

Look at the first picture of the whole pool you posted compared to now. It's come a LONG way. It really was a swamp.

Yes, DO!

 

[scriptorum]

I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I don't recognize the top photo. That's someone else's pool. Pfft. What kind of a jerk lets their pool get like that?

Day 8 - Hour 7 - FC:16 CC:~0 - 5ml sample

10 PSI. Changed sock. Adding shy of a gallon. Bought more bleach.

Almost bought this from the same store. Elected not to, as it could lead to a future tragedy, whereupon I mistake an actual alligator for a pool toy.

 

[scriptorum]

Day 8 - Hour 10 - FC:22 CC:~0 - 5ml sample - sock change

I discovered that I'm - to quote Fred G. Sanford - a big dummy. A couple days ago I was experimenting with PoolMath, entering different values, and after I had finished I left the pool size at 12,000. The past two days I've been under-dosing the pool. Ya big dummy. Anyhow the chlorine has held constant for several hours, so I have high hopes for tomorrow!

 

[scriptorum]

You're working so hard keeping up with the chemical side, I would hate to see your progress impeded because you don't have adequate filtration.

I will eventually open up that sand filter. We're still unpacking, and we have visitors arriving tomorrow who will be staying several days. So even without my trepidation, there's no time to start such a project. Unless one of them takes a sudden interest in pool maintenance...

 

[blemaire]

I'm hesitant to take apart the sand filter for now; I'm on a bit of overload for all the other things I've had to learn: new pool owner, identification of use of plumbing/circ. system, traditional pool maintenance, BBB method, TFP's take on the BBB method, etc. Head 'splosion.

I was in the same boat last year when i bought my house with my own swamp as well. I learned a bunch here at the site and never looked back. as for your filter dont be afraid of it. its actually quite simple. I replaced all 600 lbs of sane in my filter(yea i got a big filter) fairly easy all my self. the big part is getting the pool filter sand and believe it or not you can get it at home depot. Of course its special order. I lucked out in my area they sell quickcrete. and there is a local quickcrete mixing facility in my city so i was able to buy it at home depot, go to the yard and pick it up. no shipping. this saved me tons of money. i think at most i spent 70 dollars for all the sand. so stop at home depot and see what kind of concrete they have and where it comes from. you just might be in luck.

but i degress the filter is really simple and easy to maintain. you' ve come this far crystal clear water isnt that far off.

 

[smforte]

Whipping out the leaf eater... sorry if that sounds pervy.

Wait! Gotta add the ball! I heard it gives the bag a little buoyancy, which is a good thing.

Good haul! I will treasure this mass of organic crud always.

Anyone know how to undo this latch for easier cleaning?

Be sure to tie a knot in it before you put it back in the water. My net has come off several times when I didn't tie it

 

[kimkats]

I have done the same thing with pool math. Just proves you are human!

I would not work on the filter until you guests leave as you are going to need to be ready for anything. Hopefully it will not be a big deal but.......

Kim

 

[scriptorum]

Day 9 - Hour 0 - FC:19 CC:~0 - 5ml sample

Can make out the inset design on the third step. Getting there! PSI @10.25 (baseline 10). Changing skimmer sock.

 

[scriptorum]

Mugsy is waiting patiently for this cloudiness to clear up.

 

[Beens]

Maybe the alligator ate the third step?
Nah, I see it trying to show up down there... the step not the alligator.

 

[scriptorum]

Day 9 - Hour 2 - FC:16 - Adding a jug plus.

 

[joshs2000ss]

Out of curiosity and I can't find it looking back, what was your CYA value the last time you checked it?

 

[scriptorum]

Out of curiosity and I can't find it looking back, what was your CYA value the last time you checked it?

It was 55. There have been a few backwashes so it might be a little lower. Is the CYA test affected by high chlorine levels like the pH test is? If not, I'll check it the next time I go out there.

I have an SWG so I didn't bother lowering it to 50, which is the usual top-end recommendation for a SLAM.

 

[scriptorum]

A while back I mentioned the Jandy valve was set to 50/50 skimmer/main-drain and was advised to keep it that way. Now that I'm farther along, should I keep that ratio?

 

[golfinglenn]

As far as the sand goes, I have had great luck with local home improvement stores and getting Silica Sand #20. It is $7 for an 80 or 100 lb bag. I would just plan on replacing your sand and then you know it's fresh and will do a good job. Just my $.02.

Worst part is scooping out the old sand, but you need to do that anyway to inspect the inner tube and fingers for cracks/breaks. Peace of mind I say, peace of mind

 

[scriptorum]

Day 9 - Hour 5 - FC:14 CYA:<30?????

So I took a CYA sample and I have to say this test is confounding me. When I originally took the test well before I started SLAMming, the water was very opaque and I measured over 100. I did this in the shade: improperly, as I learned later. Before starting the SLAM I measured again with the sun at my back and at waist level, and came up with a more reasonable measurement of 55. Now that I'm well into the SLAM I did another measurement, and this time the result is less than 30. You can see from the photo how clear it looks while filled to the top. I did the test three times, and even broke out the replacement CYA reagent I have on backup. Is the CYA test accurate at SLAM levels? I'm not sure how much bleach to add. I know I did some water replacement during backwashes, but it wasn't 50%.

Also, this snake. Whaaaaaat? We didn't move to South Carolina for snakes this big. What kind of snake is this and if I hit it with a shovel will it just get more angry?

I should feed it to the alligator.