Proud owner of a glorious swamp!

[scriptorum]

My girlfriend had some bleach "sitting around" the house, she suggested I use it up. One of them was a from 6% from 2008, and came out clear with a slightly yellow tint. Well, waste not, want not. I put in more than twice the amount and I'll measure it again later.

Some better photos of an algae-filled pool, two weeks into a SLAM:

The deep end is still roiling a little from the brushing, and the sun lighting isn't the best yet. But when it's still you can see the floor clearly.

WWII-era pool brush. I'm so fancy. You already know. Like dis.

Hrm. Something seems to be missing from my Intermatic timer. How trippy! Or rather, not trippy at all, based on your perspective.

How exciting! I can't wait to see the pics! The "dust" at the bottom could still be some dead algae settling down there waiting to be filtered. (maybe?)

Maybe? You know it's right by the drain, why wouldn't it get pulled into it? Unless my mains are clogged? Tough to tell since I can't block the skimmer using this Jandy valve. It's not majorly dusty, but it's noticeable when I start the brush.

This post reminds me that I am supposed to be backwashing my filter. I am not looking forward to it as the last time my hose just about exploded on me. It's got a bunch of pin holes towards the end which shot water directly at the neighbors window last time while the end shot water right at my car. Cheap hose. (heh, different spelling there would mean a totally different thing!)

Neighbors got it comin'.

I also have a pinhole on mine, so I get a shower during backwashing. Mine is just below the backwash pipe. Pretty sure mine is an easy fix: loosen, slide the hose up, tighten.

Anyhoo... it's great to see the progress you've made! Make sure you keep it up till that water sparkles!!

I think I'll pass the OCLT tonight, but it looks more sparkly in the shallow end than the deep end. However it is quite clearly "clear." in the deep end, at least from my perspective. Should the deep end be just as sparkly? If someone could share a thread/post that shows what a full-pool sparkle looks like, I'd would appreciate it.

 

[Maria]

Just wanted to chime in--what a great post! Keep up the good work!
The white "cloud" is almost certainly dead algae. When you brush you stir it "into the suspension" so it will float and then be sucked into the filter. This is a good thing!

May I make a suggestion? There is a pool brush called the Wall Whale XL. It is a brush that has a hinged "fin" that holds the brush firmly against the pool wall and makes pool brushing MUCH easier. It saves my back!

You're almost there! I remember reading that "sparkly" meant you could put a quarter in the deep end and be able to tell if it is heads or tails. You'll get there! Oh, and since you asked here is my sparkly pool 36 hours after pulling the mesh cover off for the summer:

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[Beens]

Well....I don't want to get in over my head with advice here. Since I have no drains involved in my pool I'm not sure how powerful they are, or should be. I do know that dead algae tends to brush up into a bit of a cloud and then go away and show up later (until it's finally filtered out). I'd say it's part of the end of the SLAM process and why brushing often is encouraged.

I don't have any pics handy (sorry, I'm about to leave for work or I'd do a search for one other than my own avatar) I know someone will pop in here with an amazing sparkly pic for you!

I'd say when it sparkles, you'll know it! It's hard to tell from pics sometimes depending on the sun but pretty much when the pump and filter is off it's like you can't even tell there's water. My vacuum head resting on the bottom of the pool looks as clear as day with no haze or anything.

As to the backwash, it was surprisingly uneventful. For the first time I made sure my hose was 100% flat and I didn't even end up having any water shooting out the pinholes. They must have been facing down. *phew* I do have some neighbors that might deserve it, but it's not those ones. lol

Alright, if I don't leave I'll be late for my first ever holiday work shift.

*edit* well look at that! Someone already beat me to it! I love this place!

 

[bridgman]

You know it's right by the drain, why wouldn't it get pulled into it? Unless my mains are clogged? Tough to tell since I can't block the skimmer using this Jandy valve. It's not majorly dusty, but it's noticeable when I start the brush.

Any chance you could point a return jet down into the deep end, or at least angle them so you get a swirly pattern happening ?

I see posts from people complaining that their pool-cleaning robots don't climb walls like they're supposed to and just snuffle around the deep end instead. If you could find one of those people on the right day you might be able to trade your alligator for a deep-end-snuffling robot...

 

[scriptorum]

Day 14 - Hour 9 - FC:7.0

Whoops, I ran out of chlorine. Under dosing, so I'll be a little shy of the SLAM target tonight.

You're almost there! I remember reading that "sparkly" meant you could put a quarter in the deep end and be able to tell if it is heads or tails. You'll get there! Oh, and since you asked here is my sparkly pool 36 hours after pulling the mesh cover off for the summer

Beautiful pool!

I tossed a quarter into the pool. I can see it, and I think it's tails but it's one of those new-fangled quarters.

Any chance you could point a return jet down into the deep end, or at least angle them so you get a swirly pattern happening ?

If I could figure out how to aim any of the jets! They seem to resist rotation, tilting, cajoling, and sweet nothings.

 

[smooth2222]

Isnt that cellose fiber awesome . Love the stuff, Your scoop way smaller than mine, so about right, i do premix mine though so no chances of it clumping.

I bought a 25lb back 3 years ago, still have about 3/4 left, lol

 

[scriptorum]

Day 15 - FC 15.0 CC:0.0

√ Overnight free chlorine drop was 0.0
√ Combined chlorine was 0.0
√ Water is clear / Quarter is tails

I passed the OCLT!

My plan is to add more stabilizer to try to bring CYA up to 70 or so, and let the FC drift down to around 5. At that point I'll fire up the SWG (never used it before) and put it on very low (Intermatic trippers are missing; new ones are in the mail). Then I'll do some more readings and adjust other chemicals, such as pH, which I'm sure is through the roof. I'll also use a leaf eater to pick up the dust that has kindly collected into a pile from last night. I'll take a final gallon count to tally how much bleach the pool devoured. Finally I'll take some better photos with a real camera -- if I can find it in all these boxes -- as my cell phone makes everything look like someone's heavy breathing on the lens.

Thanks, TFP!

 

[muffin_dad]

If you haven't already be sure to clean your SWG. When I did it made a huge difference in the amount of chlorine generated. Also make sure the salt level is up or it won't make and chlorine.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[muffin_dad]

*any

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[JVTrain]

Day 15 - FC 15.0 CC:0.0

√ Overnight free chlorine drop was 0.0
√ Combined chlorine was 0.0
√ Water is clear / Quarter is tails

I passed the OCLT!

My plan is to add more stabilizer to try to bring CYA up to 70 or so, and let the FC drift down to around 5. At that point I'll fire up the SWG (never used it before) and put it on very low (Intermatic trippers are missing; new ones are in the mail). Then I'll do some more readings and adjust other chemicals, such as pH, which I'm sure is through the roof. I'll also use a leaf eater to pick up the dust that has kindly collected into a pile from last night. I'll take a final gallon count to tally how much bleach the pool devoured. Finally I'll take some better photos with a real camera -- if I can find it in all these boxes -- as my cell phone makes everything look like someone's heavy breathing on the lens.

Thanks, TFP!

Congrats on your domination of all things pool and reptile!

 

[mrcarcrazy]

Congrats on getting the water back. You should pat yourself on the back a few times. I guess that Alligator escaped in the night.

 

[Beens]

Awesome! Congratulations! I hope it's smooth sailing from here on out. You definitely need one of the gator floats in there now.

 

[bridgman]

Congratulations !!

 

[scriptorum]

Brand new day, clear and gatorless pool.

FC:6.5
CC:0
pH:7.5
TA:70
CH:250
Salt:2800

I'm surprised pH is a beautiful 7.5 - I expected it to be through the roof. It was 7.3 before starting the SLAM. TA is also perfect (100 before the slam) - from numerous backwashes, maybe? If that's the case, then it's strange that salt remains unchanged at 2800. Anyhow, everything is looking good. Didn't test CYA as I just added more stabilizer to the skimmer sock, but not enough to bring me to target (I'm out). It was 32 yesterday.

Going to clean the SWG electrolytic cell. Wish me luck!

 

[smforte]

Been following thread for weeks now...this is so awesome and you've done an amazing job. I'm still in the learning process too but have a sparkling pool thanks to TFP!

 

[scriptorum]

Until I can figure out which of the 2 tonnes of boxes has my camera, these cell snaps will have to do. Looking pretty sparkly in the deep end today!

 

[Butterfly]

Looking good! Congratulations!

 

[Richard320]

After this ordeal, you've earned the right to be a pool snob.

And you can learn to live with sparklypoolitis.

 

[scriptorum]

Here are some very dull pictures of me cleaning the electrolytic cell. It's an old "Mineral Springs" unit. This turns out to be a rebranded Goldline (later Hayward) unit.

I turned off the power to the pump and to the control panel, then unplugged the cell from the control panel.

And disconnected the cell from the plumbing. This was very easy to do, just twist off both end rings and it pops right out, along with some residual water.

The prior owner did a good job keeping the cell clean! I don't see any gunk or calcium buildup. Since I've got it apart, I might as well continue with the cleaning.

I went to the store and asked for a 2" #11 expandable rubber stop. The Ace Hardware rep pointed me out to this device, and said it would do the same thing. For a few bucks, I figured it was worth a shot.

First, I wanted to ensure the plug would hold, so I attached the plug and added some water to the other side. First try did not do so well.

I moved the plug to the other side and tried again, hand-tightening a bit harder. This held.

Then I got ready. Gloves, mask, eye protection, Moe's "Wrong Doug" taco stack and take out diet coke cup: all check.

I poured the water into a former bleach jug. Not wanting to die of chlorine gas inhalation, I rinsed the jug out heavily first. To this, I added muriatic acid until the total volume was approximately 25% greater.

I used bungee cords to tie the cell to a bucket and keep it in place. I thought this might bite me in the backside, but it held it steady. Then I slowly poured the diluted acid mixture into the cell...

Annnnnnd ... nothing. Well, a few bubbles. Then nothing. I'll take that result - that means it's pretty clean, right?

After a few minutes I removed the cell from the bucket, poured the liquid into it along with the remainder from the jug, and tossed it all in the pool. I gave everything a good rinse, including the cell, and reconnected it to the plumbing.

I turned everything back on, including the SWG, which I set to very low for now. My timer trippers should be arriving in a couple of days, but what the heck did the former owner do with them? Earrings? Pop art? No idea.

The control panel has an issue. The lights come on for "Power On" and "Generating Sanitizer," and then I hear a click and those two lights go off. The LED is reading the salt level only 200 ppm less than my 1766 test, so the unit has power. We'll see over the next few days if the unit is fully busted or just wonky. I have a couple bottles of bleach on hand just in case.

That reminds me, I need to pick up some gasket goo. What's the term for the thing I need to get? The lubricant to rub on the gasket. Well anyhow I skipped that step.

 

[JesseWV]

If that cell is the same as a T-CELL-15:

"The ideal salt level is between 2700-3400 ppm (parts per million) with 3200 ppm being optimal."