Strategies for first opening

[HudsonValley68]

I purchased a home with a pool and last year was our first season. I know enough about pool maintenance to know, and have experienced, outside companies charge a lot for what I'm happy to do myself. That's why I'm here! I kept things well under control last year thanks to this site.

We had a pool co. close it for us in October and they added their own cocktail of chemicals. I won't do that again. Apparently the water was too warm (68F) when we closed, and the inherited cover is absolutely trashed and lets light in. We're opening tomorrow and I see a big cleanup project ahead. I've tested my chemicals (see signature/link) and need to lower PH and then get to SLAMing.

Because we have a cartridge filter, can I avoid having to repeatedly cleaning it while SLAMing by leaving the carts uninstalled and simply recirculate the chemicals? Then put them in when the algae has died and settled?

Any other thoughts or advice about our specific situation?

Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

Because we have a cartridge filter, can I avoid having to repeatedly cleaning it while SLAMing by leaving the carts uninstalled and simply recirculate the chemicals? Then put them in when the algae has died and settled?

Yes.

 

[Hudsongirl]

Just popping in to say hey to a fellow HV resident and to say that filter socks do wonders in May when the pollen settles over everything here like a blanket. Really helped us from having to constantly clear up the cartridge filter. We're supposed to open ours tomorrow (hiring out because I'm intimidated by the plumbing aspects not the chemicals). This is our first opening since we installed the pool last year, but we closed late so things are looking clear under our leaf net.

 

[HudsonValley68]

Just popping in to say hey to a fellow HV resident and to say that filter socks do wonders in May when the pollen settles over everything here like a blanket. Really helped us from having to constantly clear up the cartridge filter. We're supposed to open ours tomorrow (hiring out because I'm intimidated by the plumbing aspects not the chemicals). This is our first opening since we installed the pool last year, but we closed late so things are looking clear under our leaf net.

Good call! I used pool socks last year with success. My plan was to use them while in ‘circulate mode’ to vacuum up a majority of the mess before putting the filter back in.
Taking over a disused pool, closed for 4 seasons, with all the old gear has been a bit challenging.

 

[Newdude]

IMO there's no benefit to pulling the 300 sq ft carts. If it was a 120 sq ft Florida filter then it would clog about 3x faster and might be a PITA, but i dont think you will be babysitting yours.


My 500s cleared 20k gallons of this nearly black swamp and made it the whole way through. Maybe you'd need one cleaning with the beginning rush of filtering while it's still heavy debris.

 

[HudsonValley68]

IMO there's no benefit to pulling the 300 sq ft carts. If it was a 120 sq ft Florida filter then it would clog about 3x faster and might be a PITA, but i dont think you will be babysitting yours.


My 500s cleared 20k gallons of this nearly black swamp and made it the whole way through. Maybe you'd need one cleaning with the beginning rush of filtering while it's still heavy debris.

Is my strategy misguided by leaving the filters out and only circulating right now? The filters will actually help clarify the water more quickly with maybe one big filter cleaning at the end of the process?

 

[Newdude]

Is my strategy misguided by leaving the filters out and only circulating right now?

Again. That's really for small filters and yours is likely adequate to not need to be pulled.

You can also try it as is and decide to pull them if they're clogging. But either way, whatever is in the pool needs to be filtered whether it's dead or alive and you'll have to pay the piper.

 

[HudsonValley68]

Again. That's really for small filters and yours is likely adequate to not need to be pulled.

You can also try it as is and decide to pull them if they're clogging. But either way, whatever is in the pool needs to be filtered whether it's dead or alive and you'll have to pay the piper.

Thanks!

 

[HudsonValley68]

5 days! Thanks everyone!
I bet I can do it faster next time. Removing the filter was a waste of time.

 

[Newdude]

Removing the filter was a waste of time.

No it wasn't. You have a newfound knowledge of its capabilities. All we can do from afar is guess.

#knowingishalfthebattle. #GoJoe.

 

[HudsonValley68]

No it wasn't. You have a newfound knowledge of its capabilities. All we can do from afar is guess.

#knowingishalfthebattle. #GoJoe.

You're suggesting running without the filter for the first 5 days the SLAM added value? My takeaway was that it stayed pretty consistently cloudy until I put the filter in, then it started to clear up.
My experience with the filter in the last 36hrs was:
- 9psi without filter or when clean filter installed
- 12psi 24hrs later / brushed 4 times
- 15psi after vacuuming w/skimmer sock
I cleaned the filter and we're back to 9psi now.

Been busy today, but it's looking great! Hoping levels look good for OCLT tonight.

 

[PoolStored]

Take the ladders out of the pool and scrub INSIDE them with bleach/water solution...ask me how I know...

I got this. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003Q8GCGO

If you have a light, scrub behind the light. If you have a main drain, you need to remove the cover and scrub in there. Don't do it if you cannot see the bottom of the deep end...wait for it to clear a bit.

See post #8 in link below..slime in the ladder caused me an extended SLAM.

SLAM, Rain, Dissapointment.​