LONG EXPLANATION:
So I've been trying to open the pool for over a month now. When I removed the cover, the water was green. I shocked the pool and then cleared up a little bit, but then a day or so after, it seemed to have turned green again. Two weeks of balancing and shocking, but nothing seems to clear up the algae. I also tried algeacide specifically for yellow\black algae followed up 10 pounds of shock (normally 2-3 is enough to clear up the pool), but still nothing.
Deciding to raise the white flag on killing the algae, I decided to just drain the pool rather than continue to dump $ and chemicals into it. I was using the Main Drain to empty out the pool, and got it to about 85% empty. I shut it off for the night because I didn't want the pump to run dry. Next morning, I can't get the pump running from the Main Drain to drain the remaining 15% of the pool. I don't necessarily want to fill the pool back up again with the remaining 15% of muck as it will basically bring me back to square one.
Things I've tried:
1) I tried priming the vacuum and skimmer, but it doesn't maintain its seal\pressure with the water level so low.
2) I tried priming the main drain line, but doesn't seem to get the pump going when started.
3) I tried blowing air into the main drain line from the pump but don't seem any bubbles coming out of the deep end.
4) I can't see the actual drain at the bottom of the pool because it is so murky. I used the pool brush in its general vicinity to move any possible debris/blockage.
Questions:
1) Does the main drain need a specific water level to work? or at least get started?
2) Any other options? I have a standalone water pump, but it is fairly small and will take forever to empty the pool and possibly burn itself out.
So I've been trying to open the pool for over a month now. When I removed the cover, the water was green. I shocked the pool and then cleared up a little bit, but then a day or so after, it seemed to have turned green again. Two weeks of balancing and shocking, but nothing seems to clear up the algae. I also tried algeacide specifically for yellow\black algae followed up 10 pounds of shock (normally 2-3 is enough to clear up the pool), but still nothing.
Deciding to raise the white flag on killing the algae, I decided to just drain the pool rather than continue to dump $ and chemicals into it. I was using the Main Drain to empty out the pool, and got it to about 85% empty. I shut it off for the night because I didn't want the pump to run dry. Next morning, I can't get the pump running from the Main Drain to drain the remaining 15% of the pool. I don't necessarily want to fill the pool back up again with the remaining 15% of muck as it will basically bring me back to square one.
Things I've tried:
1) I tried priming the vacuum and skimmer, but it doesn't maintain its seal\pressure with the water level so low.
2) I tried priming the main drain line, but doesn't seem to get the pump going when started.
3) I tried blowing air into the main drain line from the pump but don't seem any bubbles coming out of the deep end.
4) I can't see the actual drain at the bottom of the pool because it is so murky. I used the pool brush in its general vicinity to move any possible debris/blockage.
Questions:
1) Does the main drain need a specific water level to work? or at least get started?
2) Any other options? I have a standalone water pump, but it is fairly small and will take forever to empty the pool and possibly burn itself out.
