Cleaning out above ground pool turned pond?

[blessedbeingmom]

Hi, I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Tricia from South Mississippi. :) Last year we set up our Intex above ground metal-framed 15' x 48" pool (which holds about 5000 gallons when full). It was installed 6/21/10. We switched to the BBB method, although we have only had to use bleach (and occasional polyquat) so far. We also use the Taylor K-2006 test kit. (By the way, would last year's reagents still be good this year?)
We should have listened to Janet's advice in this thread that I posted:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=10473
(as well as the advice of others here) and winterized our pool properly, but unfortunately, we did not. :(
I am attaching a picture of what our pool looks like now, and it is more pond that pool, and is definitely not pretty. My DH Matt wants to drain the pool. He also wants to move the pool frame so he can re-level the sand (there is one area where it hasn't kept level very well) and replace the rope that goes around the bottom exterior of the pool, as it is frayed and not holding up well. I am concerned with moving it and the risk of accidentally putting a hole in it. Maybe if we can slide it over onto a large tarp that would help? Not sure about that either. We will need to clean the interior walls & floor of the pool as well, before we put in fresh water.
Any advice would be appreciated.
DH joked that we should just throw in a few frogs, ducks and/or catfish, etc. LOL!

[Watermom]

I remember you! Glad to see you back with us. I'm going to let one of our pool installers answer your question about moving the pool The thing you have to know is that liners that are totally emptied are often destroyed and have to be replaced. Let's see what some of the others think about your idea of moving it. If you decide not to move it, this pool can definitely be cleaned up. Scooping out as much debris as you can and then lots of bleach and brushing and filtering and the water will look good as new. Look through some of the pictures in the picture gallery for evidence of how well bleach will clean up a mess such as this. There is a new thread called before and after that has pics that are just amazing.

Again, welcome back!

[Ohm_Boy]

I've moved 'em. In fact, the last one I had was one I picked up used. And I mean "picked up". We went to it's owner's house to get it, and they had just drained it. Mostly. It had been sitting in their back yard for probably as long as yours has been where it is. And it was naaaaaaaaaaasssssssssstttttttttyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Wifey-Doll and I pulled the pins and pipes apart and rolled the liner up, lifting and pulling to drain away the rest of the ...um.. well, let's call it 'water'. We loaded it all up in the back of the pickup, drove it home, and I set it up in the backyard. I did have to deal with a couple of small pinholes, but I am pretty sure that they were there before we moved the pool.

It survived the move and setup, and we enjoyed it for quite some time before we had to move again and ended up with no place for it anymore.

I say go for it.

[blessedbeingmom]

The pool is going to basically end up in the same place when we are done. He just wants to move it so he can relevel the sand, especially on that one side where it's not quite level.

[aylad]

I don't have any answers for you about moving it, either--but I'll second Watermom's opinion that the pool can be cleaned up--and it'll be a lot less work than you think! We've seen pools way worse that that be pristine in a matter of a week or so with some time and bleach...so don't be discouraged over it. Like Watermom said, scooop as much of the leaves and debris as you can out of the pool, run a complete set of tests and post 'em here, and if you need help figuring bleach amounts, we'll be happy to give you a hand.

Welcome back, glad to see you found us again!!

Janet

[CarlD]

If you MUST move the pool for other reasons, then you must drain it. But if you don't have to, of course, Watermom and aylad are right--scoop out the junk, hammer with chlorine and test.

Be aware that draining a pool usually means replacing the liner.

[CarlD]

PS:

Great pic! Complete with dour owner!

It's actually not too bad. We've seen much worse, where the water looks like green opaque jello--irridescent :( and STILL cleaned up.

Carl