narcan547
04-15-2012, 09:41 PM
Ok so I have a saltwater system that I have been lazy with and am tired of knowing nothing about. My pool has algead and has a small tadpole infestation and I want to get it back to normal and keep it running better than I have in the past. Do I need to drain and acid wash or can I fix it on my own?
PoolDoc
04-15-2012, 10:10 PM
Acid washing should be a last resort: it cleans things by stripping the top layer of the pool surface, leaving the pool rougher and more susceptible to algae.
1. Turn your pump and filter on, and began removing gunk.
2. If it's on, turn your SWCG (salt system) OFF.
3. Post your pool info in your signature, per instructions below.
4. Start adding 2 gallons of plain 6% bleach per 10K gallons of pool water, each evening.
5. Get an OTO kit, NOW and a K-2006 kit ASAP - see http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?14994 for info. Skip the evening bleach if your reading is very dark yellow.
6. Post your test readings with the OTO, a description of your filter operation (backwashing frequently, etc) and your new pool info signature.
Once you do that, we can move to next steps. NONE of this rules out acid washing and/or draining. But, it will move you in the direction of finding you whether you actually need to drain, or can just clean up in place.
Good luck!
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Pool signature example (for http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/profile.php?do=editsignature)
Let's say you have a 12,000 gallon concrete kidney pool with a StaRite System 3 cartridge filter, a Hayward Super II 1.5 HP pump, an Pentair Intellichlor SWCG, a Hayward pool heater, and a Nature II unit. Put this in your signature:
"12K concrete kidney; StaRite S7M120; Hayward 1.5HP Super II pump; Intellichlor IC20; Hayward H250DFN, and a Nature II unit"
Doing this will make it MUCH easier for us to give consistently good answers.
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