Intex sand filter 1500 with Wanda the whale pool cleaner hard to get it to work

Hello,
This is my first year having a large pool. I have an intex 12x24x52" metal frame vinyl pool. I purchased wanda the whale pool cleaner and when I hook it up to the skimmer as the directions say there doesn't seem to be enough suction to move the cleaner around. I have backwashed my sand filter, made sure the skimmer and connections were clear of debris. My son got it to work bypassing the skimmer but the screen on the inlet to the sand filter gets plugged and has to be cleaned but even with it being cleaned it still seems like the cleaner doesn't clean as well and it takes a lot to get it to move. Is there a way to get more suction out of my filter, is that my problem? Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Vickey

Readings today are:
Temp: 52 (yes it turned cold here in Iowa)
Borate: 15
FC: .5
CC: .5
TC: 1
PH: 7.2
T/A: 80
CH: 30
CYA: 30 (I am working with this to bring it up but read on the forum that it will take a few days to get a good reading so I am addding CYA slowly)
Copper: .1
Total gallons: 9700

PS, How concerned should I be with the CH? a few days ago it read 90, today it is 160. The pool calculator says to add calcium chloride (which I don't have right now and haven't added any but it is raising on it's own) I did purchase the TF-100 test kit to get more accurate readings.

The direction on my swg manual say optimal readings for free chlorine should be .4-1.5, does that seem right?


BTW, I wanted to thank everyone on this list who were so helpful with my Dad's pool (maybe some of you remember him- Keith Londrie). He passed last October from Pancreatic Cancer (After he survived three other different cancers)and it is through him that I knew about this list and learned so much about swg pools. In fact I was the one that did all the plumbing for his pool including his solar panels which were really nice.

Vickiebear- don't worry to much about CH, it won't affect vinyl, and won't affect water until really high...
I wouldn't add any more CYA right now, but you need to add Chlorine; with CYA 30, your FC should stay above 3ppm
The rest of your numbers are good for now!

Hi Vickiebear,

Madwil is right--gotta get your FC up.

Figure your pool size at about 8,500 gallons. 1 gallon of 6% bleach will raise your FC by 7ppm...so add 1/2 gallon.

I don't know what the pump size is but Intex pumps are traditionally some of the smallest around. I had an Intex 15' donut and the pump was 1/6 hp. I'm guessing your problem is that Wanda requires a lot more suction than your pump is capable of delivering.

Carl