Just started in this forum

[williamsjp]

Ya'll I have this grimmy, dirt looking crap in the bottom of my pool. Yesterday I used my little catfish vac and got it all up (so I thought) this morning I went outside pool looked great (patted myself on the back) my pool filter comes on at 3 in the afternoon so I went out there about 3:30 darn it! There was that crap again! Could it be dirty sand well not sand could it be dirt that is not settleing in the sand filter? Sandpro 3/4 horse-21x4 above ground. Help please I am way to annal to have this stuff in the bottom all summer.

[aylad]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!!

The dirt that you're seeing in the pool could be a number of things...the most immediate that come to my mind are 1)sand blowing back through the returns due to cracked or broken lateral, 2) dead algae from a recent shock that did not get filtered all the way out, 3) Dust, dirt, pollen, and all the other airborne junk that is native to Texas during this time of year. Try watching your returns when your pump comes on tomorrow to see if you see sand blowing back into the pool to rule out #1. Also--what size filter do you have? You can confirm or deny #2--did you recently kill off an algae bloom? #3 is most likely the issue--there's a BUNCH of airborne junk blowing around right now. Did it settle back down into the same places where it was before you vac'd it yesterday? ?Do you see it on the sides of the pool, or just the bottom? Is it concentrated in any one place in the pool, like under the returns?

[Watermom]

Did it settle back down into the same places where it was before you vac'd it yesterday?

Or by chance do you see it in 'lines' where the pool seams are? This happens in my pool. I also have a pad underneath the liner that is taped together and the dirt wants to settle in those lines as well. No matter how well I vacuum and think I have the pool really clean, as soon as the water quiets down, the dirt that is in suspension settle back down and I once again can see those same lines. Not saying this is what is happening in your pool, but just offering that as another possibility.

[williamsjp]

Thanks ya'll for replying. I don't think I have sand blowing back in from the pump but I can tell you this I saved the sock or panty hose that I used with my catfish the other day let it dry out. WELL CRAP! I just went outside to get it to describe it and it had blown in the pool this morning so it's wet again! But today wet and all, fished up from the bottom of the pool it is grey in color, kinda clumped up wet, has no gritty feel, is not leaving anything on my fingers, and kinda has the consistency of brick morter (concrete) but not gritty. Today I finally found the test kit... my PH is not registering which means the chlorine is out of wack. Akaline is perfect. So before I freak over this gunk I'm going to balance the pool, vaccum and see what happens. Sound like a plan to ya'll? What have I got to loose right? If I have problems after tomorrow I will certainly take the advice of the greatest moderators. I really believe it's a combo of a small amount of algae that dumped when I took the cover off and the constent wind were having in Dallas this month 20-25mph everyday darn near. Pollen and junk in the air. Thanks for the advice!

[Watermom]

You're welcome. Post some numbers and we'll help you go from there. By the way, if you don't have a good test kit, do yourself a favor and get one. The one we recommend is the Taylor K-2006 or 2006C. You can pick it up for a pretty good price in the testkit link in my signature below.