Time to Take My Pool Back from Leslie's

[pentachris]

I've been through 3 or 4 green-to-clean and yellow-out treatments this year. My pool looks like crap.

Actually, more like urine than crap, but you get the idea...

Anyway, I just ordered my K-2006C kit from Amazon. It's time to get my pool back. I've got plenty of Power Powder Pro, as well as a bunch of other stuff that I'm finding out is pretty unnecessary. I'm kind of concerned that my filter isn't really doing what it's supposed to do, so I may need some guidance on that. I'll keep reading around here, learning what I can without asking too many questions. But when the test kit comes in, I'm sure I'll have plenty to ask. Any words of wisdom in preparation are welcome. I look forward to being a part of this community!

[PoolDoc]

Not quite sure what you are asking, but it sounds like the Pool Chart is the place to start.

Ben

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+ It's much easier to answer your questions, when we have the details about your pool in one place. We often 'waste' the first few posts back and forth collecting information. So, please complete our new Pool Chart form -- it takes about 30 seconds, but will save much more than that.

Pool Chart Entry Form

[pentachris]

I filled out the chart. Not really asking anything yet. I assumed that the right place to start here was with accurate test results from the recommended testing products, so I was going to wait on that to come in from Amazon before I started trying to do anything. This was mainly intended as just a "get established" post.

I threw four pounds of 73% NaClO in and scrubbed yesterday evening. Right now, the pool looks blue and cloudy. It's got a LOT of dead algae in it. This seems to be a problem in my clean up efforts; I'm not sure if my filter is operating efficiently. I started vacuuming it before I scrubbed it, and saw the algae blowing through the outlet valves, right back into the pool. I went to Leslie's and got some floc, thinking that would help me get the algae out. The instruction label didn't say that I should vacuum it to waste, which I thought I should. Googling the product actually lead me here. That's when i started reading some things on this site and these forums that made a lot of sense.

Anyway, if you think you can help me from here instead of waiting on the test kit to come in, I can provide you with some basic water info that may not be as accurate as what the new test will show. I guess the sooner the better. My wife wants to have some of her girlfriends over to swim on Aug 11. Seeing as how I enjoy looking at women in swimwear, I'm eager to oblige.

Thanks for your response and offer to assist.

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Sorry - in my previous post, I meant calcium hypochlorite (Power Powder Pro), not sodium hypochlorite.

[PoolDoc]

Having algae blow back into the pool is a problem. If the algae is DEAD, this indicates you have a filter problem. If the algae is ALIVE, you'd be better off vacuuming to waste.

Looked at your Pool Chart data.

If you want a clear pool on Aug 4, you probably should:

1. Vacuum the algae to waste;
2. Purchase and use a SINGLE dose of a locally available pool clarifier;
3. Open and check your filter for adequate sand, and for lumps and channels.
4. Report COMPLETE test results (do you have a K2006, or have one ordered?)

[pentachris]

If you want a clear pool on Aug 4, you probably should:

1. Vacuum the algae to waste;
2. Purchase and use a SINGLE dose of a locally available pool clarifier;
3. Open and check your filter for adequate sand, and for lumps and channels.
4. Report COMPLETE test results (do you have a K2006, or have one ordered?)

It's not quite that desperate - I'm shooting for Aug 11, not Aug 4. With that in mind, are your steps still the best course of action? If so...

1. Should I go ahead and use the Leslie's Super Floc that I bought before I vacuum to waste?

2. I've dumped a lot of clarifier into the pool in the past week or so - a full quart of Leslie's Clear and Perfect (one oz is supposed to treat 4000 gallons, use more for very cloudy water), and a few weeks ago a bunch of Leslie's PoolPerfect+PhosFree. Continue with more?

3. See my picture links below. It looks to me like I'll have to cut two pieces of PVC to open the filter; am I wrong?

4. I just ordered the K2006 from Amazon last night, as mentioned above. I haven't gotten shipping confirmation yet; I'd guess it won't be here until next week.

Here's how my pool looks right now.

Here's the hardware I'm working with, relevant to my question number 2 above. BTW, I've never used the New Water Cycler you see in this photo. I moved into this home with all this already installed, and when I researched the New Water, it didn't really seem advantageous.

Here's info on my filter and pump, just because I didn't have them handy when I filled out the chart.

Thanks, Ben.

[PoolDoc]

I'll look at the other, later, but a BIG WARNING right now:

If you've already used a "bunch" of clarifier, do NOT use any more, and do NOT use any floc.

Regarding the filter: if it was DEAD algae that was blowing through the filter, yes, you probably should open it. If you want to be sure, get some DE filter powder, put a couple of cups in the skimmer, and then see if that blows through. If so, your filter definitely needs service.

(PS: the "pump" photo is actually the pump MOTOR; you need a picture of the pump wet end, too.)

[BigDave]

...It looks to me like I'll have to cut two pieces of PVC to open the filter; am I wrong...

Yep, you'll have to cut the pipes to open the filter. If you install Unions when you put it back together, you'll be able to open it without cutting in the future.