Turning my algae farm back into a swimming pool

[mobilemike73]

Wow! I'm surprised that the local pool store would have set me up with more pump than needed. If anything I would have thought they would have undersized me, I purchased as part of a standard kit package priced pool with all the trimmings. I have thought about switching to a cartridge filter, I used to have one and really had sparkling clean water. Would getting a big filter help offset the overpowered pump? I'm not sure I'm up for swapping out the impeller. The label on the pump says 2HP but it seems to be doing ok filtering and I haven't lost any sand that I can see from backwashing. What do you think I should do?

So far so good on the pool. It's a milky white and the initial foam from all the oxidation of the algae has subsided. I put a total of 75ppm chlorine into the pool over the last 48 hours. Tonight after the sun sets I am going to shut off the pump and let it settle out.

My water chemistry is way out of whack and I am going for supplies this afternoon. I'm going to add about 10 lbs of baking soda to bring my alkalinity and ph levels closer to being in balance. TA is currently 30 and PH is currently 7.0. I'll post a complete set of results after this adjustment.

Thanks!
Mike

[PoolDoc]

Wow! I'm surprised that the local pool store would have set me up with more pump than needed.

Nah, it's standard. The wholesale cost difference between 1HP, a 1.5HP and 2HP above-ground pump is usually small. And, given the whole American 'bigger is better' ethos, the pitch, 'And, just for you, we're throwing in an upgraded 2 HP pump' is a sexy and effective sales line.

Offering a new-to-pools customer a 22" filter instead of a 18" filter is much less 'sexy'. Plus the 22" filter costs significantly more at wholesale.

For the most part, it's all about what will sell, and not what will work well.

[Watermom]

Wow! I'm surprised that the local pool store would have set me up with more pump than needed.

We see it ALL the time!

My water chemistry is way out of whack and I am going for supplies this afternoon. I'm going to add about 10 lbs of baking soda to bring my alkalinity and ph levels closer to being in balance. TA is currently 30 and PH is currently 7.0.

Use 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at Walmart) to raise the pH. Maybe a third of a box at a time. Retest, redose as needed. Don't add 10 lbs. of baking soda all at one time. A couple of lbs at a time, let it circulate a few hours, retest and redose gradually. Smaller doses are better than one big dose.