Inherited a pond, trying to turn it into a pool!

[barma16]

I can see leaves!

At least, I can see in the shallow end where some of them are are. I've been sustaining 15-20ppm FC, and it's starting to pay off. I can now run the filter with a couple scoops DE in it for an hour or more between backwashes, which is progress!

I accidentally bought Muriatic acid at the pool shop instead of Cyanuric, and can't return it since the bottles aren't sealed. The woman at the pool store said I could use it to clean the element in the filter (Hayward DE4820) - is this wise?

Thanks,
Mark

[BigDave]

I don't know about cleaning your DE filter element or what the procedure would be but be careful - don't just dump it on - wear gloves and safety glasses/goggles, stay upwind of the fumes, avoid splashing. Always Always Always put Acid into Water (A->W). NEVER put water into acid. Muriatic acid can hurt you.
That said, It is great for lowering pH (you don't need to now if your pH is still 7.4). I read a post somewhere here that suggested storing the bottle(s) in a 5 gallon plastic pail with lid fastened to contain any possible spill and store the pail (acid and all) in a cool place out of harms way. It's not a good idea to store it with other chemicals or near metal objects as the fumes can cause corrosion.
To put in in your pool (if you need to), wear gloves, eyewear, stay upwind, hold the bottle in the pool with the lid just out of the water, remove lid, pour acid into pool keeping opening as close to water as possible (to avoid splashing), replace cap, rinse the whole closed bottle (and anyhting else that touched the acid) in pool before removing.

[Yeggim]

I can see leaves!

...I accidentally bought Muriatic acid at the pool shop instead of Cyanuric, and can't return it since the bottles aren't sealed. The woman at the pool store said I could use it to clean the element in the filter (Hayward DE4820) - is this wise?

Thanks,
Mark

You can use the acid to clean mineral deposits off the grids of the filter. But it's the last step in a chemical cleaning procedure. Here's a great sticky on DE filters.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...ng-a-DE-filter

Note the addendum in red by POOLDOC. If and when your grids need more than just rinsing, make sure you degrease the grids before the acid wash.

I gotta hand it to you brother. A lot of folks would have had second thoughts by now or been pool stored and start to dump everything but the kitchen sink into the pool. It would start to sound like a Three Stooges routine. I say that with no disrespect or to mock and I genuinely feel for these people but that's the pattern it forms.

Pool Store Guy: I know what's the matter -- you haven't got enough anna canna panna san.

Mother In Law: Wait a minute, -- what that needs is a mixture of enol, plus anna sanna pacan scram.

[barma16]

LOL, thanks! I'm very glad I found this place early, otherwise I'd have spent a lot more money for a lot less progress, and had really no idea what was going on. You guys have all been a great help and kept me positive. Of course, it helped that the weather was nice over the weekend. Hanging out by the swamp with a beer and a test kit wasn't the worst way to spend the time...

That DE Filter sticky is excellent - from the description I don't think I need an acid wash yet, just more time with the filter running.

FC was 16ppm this morning, and still 16ppm at lunch when I ran home to check the level. Does this mean most of the algae is now dead?

[Watermom]

Sounds promising .......... especially if you don't lose too much the rest of the day and if you don't lose more than 1ppm overnight.

BTW --- You don't need a swamp to hang out by the pool with a cold beer!

[barma16]

BTW --- You don't need a swamp to hang out by the pool with a cold beer!

Who knows - once it's a pool and no longer a swamp perhaps I'll be able to persuade someone other than the dog to come through the gate

[Watermom]

You are funny. You made me laugh!

[barma16]

It's been a while, so I thought I'd stop in and give an update, and make sure I'm still on the right track...

The swamp is starting to look like a pool. For the last ten days I've been maintaining >15ppm FC constantly, and testing often enough to be in dire need of more powder and titration agent (delivery tomorrow, phew!).

The shallow end is now clear, and free of leaves and debris. The deep end is getting clearer, and the leaves are coming out, although this clouds things up a treat, so it's time consuming! The filter has been running non-stop, and a full charge of DE will now last two days or more if I leave the water undisturbed. Less when I pull leaves out, obviously... Either way, I'm not usually backwashing more than a couple of times a day.

pH is 7.2 and TA is 100 - I've added nothing but bleach since my last full round of tests.

I've not yet passed the overnight test - on my best night I lost 1.5ppm FC, and usually lose around 3.

I'll bump the pH back up a bit, but is there anything else I should be doing at this stage? Is there a limit to how long I should maintain shock levels, and when should I be thinking about stabilizing?

Thanks for all the help so far, I don't know what I'd have done without it.

Mark