I have gotten some pavers work done in the backyard and the guys used industrial sand to fill the gaps between the pavers. When it’s windy the sand sweeps into the pool and I am trying to clean it with the pool vaccum clear, but it’s not cleaning 100%. How to clean?
How to clean sand ?
- Thread starter socialvista99
- Start date
If they installed the pavers correctly and cleaned up after themselves there shouldn't be loose sand to blow into the pool. If they left too much sand behind use a broom and light pressure from a water hose to clear the excess sand away from the pool. Turn your pump off overnight and let all the sand in the pool settle to the floor and slowly vacuum the sand out with a manual vacuum. The key is to work slowly and not disturb the sand on the pool floor too much. It may take a few days to get all the sand out.
Now if it looks like you are getting increasing amounts of sand collecting on the pool floor it may not be sand but algae you are seeing. A way to check is to collect some of the debris from the pool and place it on a white sheet of paper. If the sand puffs away when you try to collect it then it may be algae. Algae will puff away in a fine cloud. Sand should feel gritty and algae will feel papery or slimy. Algae will leave a greenish smear on white paper and look powdery when dry.
Now if it looks like you are getting increasing amounts of sand collecting on the pool floor it may not be sand but algae you are seeing. A way to check is to collect some of the debris from the pool and place it on a white sheet of paper. If the sand puffs away when you try to collect it then it may be algae. Algae will puff away in a fine cloud. Sand should feel gritty and algae will feel papery or slimy. Algae will leave a greenish smear on white paper and look powdery when dry.
what you mean by manual vaccum ? Household vaccum hose is not big enough to go into the depth
Instead of using a robotic or automatic pool cleaner. Here is a video demonstration.
I got some pavers job done, and I have been seeing this sediments since then. First I thought because of timing it could be sand blowing into my pool. But recently I posted a thread on this forum about how to clean the sand, and I was directed towards algae. After doing my share of homework I am back with more questions. I tested my pool and values are following : TA 90, CYA 20, PH 7.6, CL 3. I did OCLT and its right about 1ppm and CC=0. I also got some debris out of my skimmer basket and vacuum bag, when I rub it against a white paper I dont see green smear. The sediments does looks very brittle like sand. However I am pasting the photos of sand I have between my pavers and they seem to be light colored vs the photo of the sediment inside the pool, which is darker. This makes me feel they are not same! Also when I brush very lightly I see them collected in small streaks, but if I brush hard they seem to cloud away for a bit, and come back in a few hours.
I am planning to SLAM after I have added stabilizer to bump up CYA this afternoon just so I can get algae possibility out of my way. But before I wear my SLAM hat, I want to reach out to folks here for insight and clues. My wife is arthritis patient whom I have advised against swimming for almost 3 days now, and I need the pool for her exercise so any help to make the down time of pool small will be highly appreciated.
I am planning to SLAM after I have added stabilizer to bump up CYA this afternoon just so I can get algae possibility out of my way. But before I wear my SLAM hat, I want to reach out to folks here for insight and clues. My wife is arthritis patient whom I have advised against swimming for almost 3 days now, and I need the pool for her exercise so any help to make the down time of pool small will be highly appreciated.
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No need. Not even during slam.
Swimming is safe between min FC and SLAM. You also need to see bottom for swimmer rescue purposes. (Which you can see).
Algae is harmless if it is in fact algae. I'm personally on team paver work/sand and possible team pollen. I'd pass another OCLT just to feel better about it. I don't like passing with 1 FC loss. C's don't get degrees here.
*don't raise your CYA over 30 without passing the OCLT. Again.
Does the Polaris have a bag that catches the dirt while it runs? If so is it collecting any sand?
If it is algae or pollen it may be too fine for the Polaris bag to contain it. What do your current test results look like?
pH 7.4
CYA: 50 (bumped up just this week)
Free Cl: SLAM-ing now so 18, CC =0
TA: 90
CH: 350
How often are you testing your FC and how much do you usually need to add to bring it back to slam level?
I am testing my FC at sunset and sunrise, so twice daily. To keep up the SLAM I need to add 22oz or so Cl for a loss of 1ppm FC overnight per OCLT
I would recommend getting a sand and silt bag for your Polaris. It will capture the finer debris that is accumulating in your pool. It doesn't sound like you are losing too much chlorine every day.