I inherited a pool this user and it turned into a swamp this summer. I was able to get the chemistry correct but I could see lot of dirt and pool stuck as green. I notice my pool pump water flow becomes slow whenever I use shock or green to blue products. Tried cleaning filters multiple times. But in no time i see the water flow going down. Filter pump valve is stuck so can't backwash. My pool robot is also not able to pick enough dirt. Can't see the bottom.Tried draining the pool 3/4 way(mistake?) and see lot of green smelly sludge at the bottom. Tried removing the sludge with pool net and it's not working. sludge is getting mixed in water and very small quantity i could pick. What options I have now. Should I rent a trash pump and drain all the way.
drained half way- how to remove the sludge at bottom
- Thread starter Ranger11
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,014
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
Yeah, that's a swamp alright. Unless you wish to fill and repeat the water exchange process, to make progress you'll want to implement the SLAM Process. By using a proper tes kit, either a TF-Series or Taylor K-2006C, you will be able to increase and maintain the proper (elevated) SLAM FC level compared to your current CYA. See the FC/CYA Levels to see how the FC is balanced to the CYA.
But the proper test kit is step #1. After that, the SLAM Process should give you the results you are looking for. Hope that helps.
Yeah, that's a swamp alright. Unless you wish to fill and repeat the water exchange process, to make progress you'll want to implement the SLAM Process. By using a proper tes kit, either a TF-Series or Taylor K-2006C, you will be able to increase and maintain the proper (elevated) SLAM FC level compared to your current CYA. See the FC/CYA Levels to see how the FC is balanced to the CYA.But the proper test kit is step #1. After that, the SLAM Process should give you the results you are looking for. Hope that helps.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,014
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Also be sure to bookmark our Pool Care Basics page for lots of great articles, to include test kit comparisons. 
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,022
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If you are comfortable with the risks of draining a pool and have clean water available that may be your easiest path to a swimmable pool.
Draining - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Otherwise you face a lengthy process to kill the algae, clean out the muck, and filter the water.
When you have your cartridge filter clogging from the dirt and algae you may need to separate the process into phases and first kill the algae with the SLAM Process while the cartridge is removed from the filter so water can circulate in the pool. Once the algae is dead then go through an intensive cycle of filtering, cleaning the cartridge, and repeating until the water is clear.
To get the muck off the bottom of the pool it may be best to hire a pool cleaning service who has a standalone cleaning pump and filter to get the dirt out of the bottom.
More details about the models and sizes of your pump and filter in your signature can let us give you more specific advice.
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