New Pool Owner - Learning!
- Thread starter MaggieMiller
- Start date
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,501
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I’m not very hip lol
i have no clue what it even is or how it works enough to make an informed opinion about it.
My opinion of SLAM so far.
I LOVE having just ONE process to focue on and not reading a million differing opinions on how to maintain a pool.
-I got very excited when I could see the bottom of the stairs. I
-t took me a bit more than a day to get the FC up to slam level and it dropped, of course, overnight, but this time I'm fairly confident about the amount of chlorine I just added.
-The previously almost-clear water is now all foggy blue again because I could see clearly enough to clean the last of the debris out of the pool and scrubbed the ladder, sides and borrom of the whole pool by hand.
-There's not much in the filter basket anymore. I have socks, but they seem to impede more now than help. I think the large filter is doing most of the work. The algae that's left is mostly too small for even the sock to catch.
-I plan to figure out if I can take the previous-owner installed ladder attached to a wooden steps/landing he built out so I can scrub it down really well.
-I added a bit of water when I was getting the leaves out with the leaf catcher attached to the garden hose (I don't know what it's called), but I've taken a good bit out with all the backwashing, so it needed a bit of water anyway.
-I did just think about the fact that since this house has a whole-house filter, I should probably fill the pool when I'm not using water for anything else and turn the whole house filter off.
-I really like not having to run to the pool store and blindly buy and do whatever they say. I prefer being responsible and knowing what's going on.
-I have no idea how old the pool is or how long it will last, but since the grandkids I'm raising are 11 & 12, I think if I can keep it working until they're driving, their lives will be enhanced.
So thanks again to everyone.
I LOVE having just ONE process to focue on and not reading a million differing opinions on how to maintain a pool.
-I got very excited when I could see the bottom of the stairs. I
-t took me a bit more than a day to get the FC up to slam level and it dropped, of course, overnight, but this time I'm fairly confident about the amount of chlorine I just added.
-The previously almost-clear water is now all foggy blue again because I could see clearly enough to clean the last of the debris out of the pool and scrubbed the ladder, sides and borrom of the whole pool by hand.
-There's not much in the filter basket anymore. I have socks, but they seem to impede more now than help. I think the large filter is doing most of the work. The algae that's left is mostly too small for even the sock to catch.
-I plan to figure out if I can take the previous-owner installed ladder attached to a wooden steps/landing he built out so I can scrub it down really well.
-I added a bit of water when I was getting the leaves out with the leaf catcher attached to the garden hose (I don't know what it's called), but I've taken a good bit out with all the backwashing, so it needed a bit of water anyway.
-I did just think about the fact that since this house has a whole-house filter, I should probably fill the pool when I'm not using water for anything else and turn the whole house filter off.
-I really like not having to run to the pool store and blindly buy and do whatever they say. I prefer being responsible and knowing what's going on.
-I have no idea how old the pool is or how long it will last, but since the grandkids I'm raising are 11 & 12, I think if I can keep it working until they're driving, their lives will be enhanced.
So thanks again to everyone.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,501
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Aside from maintaining slam level fc as often as possible-
*Yanking that ladder & giving a good scrub with bleach inside & out is recommended.
The sooner the better as most are the epicenter for algae.
If you can’t remove it try to inject it with bleach & blast its insides with water- post a picture of it for more guidance.
*Do your best to brush & or vac each day. Even after the big visible stuff is removed. This helps break up the biofims that algae form to protect itself against chlorine.
*Backwash your filter when pressure rises 25% over clean pressure. Not before. Sand actually filters a bit better when its a little dirty.
If the gauge is broken or doesn’t return to zero when the pump is off get a replacement. They usually sell them at lowes this time of year.
*Yanking that ladder & giving a good scrub with bleach inside & out is recommended.
The sooner the better as most are the epicenter for algae.
If you can’t remove it try to inject it with bleach & blast its insides with water- post a picture of it for more guidance.
*Do your best to brush & or vac each day. Even after the big visible stuff is removed. This helps break up the biofims that algae form to protect itself against chlorine.
*Backwash your filter when pressure rises 25% over clean pressure. Not before. Sand actually filters a bit better when its a little dirty.
If the gauge is broken or doesn’t return to zero when the pump is off get a replacement. They usually sell them at lowes this time of year.
I will check the filter pressure when I go out to clean the pool. I'm just going to get in because I can't clean it well dragging a tall ladder around the pool. And I made my living partially because of people my age doing things on ladders, so I really don't want to end up in an ER as a ladder fall.
The pool ladder is plastic and screwed to a wooden board, and it's my only way in at present, so I should probably unscrew it after I clean the rest of the pool on the off-chance that I create a situation where I have to use the house ladder to get into the pool because I still have a lot of my tools packed, and good luck finding a handyman in 2024! In my head, I picture me with a disassembled, (but clean!) ladder, not having the right screws to re-attach it and running back and forth to the hardware store to fix the ladder while still trying to keep up with the SLAM process. I'll report back a bout the ladder.
Oh my word, you were so right! I scrubbed the whole pool again and then pulled a monster of an algae-making machine (cleverly disguised as a ladder) out of the pool. It’s disgusting!
No wonder I’ve been fighting the pool!
I’ll take measurements again and I’m sure I’ll need to add more chlorine and try to get another test & treat in before bed. It’s raining now, so I’ll deal with the ladder tomorrow.
No wonder I’ve been fighting the pool!
I’ll take measurements again and I’m sure I’ll need to add more chlorine and try to get another test & treat in before bed. It’s raining now, so I’ll deal with the ladder tomorrow.
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That calls for a pressure washer to eliminate every bit of it. I would mix a strong solution of chlorine and water in a pump sprayer and soak it well.
I'll be going through the boxes in the garage to try and find & unpack my pressure washer. I at least know where my pump sprayer is. I feel a little stupid about not taking the ladder out sooner.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,501
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hard to tell from the picture but look for any plugs or ends that are removable so you can get inside the ladder parts - especially if it sounds like it holds water.
@kellyfair has a similar ladder & I think she periodically injects it with bleach.
I too can only vac from inside the pool - short people problems lol
Outside the pool in the skimmer/return area I have a stump to stand on to pour liquid chlorine/other chems & brush it around otherwise I couldn’t see/reach over the edge!
@kellyfair has a similar ladder & I think she periodically injects it with bleach.
I too can only vac from inside the pool - short people problems lol
Outside the pool in the skimmer/return area I have a stump to stand on to pour liquid chlorine/other chems & brush it around otherwise I couldn’t see/reach over the edge!
Yep, I drillled extra holes in mine because the first time I took it apart I couldn’t look into it without gagging. Seriously gross!
I know @kimkats used to use a turkey baster to squirt beach water into her steps.
I also cannot clean the pool from outside!
I know @kimkats used to use a turkey baster to squirt beach water into her steps.
I also cannot clean the pool from outside!
Update on the ladder. I took it apart. I don't have a pressure washer, but I have a pump sprayer. I plan to buy a cheap walmart pool tomorrow and soak what I can soak and douse the rest with the pump sprayer. There are pieces cleverly filled with sand as ballast, so I'll toss that and fill them again after cleaning from the now-convenient pile of sand in the yard. I decided buying a new ladder that doesn't hold water would entail construction to make it as stable as this one is, so it's easier to clean this one.Hard to tell from the picture but look for any plugs or ends that are removable so you can get inside the ladder parts - especially if it sounds like it holds water.
@kellyfair has a similar ladder & I think she periodically injects it with bleach.
I too can only vac from inside the pool - short people problems lol
Outside the pool in the skimmer/return area I have a stump to stand on to pour liquid chlorine/other chems & brush it around otherwise I couldn’t see/reach over the edge!
The good news is that with the ladder gone, the pool is clearing nicely. I've added chlorine 3 times today and will probably do another cleaning tomorrow, though there is nothing visible on the bottom of the pool any longer.
THEN I will address the lack of a filter pressure guage (I may know where it used to be. There's an empty electrical connection I'll post about later) and figure out regular maintenance of a sand filter.
The kids' and their friends are circling the pool like sharks. They are so ready to swim.
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I know where my drill is! And I've unpacked my turkey baster! I love the idea of drilling more holes! I sense momentum!
- Jun 1, 2018
- 15,501
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
No sand!!
Use sealed weights instead. Hang them from the ladder underneath. Cheap poly rope or zip ties will do the trick.
Many here use sand/concrete filled bleach jugs- which I imagine you have good access to these days
Just be sure to put a couple layers of duct tape over the opening before putting the caps on to seal them since bleach caps are vented.
Having separate weights also allows for much easier removal in the future.
My first set of jugs lasted 4 years. I have since aquired some plastic sealed weights (the kind that go on a barbell)
Use sealed weights instead. Hang them from the ladder underneath. Cheap poly rope or zip ties will do the trick.
Many here use sand/concrete filled bleach jugs- which I imagine you have good access to these days
Just be sure to put a couple layers of duct tape over the opening before putting the caps on to seal them since bleach caps are vented.
Having separate weights also allows for much easier removal in the future.
My first set of jugs lasted 4 years. I have since aquired some plastic sealed weights (the kind that go on a barbell)
Well done!! You got this now!! What a great thread to read! Lets get that ladder back together and throw some kids in that pool!
It is safe for them to swim if the FC is a smidge under SLAM level for the CYA. I would not put brand new swimsuit on them just to be on the safe side though!
It is safe for them to swim if the FC is a smidge under SLAM level for the CYA. I would not put brand new swimsuit on them just to be on the safe side though!
I emptied out the sand and things are soaking now. As if a sign from above, one of the teens that lived here before us saw my granddaughter (they were classmates) and she told her the water had "always been green" the whole time they swam in the pool. So I guess that ladder had years to set up an impressive algae colony. And that explains why they had bottles of algae remedies and clarifiers on the shelves. Upon the deep scrub this evening, there was nothing left on the bottom of the pool and the algae, even in the ladder area, is gone. The water is blue. I put a lot of chlorine in because I added algae back to the water from the wall where the ladder was and from the last bits of debris on the bottom of the pool, but MAYBE, if the chlorine isn't too high, I can let the kids swim in a ladder-less pool tomorrow. They don't need a ladder to climb right out, but when I got out after cleaning the pool, it was not pretty & I was glad no one had a camera around. LOL
I guess I need to find an old set of clothes to designate as my "bleach clothes" because I'll be bleaching and scrubbing ladder parts for a day or two...
FC is 12. The pool is clear. The ladder with algae is out of the pool. I guess my first SLAM is done. Can it be? When can I let the kids in? I was in scrubbing a long time yesterday and I’m alive.
Clear clear? TFP clear is so clear that you often can't even tell that there is water in the pool.
I can tell there is water in the pool, so I'll go add more chlorine. I really don't want to start all over. Thanks.